National Science Foundation

Founded in 1794, we’re big on tradition and proud of our humble beginnings as the first public university chartered west of the Appalachian Divide. We serve the state by educating its citizens, enhancing the culture, and making a difference in people’s lives through research and service. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT fiftieth among all public universities in the nation. By attracting the best and brightest students and leading faculty, we’re on track to join our peers in the nation’s Top 25. An aggressive roadmap guides our journey. We’re improving undergraduate and graduate education, research, support for faculty and staff, our campus infrastructure, and our resources. With more than 27,000 students and 10,000 faculty and staff, we power the state’s economy and fuel innovations that yield ideas and solutions that improve people’s lives and our society. Our faculty are renowned scholars in their disciplines and committed teachers who serve through the university’s nine undergraduate colleges and eleven graduate and professional programs. With more than 300 degree programs, we prepare and empower leaders in just about every profession. Our engineering, business, education, law, and social work programs consistently rank among the Top 50 in the nation among public universities, at the undergraduate or graduate level. UT is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Consistently cited as a “best buy” and great value, we’re committed to access and affordability. A wide range of scholarships help to open doors for many qualified students to become Volunteers. The number of students who study abroad has soared during recent years with the rise in new scholarships, internships, and service learning opportunities around the world. We are committed to ensuring our campus is a welcoming environment where people are open to learning from one another. We celebrate our differences and the opportunities they create through experiences with people who have different beliefs and come from other places, cultures, and backgrounds. Diversity means more to our campus community than race and ethnicity; it’s about moving beyond just tolerance to a place of understanding about political views, religion, gender identity, values, age, abilities, and sexual orientation, among other differences. We are proud of our students and committed to their success by providing comprehensive academic support and programs that engage them in campus life. Each new freshman class demonstrates our ever-increasing academic quality. A quick drive through our 560-acre campus illustrates our momentum in enhancing our academic and student life facilities. We opened the $40 million Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, home of the university’s School of Music, the $23.2 million John D. Tickle Engineering Building, which houses the departments of civil and environmental engineering and industrial and systems engineering, and the Fred D. Brown Residence Hall. Work also continues on the new student union, the largest single project in the university’s history. Thirteen new sorority houses, adjacent to campus, are part of the Sorority Village development on Morgan Hill. Our campus master plan guides our vision, which includes a more pedestrian-friendly campus with more green space and the addition of significant classroom and laboratory space in the next decade. Our undergraduate and graduate students have unprecedented opportunities for hands-on work and research through our partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research provides opportunities for graduate students in energy-related science and engineering and puts the university front and center in training the country’s scientists to take on the world’s most challenging energy problems. The partnerships enhance the state’s role as a growing hub for research in critical challenges that include alternative energy, national security, and the creation of new materials. The new UT Humanities Center is broadening research opportunities in the disciplines through a fellows program modeled after the National Humanities Center.

Secure Food Solutions Inc., established in 2014 and based in Martin, Tennessee, specializes in enhancing global food safety by developing advanced detection technologies for toxins, pathogens, and contaminants. The company's core offering is a patented hyperspectral imaging technology designed to swiftly identify corn contaminated with aflatoxin, aiming to improve food quality and safety worldwide.

CrossLink Composites, founded in 2017 and based in Harriman, Tennessee, specializes in the development of proprietary carbon fiber technology. The company focuses on creating low-cost, high-performance carbon fiber and composites tailored for a variety of industrial applications, including cleantech, automotive, wind energy, and civil infrastructure. By emphasizing high-volume production, CrossLink Composites aims to provide customized carbon fiber solutions that meet the specific needs of its customers, thereby enhancing performance across diverse sectors.

TCPoly, Inc. is a manufacturer specializing in thermally conductive plastics and 3D printing materials that enhance the thermal management of electronic devices. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an additional office in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company produces a range of products including filaments, heat sinks, cold plates, LED fixtures, and battery packs. Notably, TCPoly has developed the Ice9TM Flex filament, designed for additive manufacturing and suitable for low-cost 3D printers as well as traditional methods like injection molding. Their innovative materials are lightweight, electrically insulating, and corrosion-resistant, making them valuable in various industries such as heat exchangers, mold tooling, and electronics thermal management. TCPoly’s products are utilized globally, serving customers in over 20 countries.

Eden Concepts is a precision agriculture technology development and consulting firm based in Lenoir City, Tennessee, established in 2018. The company focuses on enhancing farm productivity for small-scale farmers by developing innovative agricultural technologies tailored for vegetables and specialty crops. Its precision systems are designed to prepare and plant germinated seeds, replacing the traditional methods of growing and transplanting seedlings. By improving soil health and offering greater flexibility in crop selection, Eden Concepts aims to streamline farming operations, helping farmers reduce labor costs and energy consumption.

Dextrous Robotics is a robotics company founded in 2019 and based in Memphis, Tennessee. The company specializes in developing artificial intelligence-enabled robots designed for warehouse operations. Its robots are capable of managing various logistics tasks, including loading and unloading pallets, trucks, and containers, as well as material picking, sorting, and storage. By providing automation solutions, Dextrous Robotics aims to enhance operational efficiency in warehouses, enabling clients to optimize their logistics processes.

EndoShunt Medical is a Nashville, Tennessee-based company founded in 2022 that specializes in developing medical devices for targeted hemorrhage control in emergency situations. The company has created a device designed to shunt blood past hemorrhaging vessels endovascularly, allowing surgeons to perform definitive repairs while maintaining blood flow. This innovative approach aims to enhance patient outcomes during critical medical emergencies by providing effective hemorrhage management.

Winter Innovations is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based startup founded in 2018 that focuses on developing medical devices aimed at enhancing patient outcomes in orthopedic care. The company is in the process of launching EasyWhip, a patent-pending suturing needle specifically designed for orthopedic ligament and tendon reconstruction surgery. This innovative device seeks to simplify and standardize the whip stitching technique, offering advantages such as ease of use, speed, stability, and versatility. Through these improvements, Winter Innovations aims to help surgeons perform orthopedic reconstruction procedures more efficiently and consistently.

NellOne Therapeutics, Inc. is a regenerative medicine company based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, focused on developing and commercializing protein therapeutics aimed at restoring cardiac muscle mass and function in patients recovering from myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. The company was established in 2007 as a spin-out from the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where research led by Dr. Cymbeline Culiat identified the Nell1 gene's role in the formation of essential mammalian tissues and organs. NellOne is dedicated to translating these scientific discoveries into clinical applications, specifically by leveraging Nell1 protein therapeutics to rebuild cardiac muscle and improve patient outcomes following heart-related conditions.

Active Energy Systems is leveraging its scientific expertise to develop and market an improved form of ice thermal energy storage. The company's headquarters are in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Healing Innovations, Inc. is a medical technology company established in 2018 and based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company specializes in manufacturing advanced rehabilitation equipment aimed at supporting individuals recovering from spinal cord injuries, strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy. To enhance care within the rehabilitation continuum, Healing Innovations focuses on the development and commercialization of market-leading robotic technologies. These innovations aim to improve health, mobility, and independence for users, while also enabling medical professionals and managed care organizations to enhance efficiency and quality of care at a reasonable cost.

Couture Technologies is a software development firm founded in 2019 and based in Gallatin, Tennessee. The company specializes in leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and 3D simulation technologies to create innovative solutions for retailers. Its primary offering is an enterprise alternatives software that empowers retailers to enhance customer engagement by providing a custom and personalized shopping experience. This software generates photo-realistic 3D simulations of products, enabling customers to virtually try them on with high accuracy. By providing a virtual experience, Couture Technologies assists retailers in improving customer satisfaction and driving sales.

CrossLink Composites, founded in 2017 and based in Harriman, Tennessee, specializes in the development of proprietary carbon fiber technology. The company focuses on creating low-cost, high-performance carbon fiber and composites tailored for a variety of industrial applications, including cleantech, automotive, wind energy, and civil infrastructure. By emphasizing high-volume production, CrossLink Composites aims to provide customized carbon fiber solutions that meet the specific needs of its customers, thereby enhancing performance across diverse sectors.

VenoStent, Inc. is a clinical-stage tissue engineering company based in Nashville, Tennessee, with an additional office in Houston, Texas. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in developing bioresorbable smart polymers specifically designed for vascular surgery. Its flagship product, SelfWrap, is a perivascular wrap that functions as an external stent to enhance the success of dialysis procedures. SelfWrap addresses complications at the vein-artery or vein-graft junction by promoting outward vein growth and providing customized mechanical support, thereby reducing the risk of vein collapse and occlusion. This innovative approach utilizes a new class of shape-memory polymers that do not require sutures, ultimately improving surgical outcomes, reducing operation time, and minimizing infection risks for hemodialysis patients. VenoStent aims to significantly impact the approximately 5 million vascular surgeries conducted annually, enhancing the quality and longevity of life for chronic kidney disease patients.

LiBAMA Power, established in 2017 and based in Cookeville, Tennessee, specializes in the design, manufacture, and marketing of advanced metal anodes (AMAs) for next-generation lithium-metal batteries. The company's core business involves developing and commercializing cutting-edge lithium metal battery technology, aiming to enhance energy density without disrupting existing manufacturing processes. This innovation caters to various industries, including consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and aerospace, offering unprecedented mobile power solutions.

TCPoly, Inc. is a manufacturer specializing in thermally conductive plastics and 3D printing materials that enhance the thermal management of electronic devices. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an additional office in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company produces a range of products including filaments, heat sinks, cold plates, LED fixtures, and battery packs. Notably, TCPoly has developed the Ice9TM Flex filament, designed for additive manufacturing and suitable for low-cost 3D printers as well as traditional methods like injection molding. Their innovative materials are lightweight, electrically insulating, and corrosion-resistant, making them valuable in various industries such as heat exchangers, mold tooling, and electronics thermal management. TCPoly’s products are utilized globally, serving customers in over 20 countries.

VenoStent, Inc. is a clinical-stage tissue engineering company based in Nashville, Tennessee, with an additional office in Houston, Texas. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in developing bioresorbable smart polymers specifically designed for vascular surgery. Its flagship product, SelfWrap, is a perivascular wrap that functions as an external stent to enhance the success of dialysis procedures. SelfWrap addresses complications at the vein-artery or vein-graft junction by promoting outward vein growth and providing customized mechanical support, thereby reducing the risk of vein collapse and occlusion. This innovative approach utilizes a new class of shape-memory polymers that do not require sutures, ultimately improving surgical outcomes, reducing operation time, and minimizing infection risks for hemodialysis patients. VenoStent aims to significantly impact the approximately 5 million vascular surgeries conducted annually, enhancing the quality and longevity of life for chronic kidney disease patients.

Tennessee State University’s College of Engineering provides quality education in engineering, technology, mathematics, and computer science. It aims to produce graduates with technical competency and excellence, leadership skills, and a global life/language experience. Tennessee State University’s College of Engineering was founded in 1912.

Active Energy Systems is leveraging its scientific expertise to develop and market an improved form of ice thermal energy storage. The company's headquarters are in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Stony Creek Colors, Inc. is a manufacturer of bio-based colorants specifically designed for the textile industry. Founded in 2012 by Sarah Bellos and based in Springfield, Tennessee, the company collaborates with small farmers in the Southeastern United States to produce plant-based dyes, including indigo. Stony Creek Colors aims to provide clean and safe alternatives to hazardous chemicals traditionally used in dyeing processes, supporting environmentally conscious practices within the textile and fashion industries. Through its innovative technology, the company enables mills and brands to offer premium products that prioritize sustainability and health.

Path Ex, Inc. is a Nashville, Tennessee-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in the manufacture of extracorporeal blood cleansing equipment. The company has developed a proprietary technology aimed at selectively separating and capturing bacteria and toxins from human blood, specifically for the treatment of sepsis, a critical condition often linked to blood-borne infections. Unlike conventional methods that rely on antibiotics to combat infections, Path Ex's innovative approach focuses on removing intact bacteria from the bloodstream, making it effective against various bacteria types and drug-resistant strains. This technology has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by reducing diagnostic times, lowering treatment costs, decreasing readmission rates, and ultimately decreasing sepsis-related mortality.

Secure Food Solutions Inc., established in 2014 and based in Martin, Tennessee, specializes in enhancing global food safety by developing advanced detection technologies for toxins, pathogens, and contaminants. The company's core offering is a patented hyperspectral imaging technology designed to swiftly identify corn contaminated with aflatoxin, aiming to improve food quality and safety worldwide.

Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is a prominent private research institution with approximately 6,500 undergraduate students and 5,300 graduate and professional students. The university encompasses ten schools, including the highly regarded Peabody College, known for its excellence in education. Vanderbilt offers a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including liberal arts, sciences, engineering, and music. The university is consistently ranked among the top 20 in the nation, with numerous programs recognized in the top 10. The Vanderbilt University Office of Investments oversees the university's endowment fund, which plays a crucial role in providing financial stability and growth. This office collaborates with the Investment Committee of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust to establish asset allocation policies, select investment managers, and monitor performance, with a significant focus on alternative assets such as private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and natural resources.

PurSolutions is a biotechnology startup that specializes in cytoskeletons for self-assembling materials and devices. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Path Ex, Inc. is a Nashville, Tennessee-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in the manufacture of extracorporeal blood cleansing equipment. The company has developed a proprietary technology aimed at selectively separating and capturing bacteria and toxins from human blood, specifically for the treatment of sepsis, a critical condition often linked to blood-borne infections. Unlike conventional methods that rely on antibiotics to combat infections, Path Ex's innovative approach focuses on removing intact bacteria from the bloodstream, making it effective against various bacteria types and drug-resistant strains. This technology has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by reducing diagnostic times, lowering treatment costs, decreasing readmission rates, and ultimately decreasing sepsis-related mortality.

Secure Food Solutions Inc., established in 2014 and based in Martin, Tennessee, specializes in enhancing global food safety by developing advanced detection technologies for toxins, pathogens, and contaminants. The company's core offering is a patented hyperspectral imaging technology designed to swiftly identify corn contaminated with aflatoxin, aiming to improve food quality and safety worldwide.

Branch Technology, Inc. is a technology company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, specializing in cellular fabrication and 3D printing. Founded in 2013, the company utilizes proprietary algorithms to create complex geometries in open spaces without the need for support materials or controlled environments. This innovative approach allows for the construction of non-loadbearing interior partitions, decorative walls, ceilings, and various exhibition and furniture structures. By leveraging its advanced technology, Branch Technology aims to deliver cost-effective designs that enhance material strength, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiencies on construction sites.

Stony Creek Colors, Inc. is a manufacturer of bio-based colorants specifically designed for the textile industry. Founded in 2012 by Sarah Bellos and based in Springfield, Tennessee, the company collaborates with small farmers in the Southeastern United States to produce plant-based dyes, including indigo. Stony Creek Colors aims to provide clean and safe alternatives to hazardous chemicals traditionally used in dyeing processes, supporting environmentally conscious practices within the textile and fashion industries. Through its innovative technology, the company enables mills and brands to offer premium products that prioritize sustainability and health.

Branch Technology, Inc. is a technology company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, specializing in cellular fabrication and 3D printing. Founded in 2013, the company utilizes proprietary algorithms to create complex geometries in open spaces without the need for support materials or controlled environments. This innovative approach allows for the construction of non-loadbearing interior partitions, decorative walls, ceilings, and various exhibition and furniture structures. By leveraging its advanced technology, Branch Technology aims to deliver cost-effective designs that enhance material strength, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiencies on construction sites.