The UT-ORNL Governor’s Chairs program brings exceptionally accomplished researchers from around the world to Tennessee.
Funded by the state, UT, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the program is managed through the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute.
Of the 13 total Governor’s Chairs, more than 10 hold appointments at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The program attracts top researchers to broaden and enhance the unique research partnership that exists between the University of Tennessee, the state’s flagship university and premier public research institution, and ORNL, the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest multi-program laboratory.
The university and ORNL have long shared academic and research interests and infrastructure. The increasing importance of research and technology to the well-being of the state’s economy and environment led former Governor Phil Bredesen to initiate the program while he was in office and invest significant state resources.