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    UT Research

  • Research Strengths
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    Our Roadmap to Impact

    UT research brings together the right people, places, and partnerships to advance the frontiers of knowledge and create a better, brighter future for Tennessee and beyond. Our collective ability to create lasting impact through world-class research, scholarship, and creative work is enhanced by carefully defined strategic priorities.

    Smart agriculture laboratory research and innovation

    Mission and strategy

    UT is recruiting top-tier faculty, developing next-level educational programs, and leading research that makes a lasting difference. We are lighting the way for our state and for the nation, because excellence brings new opportunities—for our students, our communities, and everyone we serve.

    Strengthen the impact and reputation of our research, scholarship, and
    creative activities

    • Transdisciplinary initiatives in strategic areas 
    • Constellation faculty hiring strategies 
    • Influential scholarly outputs and outcomes 
    • National and international recognition of UT researchers

    Ensure that our research
    outcomes support a more just,
    prosperous, and sustainable future

    • Integrated translational research, workforce development, and community programming 
    • Research-based industry, academic, community, and government partnerships 
    • Support for high-tech companies and industry ecosystems 
    • High-impact entrepreneurship programs

    Invest in state-of-the-art research
    infrastructure and frameworks

    • Leading-edge facilities, instruments, and tools
    • Opportunities for networking and ideation across the university and with external partners  
    • Physical spaces that enable innovation and collaboration 
    • World-class multidisciplinary research training experiences
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus landscape

    Moss research laboratory facilities

    Focusing our strengths

    Research at UT is organized around five innovation gateways representing the many opportunities and complex challenges that affect the future of our communities, our state, and our nation.

    Discover UT’s research strengths

    Deb Crawford presenting at AI Tennessee Summit conference

    Our mission, as both an R1 institution and the state’s flagship land-grant university, is to educate students and to serve society. Our research yields great discoveries and advances knowledge to make a difference in the world.

    Deborah Crawford
    Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development