
NEWS
Recent News
- Inspired by Soap: Li Leads Research on Electrolytes for Lithium Metal BatteriesWithin the next decade, you may be able to drive your electric vehicle from Knoxville to Disney World—roughly 500 miles—without needing a charge. And you … Read more
- UT-ORII’s Convergent Research Initiatives featured in the Knoxville News SentinelOn September 3rd, UT-ORII’s Convergent Research Initiaitves were featured in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Over the last few weeks, UT-ORII has been seeking ideas from … Read more
- UT-ORII Seeking Proposals for Next UT-ORNL Convergent Research InitiativesDeadline for proposals: Sept. 15 The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is seeking ideas from UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers for new … Read more
- UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute Names Education and Bredesen Center DirectorBrynn Voy, UT Faculty Member and Former ORNL Scientist, Steps Into New Role Aug. 1 KNOXVILLE, TN – July 25, 2023 —The University of Tennessee-Oak … Read more
- Advincula is MRS 50th Anniversary Meeting Panelist, Winner of NATAS AwardRigoberto Advincula, the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair of Advanced and Nanostructured Materials and 2023 winner of the Netzsch North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS) Fellows Award, … Read more
- Interim UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute Director SelectedJune 12, 2023 — David Sholl has been named the interim executive director of the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII). Sholl will assume … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Bingrui Li“Being able to work in UT and ORNL simultaneously is a game changer for my research,” Bingrui Li said. Li is pursuing a doctorate … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Maggie SpanglerMaggie Spangler is an East Tennessee native and has been curious about science her whole life. That curiosity led her to the University of Tennessee, … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Emily HerronPhD student Emily Herron wants to design machine learning systems that can help solve scientific mysteries. She is pursuing her doctorate through the University of … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Zabrenna GriffithsZabrenna Griffiths is using bioremediation to address pollution and other environmental issues. She is pursuing her doctorate in the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Stephen FatokunStephen Fatokun is working on ways to keep the electrical power grid secure and reliable. He is pursuing a doctorate through the University of Tennessee-Oak … Read more
- GPSAW 2023: Enzo DinglasanEnzo Dinglasan is working on ways to advance biomanufacturing, the harnessing of biological systems that run on renewable feedstocks, like glucose or carbon dioxide, to … Read more
Power Players
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Power Player: Tomonori Saito
From upcycling polymers to making ultra-tough adhesives, much of Tomonori Saito’s research has focused on making stronger and more functional polymer materials that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. “We tailor polymer chemistry for many energy-related applications such as plastic recycling, batteries, building materials, and manufacturing,” said Saito, who is a senior scientist at Oak…
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Power Player: Jian Liu
In 2021, more than 1,862 data breaches affected nearly 294 million Americans. This is troublesome for researchers working with machine learning since they use enormous data sets which may contain sensitive personal information. Jian Liu, an assistant professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is looking for a reliable…
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Power Player: Luke Scime
Luke Scime, an associate staff scientist and part of the energy systems analytics team, is one of three new University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute fellows. He uses complex algorithms to program computers to use artificial intelligence to search for flaws in 3D printed items. Appointed for one-year renewable terms, UT-ORII Fellows are responsible for…
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Power Player: Tony Schmitz
Schmitz is working to help rebuild America’s manufacturing industry. A University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute fellow, Schmitz is a professor in Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee‘s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering and joint faculty for Oak Ridge National Laboratory‘s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. He focuses on manufacturing research in support of…
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Power Player: John Brantley
Plastic is everywhere―from food and drink containers to kids’ toys to car parts. “We produce billions of tons of plastic waste every year, and many of these materials end up in landfills and they eventually infiltrate the environment,” said Brantley, an assistant professor of chemistry. His StART project focuses on developing new techniques for breaking…
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Power Player: Mike Kilbey
Designing New Materials for Energy, Sustainability, Additive Manufacturing UT Knoxville Chemistry Professor Mike Kilbey received one of UT-ORII’s first seed grants, right after the institute launched. That funding, renewed for 2022, was used to bring together a team of UT faculty, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers and PhD students specializing in polymer synthesis, computation and…
Media Contact:
Bridget Waller
Director of Communications, UT-ORII
bwaller5@tennessee.edu
Phone: 865-466-2649
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PUBLICATIONS
To learn more about the creation of UT-ORII, download the 2019 UT-ORNL Steering Committee’s Dec. 31, 2019, report.
Download the Recommendations of the Steering Committee (PDF)