INNOVATION & DISCOVERY
Uniquely Qualified to Meet America’s Research Challenges
Today, University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers are directing their joint attention to advancing research in the areas of the greatest national need. These include clean manufacturing, advanced materials, energy and transportation.
Since their partnership began, researchers at UT and ORNL have collaborated across a diverse portfolio that includes artificial intelligence and biofuels; big data and supercomputing; medical isotopes; manufacturing technologies; energy efficiency; production and storage; cybersecurity; fundamental discovery science; and much more.
To accelerate UT and ORNL’s joint research, the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) is recruiting top researchers, funding new joint research and partnering with industry and others.
Recruiting Top Researchers
UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Electrical Energy Conversion and Storage Tom Zawodzinski (pictured left) is one of the world-renowned scientists in the Governor’s Chair program. UT-ORII is expanding its prestigious Governor’s Chair and Joint Faculty programs, with plans to add 100 or more faculty researchers. Currently, UT has nearly 140 joint faculty scientists and researchers working with ORNL, as well as 15 Governor’s Chairs. Check out UT-ORII’s careers page for updates on the latest openings.
Partnering to Advance Research
UT-ORII recently announced its partnership with Nissan, Middle Tennessee Electric, Tennessee State University and Seven States Power Corporation to launch an innovative second-life battery storage project. UT-ORII is teaming up with UT campuses, private industry, government entities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and others to expand research in areas that will transform America’s next-generation workforce.
Funding New Joint Research
Mina Sartipi, founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, leads one of the first UT-ORNL research teams to receive funding through UT-ORII’s new Seed Grant program. Sartipi’s research focuses on making roads safer by allowing connected and autonomous cars to see beyond what a driver or a car can see.
Sartipi’s work with the City of Chattanooga recently led to a $4.56 million Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment grant for an integrated, smart transportation management system for electric vehicles.