As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, economies, and daily life, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is positioning the state as a national leader in advanced computing, data science, and responsible AI innovation. Driving this momentum is Vasileios Maroulas, professor of mathematics, associate vice chancellor, and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative.
A faculty member at UT since 2010, Maroulas has built an interdisciplinary research and leadership portfolio spanning mathematics, computational statistics, machine learning, data science, and quantum computing. With a joint appointment in the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education—a partnership between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—he works at the intersection of theory and real-world impact, building teams, mentoring future scientists, and creating AI solutions with applications from health care to national defense.
Building a statewide AI ecosystem
Now in its third year, the AI Tennessee Initiative—a statewide effort led by UT—is designed to prepare Tennessee for the global data economy. Under Maroulas’s leadership, the initiative has grown to nearly 400 members, including partners from IBM, Cisco, Volkswagen, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and dozens of start-up and small- and medium-sized enterprises across energy, manufacturing, logistics, and health care.
“Our goal is to meet industry where they are,” he said. “Every company and every sector has unique challenges. AI Tennessee allows us to build solutions that respond to those needs—and scale innovation across the state.”
The initiative is supported by five pillars—research in AI and its applications, education and workforce development, infrastructure, partnerships, and community engagement—positioning Tennessee as a leader in the global data economy.
This commitment supports AI Tennessee’s flagship program, AI TechX, a campus-wide effort that directly connects university research with industrial challenges for practical AI solutions. The program recently awarded seed funding for nine projects led by UT faculty.
Driving innovation through interdisciplinary research
Beyond his leadership role, Maroulas directs the Maroulas Research Group, which develops AI and statistical methods rooted in mathematical rigor. The group blends computational Bayesian statistics, topological and geometric data analysis, machine learning, scientific computing, and quantum data science. Its algorithms support applications in biology, medicine, materials science, engineering, and national security—and some are designed to run on next-generation quantum computers.
Working with colleagues at UT and the UT Health Science Center, Maroulas and his team are developing AI tools to support surgical planning for cleft lip repair in infants. Traditionally, surgeons manually select precise anatomical landmarks before reconstruction. The group’s model automates the process, improves accuracy by visualizing beyond human perception, and provides training support for early-career surgeons.
“One of the most exciting things about AI is its ability to detect patterns in dimensions we can’t visualize,” Maroulas said. “Humans can understand three or four dimensions. AI can work in more than 100,000 dimensions and find what we would never see.”
In a long-standing partnership with the US Army Research Lab, where Maroulas serves as a senior research fellow, the group works on neuro-inspired AI for extreme scenarios such as automated navigation without satellites or active signals. Rather than relying solely on standard computer vision, they model systems inspired by the brain’s spatial and temporal processing.
Maroulas’s research has been funded by numerous agencies including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Army Research Laboratory, the US Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the Simons Foundation. He is co-editor-in-chief of Foundations of Data Science, published by the American Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and serves on many editorial and data science advisory boards.
An environment that enables big ideas
Maroulas credits UT’s support, interdisciplinary culture, and deep bench of AI and data science experts with enabling bold research.
“UT’s commitment to AI innovation has been unwavering,” he said. “We’re not just keeping the pace—we’re setting it. AI and advanced computing are now woven into the university’s long-term strategy.”
He also emphasizes the value of partnerships with national labs and private industry.
“National labs push you to think about global-scale challenges. Industry pushes you to deliver solutions faster,” he said. “Both perspectives are essential to success.”
Mentorship is another defining aspect of his work at UT. Maroulas has supervised more than 20 PhD students, many of whom now work at industry leaders in the AI space, including major companies like Meta and Apple, national labs, and universities.
“Mentorship is how we shape the next generation of innovators and leaders,” he said.
Looking ahead: AI, quantum computing, and a connected future
Maroulas believes the next decade of data science and applied mathematics will be defined by AI, quantum computing, and advanced computing systems that will become foundational to society in the same way as electricity—unnoticed yet indispensable. His vision is rooted in connecting seemingly disparate areas and building bridges across disciplines to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
“I love connecting fields that seem unrelated,” he said. “When you bring different disciplines together, you unlock solutions none of us could reach alone.”
As Tennessee accelerates its role in the global data economy, Maroulas’s work—and the AI Tennessee Initiative—are helping position UT at the forefront of innovation, economic impact, and societal transformation.