Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
UT is raising the bar in research excellence with the addition of eight exceptional researchers, three of whom are tackling pressing challenges related to advanced materials. Two new UT-ORNL Governor’s Chairs focus on circular biomaterials and quantum materials and devices, respectively. Another new professor focuses on multiscale modeling of materials and structures under extreme conditions.
UT has signed a new six-year master research agreement with Eastman that will deepen a decade-long collaboration and accelerate the development of innovative technologies in multiple fields. The agreement will support sponsored research, service agreements and a range of university-industry initiatives.
UT has won $20 million from the NSF to establish ATHENA (Advanced Testbed for High-throughput Experimentation in Nano- and Atomic Science), one of twenty US research hubs that will form a national network of AI-powered laboratories to accelerate scientific discovery.
The NSF has recognized the BRIDGES Engine, co-led by UT, as a winner of the nationwide Regional Innovation Engines competition. BRIDGES will receive up to $160 million over 10 years to strengthen the circular bioeconomy in the southeastern US by accelerating the development of biobased materials relevant to multiple industry applications.
UT is launching the Knoxville Quantum Accelerator (K-Quantum) to strengthen the region’s leadership in quantum technologies and translate quantum innovation into tangible economic benefits for companies and communities across Tennessee.
Orlando J. Rojas, an internationally recognized leader in sustainable materials science, has been named the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Circular Biomaterials. Rojas’ work centers on soft matter. He seeks to understand how nature assembles complex, hierarchical materials from abundant molecular building blocks, and to translate those principles into industrially relevant, sustainable and cost-effective technologies.
