Investing in Collaborative Research

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute’s Science Alliance supports great science, discovery and innovation between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and improving science programs at UT Knoxville.

$7 Million annual investment

Each year, UT-ORII and the Science Alliance invest about $7 million in UT-ORNL joint research from state funds and matching funds from UT. These funds are awarded to UT faculty and undergraduate and graduate students through internships, fellowships and grants.

UT-ORII’s Science Alliance supports UT-ORII’s convergent research initiatives, as well as other strategic areas of importance to UT and ORNL.

UT-ORII’s Science Alliance programs include:

  • Distinguished Scientists
  • Graduate Advancement, Training and Education (GATE)
  • Program for Advancing Collaborative Teams (PACT)
  • Student Mentoring and Research Training (SMaRT)
  • Support for Affiliated Research Teams (StART)

About

A Tennessee Center of Excellence since 1984, the Science Alliance is the longest continually operating organization facilitating collaborations between UT and ORNL. Recognizing a shared focus on expanding joint research and development between ORNL and UT’s faculty and graduate students, the Science Alliance fully integrated into UT-ORII in 2022.

Mission

To improve selected science programs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and to increase collaboration between the university and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Science Alliance’s Impact

  • $7 million annually in support to UT faculty and students (graduate and undergraduate) for joint UT-ORNL research
  • Funding for ~150 graduate students each year
  • StART grants to help faculty members early in their career foster relationships with ORNL to the new Faculty Fellows program that supports developed UT-ORNL collaborations

Annual Reports

2022 – 2023

2021 – 2022

2020 – 2021