The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has launched a new Nanoengineering Center within the UTC Research Institute, expanding the university’s research work in advanced materials and emerging technologies.
The center evolved from a Center for Excellence in Applied Computational Science and Engineering Convergent Research Initiative that met key milestones in research growth, collaboration and external funding.
UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce says the center strengthens the university’s research profile.
“As we continue elevating UTC’s research enterprise, the launch of the Nanoengineering Center represents an important step forward,” Bruce says. “This center brings together faculty expertise across disciplines, strengthens our partnerships with national laboratories and industry and expands opportunities for students to engage in high-level research.”
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Murat Barisik will serve as the center’s director. He previously led the initiative that formed the foundation for the center.
“Our focus is straightforward: connect nanoscale understanding to solutions for high-impact national needs,” Barisik says. “We want to make it easier to translate fundamental insights into real-world impact.”
Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Mina Sartipi says the initiative was designed to bring together faculty from multiple departments, attract external funding and build partnerships with national laboratories and industry.
With official center status, Sartipi said the program can pursue larger research opportunities and expand collaboration.
The center will continue partnerships with organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
McDonald named Engineer of the Year
Gary McDonald, who retired in June 2025 after 40 years at the UTC, has been named Outstanding Engineer of the Year by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers Chattanooga Section.
Colleagues say the honor reflects McDonald’s long influence on the university’s mechanical engineering program.
“This is an outstanding achievement for Dr. McDonald,” says Trevor Elliott, who nominated him for the award and once studied under him at UTC. “The impact he has had on everyone in mechanical engineering has been immeasurable.”
McDonald joined UTC during the early development of the mechanical engineering program and helped guide its growth over several decades.
Department head James Newman said McDonald’s role was foundational.
“He’s literally the father of the mechanical engineering department here,” Newman says. “He helped shepherd the program to the point that we were large enough and had enough enrollment, enough classes and a faculty to earn accreditation.”
The nomination included support from the Chattanooga Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and letters from industry organizations including NASA Ames Research Center, McKee Foods and Miller Industries.
Dean Kumar Yelamarthi said McDonald’s leadership consistently focused on students.
“In every conversation, he offered wisdom grounded in decades of experience while always keeping students at the center of every decision,” Yelamarthi says.
Martinek selected for policy fellowship
UTC senior Hattie Martinek has been selected for the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
The competitive seven-week program prepares undergraduates for graduate study and careers in public service.
“I was shocked because it’s very prestigious,” Martinek says. “I put in a lot of hard work and very intentionally completed my application.”
Martinek is one of 18 students nationwide chosen for the University of Michigan cohort. Participants complete graduate-level coursework in economics, statistics and policy analysis.
Trey Straussberger, director of UTC’s Office of National Scholarships, says Martinek has demonstrated strong civic engagement.
“Hattie is, to put it succinctly, going places,” Straussberger says. “She represents the impact that UTC continues to have on students and future leaders in our community.”
Martinek says her interest in policy grew from wanting to help others as well as working with community organizations, including an internship at the Chattanooga Autism Center.
“I’ve always known I wanted to do something to help other people,” she says. “I needed a career with intention.”
Literacy First program marks milestone
A kindergartner at Brown Academy has become the first “graduate” of UTC’s Literacy First Student Tutors pilot program.
The initiative places UTC teacher candidates in elementary classrooms to provide daily reading support while gaining practical teaching experience.
“That’s the goal for every child in this program,” says Yvette Stewart, literacy director for the UTC Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education. “First, we graduate them, and then we can pick up new students who need that extra support.”
Five UTC teacher candidates participate in the pilot program, spending about 10 hours each week working with kindergarten and first-grade students.
Unlike traditional tutoring programs, Literacy First takes place during the school day and is coordinated with classroom instruction.
“It’s a nice parallel,” Stewart says. “They’re learning things in class and in their coursework, and they have the ability to apply it one-on-one with young readers.”
The program was developed in collaboration with Hamilton County Schools and Chattanooga 2.0. Researchers are studying the pilot to determine how the model might expand to additional schools.
SMILE Fund extends winning streak
A team of UTC students has won the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Greater Tennessee Research Challenge for the 10th consecutive year. The competition tests students’ skills in financial analysis, valuation and professional presentation.
UTC’s team included Brannon Smith, Rilee Ervin, Shaun Williams, Bana Sulieman and Ethan Tidwell from the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
Faculty adviser Hunter Holzhauer says the decade-long streak reflects years of building the program.
“You don’t decide on Day One that you’re going to win the most competitive competition for business school students – and win your state 10 times in a row,” Holzhauer says.
This year the team analyzed Harrow Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical retailer. Students conducted extensive research, including social media analysis and a survey sent to 6,000 ophthalmologists.
“The students have already done the ground-level due diligence that most teams don’t even consider doing,” Holzhauer says.
The UTC team will now compete in the Southeast Regional competition, where the university has won three of the past five years.
Source: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga