For UTC mechanical engineering grad student Connor Mackey, what started as an engineering experiment quickly turned into a year-long test of creativity, grit and compassion. With no blueprint to follow, Mackey leaned into his problem-solving instincts—producing more than a dozen helmet prototypes for a tiny puppy.
UTC mechanical engineering professor Murat Barisik receives prestigious NSF CAREER Award
Dr. Murat Barisik, assistant professor in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Mechanical Engineering and a leading researcher in nanoscale heat transfer, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
UTC students putting the pedal to the metal to perform at fall Baja competition
The Racing Mocs have registered to travel to Gray Court, South Carolina, in October to compete in the 2025 Baja SAE® Carolina competition. The event showcases student-built all-terrain vehicles by subjecting them to multiple dynamic and endurance tests.
Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi named dean of UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi has been named dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), effective July 1. Yelamarthi comes to UTC from Tennessee Technological University, where he has served since 2021 as associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering. In that role, he supported more than 3,100 students and 85 faculty members across seven departments and 18 programs.
UTC undergraduates take their research to the Capitol
Ten undergraduate students from the UTC recently traveled to Nashville to present their work at Posters at the Capitol, a statewide undergraduate research showcase held at the Tennessee State Capitol on Wednesday, April 2.
UTC to host ISDFS conference in Boston
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga continues to make significant strides on the global stage of cybersecurity and digital forensics by coordinating the 2025 International Symposium on Digital Forensics and Security (ISDFS), to be held this year at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.
UTC engineering students turn guitar picks and back braces into prize-winning designs
Two teams of students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science’s ENME 1850 introductory design course recently brought home top honors from the 2025 American Society for Engineering Education Southeastern Section (ASEE SE) Conference at Mississippi State University.
The 2025 Spring Research and Arts Conference brings ideas and innovation to UTC
The energy was lively and the excitement contagious inside the Wolford Family Athletic Center on Wednesday, April 9, as students, faculty and guests packed the space for a day of research and discovery. The annual Spring Research and Arts Conference at UTC turned the spotlight on projects from across a handful of disciplines as UTC personnel and community members presented their work exploring nearly every imaginable topic.
UTC Karate Club punches above its weight in martial arts competition
The UTC Karate Club, one of Campus Recreation’s club sports, is relatively new on campus. The organization began during the 2023-2024 academic year and practices just once per week. But when the club went up against seasoned competitors from traditional martial arts academies on March 8—including scholarship athletes from Bryan College’s Martial Arts Academy—the results told a different story.
A triple threat in mechanical engineering: Riggs siblings building their futures together
For many college freshmen, finding a study group can be a challenge. But for triplets Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs, their study partners have been the same since birth. The UTC mechanical engineering majors are inseparable—attending every class together, taking the same coursework and earning identical 4.0 GPAs.