With graduate degrees from some of the most prestigious institutions in Europe, research stints at Harvard University and Rice University; and a post as scientist at the Center for Optical Quantum Technologies at the University of Hamburg in Germany, Dr. Rick Mukherjee now has a new distinction for his resume: inaugural director of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Quantum Center.
Protecting quantum signals: UTC node on EPB quantum network part of successful ORNL test of new method for protecting quantum networks
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory joined forces with EPB of Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to demonstrate the first transmission of an entangled quantum signal using multiple wavelength channels and automatic polarization stabilization over a commercial network with no downtime.
UTC Research Institute announces Convergent Research Initiative awardees
Dr. Murat Barisik and Dr. Vahid Disfani were principal investigators on grants landing Center for Excellence in Applied Computational Science and Engineering (CEACSE) Convergent Research Initiative awards.
Driving change: UTC research team addresses “triple bottom line” to earn invitation to national conference
A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga civil engineering professor, Dr. Ignatius Fomunung, is headed to Washington, D.C., via special invitation for his leadership in tackling one of transportation planning’s most persistent challenges.
$3.5 million federal grant awarded to fully establish UTC Quantum Center
Advancing quantum science is a national priority of the federal government, and a proposal to establish the UTC Quantum Center has been awarded $3.5 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The funding from NIST, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will be awarded over a four-year period in support of four distinct focus areas.
First Gen Week: Celebrate what it means to be a first-generation student at UTC
When Curel Jones came to UTC as a freshman in 2020, she quickly realized she was a bit in over her head. As a first-generation student, Jones had no idea what to expect from college.
Tying it together: Recent UTC graduate merges math and science to research knot theory and neurodegenerative diseases
In August 2024, Masumi Sugiyama received a Ph.D. in computational science with an applied mathematics concentration. Her research focused on knot theory, which she used to study neurodegenerative diseases.
Fast track to cyber success: How an email changed a UTC student’s career trajectory
Trevor Lessenberry was sitting on the beach during the summer of 2023, mobile phone in hand, when an email popped up and showed him his future. The message described the UTC accelerated Bachelor of Applied Science: Information Technology in Cybersecurity, or BAS-IT CyS, program—which launched in January 2023.
Students working to turn capstone into cash flow
What started as an undergraduate capstone project has become an entrepreneurial adventure for two University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students. Rizwaan Abdulkadir and Grant Powell, both UTC computer engineering majors set to graduate in December, were part of a five-student team that designed a device to replace the logic board used in the “Digital Logic and Introduction to Computer Hardware” course.
College Quest: UTC to host event for high school students interested in health care, STEM and computer science careers
The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Computer Science are teaming up to offer high school juniors and seniors—and their families—an immersive campus experience tailored to students interested in pursuing professional careers in health care, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and computer science. College Quest, taking place from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 (during Hamilton County Schools’ fall break), offers prospective students a unique opportunity to explore their specific academic and professional interests far beyond the traditional campus tour—including visits to lab spaces.









