The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s annual Spring Research and Arts Conference returns on Wednesday, bringing together students, faculty and community members to highlight research, innovation and creativity across a variety of disciplines.
For the first time, the event will be held at McKenzie Arena and the Wolford Family Athletic Center, a move that reflects the conference’s continuing growth and impact. Attendees can expect a packed schedule—with four research presentation sessions running from 9 a.m.
to 5:15 p.m.
Presented by UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) and the Office for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor (URaCE), the conference features more than 650 presenters and 320 unique research projects.
“This is our campuswide spring event to really showcase research and creative works on campus,” said Dr. Lisa Piazza, executive director of URaCE. “It’s the one time a year when everyone involved in research at UTC comes together in a single space to share their work. It’s also a way for the broader community—local high school students, industry leaders and researchers from other institutions—to engage with the incredible things happening here.”
Dr. Piazza said a major theme this year is artificial intelligence research—with more than 40 student presentations incorporating AI into their projects.
Among the many presentations, several standout projects include:
- Graduate student Shyla Khan’s project titled “Is Fair Lovely? A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Impact of Colorism on Mental Health in South Asian Women.” Khan’s research explores how societal and familial influences contribute to self-perception and mental health among South Asian women in the U.S. and Asia. By analyzing the psychological effects of colorism, her work sheds light on issues of identity, self-esteem and social dynamics in historically colonized communities.
- Ph.D. candidate Joshua Tyler’s project, “RANDOM Neural Networks for Practical Artificial Intelligence-based Cryptography.” Tyler has developed the world’s first practical AI-driven network for generating cryptographic algorithms. His work enables near-instant encryption without communication overhead, creating a secure and efficient method for protecting digital information.
- Sophomore biology major Lydia Byerly’s project, “Aeromonas hydrophila alters growth, biofilm formation, and swimming motility at host and aquatic temperatures in response to polyunsaturated fatty acids.” Byerly, also a Brock Scholar in the UTC Honors College, has investigated how a bacterial pathogen affecting fish and humans adapts to different environments—with a focus on its resistance to antibiotics. Her findings could lead to new approaches for combating bacterial infections in both aquatic and medical settings.
One of this year’s most significant changes is the integration of CECS’ annual Technology Symposium into the conference, creating a unified research showcase that expands participation and visibility.
This expanded collaboration has also enhanced industry and community engagement, which is highlighted by a VIP breakfast featuring University and community stakeholders.
“Engineering students will see what’s happening in business, arts and sciences, and other fields—and vice versa,” said Brooke Stappenbeck, administrative project manager in the CECS Office of the Dean. “If we’re aware of what’s going on across campus, we can spark new collaborations and expand our impact beyond UTC.”
A highlight of the conference is the MOCS Innovate! UTC Innovators Showcase, where faculty and researchers from across campus will demonstrate projects that could lead to commercialization and real-world applications.
“The MOCS Innovate! UTC Innovators Showcase provides a unique opportunity for attendees to explore groundbreaking research at UTC, connect with faculty innovators, and witness the real-world impact of their work,” said Jennifer Skjellum, commercialization counselor for the UTC Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Ms. Skjellum added that many of these projects started as student or faculty research presentations at this very conference, underscoring its role as a launching pad for innovation.