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UT Research Shows Viral Impact on Ocean Oxygen
An international research team unveils how viral lysis of blue-green algae in the Sargasso Sea enhances ecosystem-scale productivity. Newly published interdisciplinary research led by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and University of Maryland shows viral infection of blue-green algae in the ocean stimulates productivity in the ecosystem and contributes to a rich band of oxygen…
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Scholar Spotlight: Jie Sun
“I use mass spectrometry to ‘take pictures’ of proteins within our cells so we can see how they look when they work and how they change in disease.” Jie SunAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology My lab develops mass spectrometry-based structural proteomics, such as chemical footprinting approaches, to study the structure and…
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Storytelling in the 21st Century
Vols learn to steer 21st century narratives through Visual and Interactive Storytelling. Storytelling traditions drive the heartbeat of the shared human experience, from the age-old intimacy of campfire tales to today’s world-wide digital platforms. The recently launched Visual and Interactive Storytelling (VIS) program offers UT students a major that connects history and traditions with these…
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McDonald Family Endowments Add Professorships
Alumni share geologic passion through new endowed professorships. Alumni David and Barbara McDonald established two endowed professorships that support new faculty members specializing in critical minerals and energy in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EEPS). Assistant Professor Manuel Scharrer began in August 2025 as the David McDonald Endowed Professor in Critical Minerals.…
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Sorting Social Complexity
Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity evolves with society. UT’s Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC) brings together researchers from across disciplines and around the world to investigate the human behaviors and social interactions that lead to discovery and transformation in societies. The center’s members and affiliates use computational social science, social…
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College of Arts and Sciences Announces New Department Heads
Faculty members new and familiar take on leadership roles for College of Arts and Sciences departments. Three new faculty members joined the College of Arts and Sciences on January 1 in department head roles, adding to new departmental leadership announced in August 2025. They add their rich expertise and experiences to the college’s environment of…
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Scholar Spotlight: Mojca Kuplen
“I explore various ways that art engages our minds and, thereby, fosters self-understanding and empathy for others.” Mojca KuplenTeaching Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Philosophy My research reflects overlapping interests in the philosophy of art, contemporary aesthetics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. I am interested in how and why we come to appreciate artistic (and aesthetic)…
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Advantages Uncovered in Blue-Green Algae Colonies
UT microbiology research into cyanobacterial blooms reveals that colonies take on metabolic functions and resistance to viruses. An international team of researchers led by a visiting scholar at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is shedding light on the dynamics in cyanobacterial blooms that can threaten freshwater safety. By analyzing Microcystis spp. in single cells and…
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Scholar Spotlight: Anna Marshall
“As a fluvial geomorphologist I study how rivers shape the landscape and how people, in turn, shape rivers.” Anna MarshallAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Geography and Sustainability My research explores physical processes that sustain ecosystem functions in rivers and what it means for rivers when those processes are lost due to legacies of human activity. I identify…
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Delivering Vol Excellence
CATE shines a light of excellence on teaching at UT. The high caliber of teaching offered at UT is a cornerstone of the unparalleled experience for students at Rocky Top. The Community of Scholars for Advancing Teaching Excellence (CATE) was established within the College of Arts and Sciences to focus and build on this aspect…
