Watts Bar Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in Tennessee, boasting 112 km of navigable stretch, and is a popular reservoir for anglers. Brittnany Graham, a master’s student in wildlife and fisheries science, is engaged in research that focuses on studying the movement and reproduction patterns of walleye fish in the Watts Bar Reservoir, part of the Tennessee River. Using acoustic telemetry, a method that tracks aquatic animals through sound, she will monitor tagged walleye to understand their spawning habits and summer movements. This involves placing acoustic receivers in strategic locations and tagging fish with transmitters. The goal is to gather data that can help improve management and conservation efforts for walleye by identifying critical habitats and understanding their behavior throughout the year. 

Currently, over 6 million Americans have chronic wounds, which cost over $30 billion to treat annually. By 2025, it is anticipated that 100 million people globally will suffer from open wounds. Aanuoluwa Adekoya, a PhD student in microbiology, is focused on understanding the complex bacterial communities in chronic wounds. She is developing a laboratory model that mimics these infections by growing key bacteria in conditions similar to human wounds. By studying the gene expression of these bacteria, she aims to understand how they interact and function. Her goal is to create a more accurate model that reflects real-life infections, which can help improve treatment strategies for chronic wounds. This involves continuously refining the model to better mimic the conditions and dynamics of actual wound infections. 

Manita Kafle, a master’s student in animal science, is engaged in research on improving broiler farming practices by studying the individual perching behavior of broilers (chickens raised for meat production). Her work aims to develop an automated system involving Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies that uses color night vision cameras and load cells to monitor individual birds’ perching behavior and real-time weight measurements of birds on the perch. This system will provide detailed insights into how each bird uses perches, which are elevated structures that allow chickens to exhibit natural behaviors. By understanding these patterns, the research seeks to provide scientific insights about optimal perch strategies for broilers to enhance their welfare and behavioral adaptation and improve the broiler farming environment. 

Alexandra Marie Scott, a master’s student in wildlife and fisheries science, is researching fish assemblage response to habitat restoration in West Tennessee. Her work involves analyzing the movement of fish through an innovative gradient control structure and assessing use of restored habitat features in Cub Creek, a stream located on Lone Oaks Farm. By evaluating the efficacy of this restoration project, Alexandra aims to provide insights that will inform future work in disturbed streams of West Tennessee and the Lower Mississippi region. Her work includes monitoring the movement of tagged fish at two passage structures and characterizing their habitat use to determine preferences and associations. 

By 2030, it is estimated that over 67 million Americans will be diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), a common and painful joint disease that affects both humans and animals. Michael Aimar Rivera Orsini, a doctoral student in comparative and experimental medicine, is working on a project that focuses on creating a new treatment using a combination of materials: a thermoresponsive hydrogel (a substance that can change its state with temperature), graphene nanoparticles (tiny, strong particles made from carbon), and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs, special cells that can help repair tissues). This innovative approach aims to not only relieve symptoms but also address the underlying causes of OA, potentially improving patients’ quality of life by reducing pain and enhancing joint function.

Tannaz Azadi, a doctoral student in communication and information, is engaged in research to improve the design of voice assistants to better serve non-native English speakers. Her research involves studying how non-native English speakers use voice assistants and identifying ways to make these technologies more accessible and equitable. By collecting qualitative and quantitative data through interviews and other methods, Tannaz aims to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by these users. Her work will help ensure that technological advancements are inclusive and beneficial for all segments of society, not just the general population. 

Increased performance demands and growing service volumes increase the long-term risk associated with cable aging in the automotive industry. Amy Kurr, a doctoral student in Energy Science and Engineering, is engaged in research that examines the effect of increased thermal-oxidation on fire behavior for high-voltage electric vehicle cables. By testing and analyzing a specific type of cable known for its high-temperature rating, her work aims to uncover how aging impacts the cable’s degradation, performance, and fire resistance. This research is significant because it addresses the knowledge gap in how these cables age and perform in a fire scenario, which is crucial for developing safer and more reliable standards in the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry.