The Graduate Student Research Awards are used to advance the scholarship of graduate students and faculty working in partnership. Grants up to $5,000 are awarded to the selected student/faculty pairs and are intended to help support student research, scholarship, and creative activity; give students experience writing grants; and foster the mentoring relationship between faculty and graduate students.
Twenty-six outstanding research programs were awarded for spring 2025 across many colleges and departments. We hope that you will read about the work these graduate students are engaged in here at UT.
Air pollution and its possible connection with the risk of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Syeda Tasneem
PhD student, geography
The research investigates the severe air pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh where hazardous air quality poses significant health risks to millions of residents. It examines how pollutants from sources like vehicles, construction, and cross-border coal burning contribute to diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The study aims to explore the link between air pollution and TB cases, analyze weather and pollution factors affecting air quality, and propose strategies to mitigate the impact of pollution. By combining data analysis with fieldwork, the research seeks to improve public health outcomes and support policies for cleaner air.
Leverage artificial Intelligence to bridge the communication gap between public citizens and transportation providers
Xinyu Hu
PhD student, civil engineering
Xinyu Hu’s research focuses on using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide practical solutions for transportation agencies to better understand and respond to public feedback. His work moves beyond traditional methods by analyzing unstructured, real-time data from platforms like Reddit, where people discuss traffic, road safety, and transit. By leveraging commercial Large Language Models (LLMs), the project generates meaningful summaries from this vast amount of public discussion, creating a continuous feedback loop for agencies. A key aim of the research is exploring the use of locally trained LLMs, which can run on an agency’s own machines to process sensitive community data securely. The resulting insights are visualized in dashboards, helping officials detect emerging problems, make informed decisions, and foster better communication with the communities they serve.
Genomics-based paleopathological inference of metastatic breast cancer from the human skeleton
Brianna Gardner
PhD student, anthropology
Brianna Gardner’s research combines paleopathology (the study of ancient diseases) and genomics to improve how anthropologists identify metastatic breast cancer in human skeletal remains. By analyzing skeletons from the University of Tennessee’s Donated Skeletal Collection, she compares documented medical histories with DNA data to trace cancer-related genetic markers. Her work addresses the challenge of diagnosing diseases like cancer from bone lesions, which often lack distinct patterns. Using advanced DNA sequencing and bioinformatics tools, Gardner identifies genetic mutations linked to breast cancer and evaluates how well different skeletal sampling locations preserve these markers. This research not only enhances our understanding of cancer in ancient populations but also provides insights into its evolution and prevalence over time, contributing to both anthropology and medical science.
Lessons from the past: Transcriptional response to high light stress in primitive Cyanobacteria Chroococcidiopsis TS-821
Mahipal Rao
PhD student, biochemistry & cellular and molecular biology
Mahipal Rao’s research investigates how cyanobacteria, ancient microorganisms that perform photosynthesis, adapt to extreme environmental conditions like high light intensity and temperature. Cyanobacteria, such as Chroococcidiopsis TS-821, are vital for Earth’s ecosystems as they produce oxygen and fix carbon dioxide. Rao focuses on understanding how these organisms regulate pigments (molecules that absorb light) to protect themselves from damage caused by excessive sunlight. Using advanced techniques like RNA sequencing and chemical analysis, he studies the genes and molecular pathways involved in pigment production and photoprotection. This research not only sheds light on the evolution of photosynthetic systems but also has practical applications, such as engineering stress-tolerant crops to improve agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.
Dumpster treasures: Reclaiming waste through arts-based research
Chris Mayer
PhD student, English
Chris Mayer’s research addresses the growing issue of campus waste, focusing on how universities, including the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, can better manage discarded items during student move-outs. Despite UT’s goal of diverting 90% of campus waste from landfills by 2050, large amounts of reusable goods—furniture, clothing, food, and electronics—are still thrown away each year. This project reclaims and catalogues these items, pairing qualitative interviews and object stories with a detailed inventory that uses EPA tools to estimate their environmental impact. The initiative will stage a dorm room installation and free food shelf and curate a virtual museum of “dumpster treasures” to engage the community and spark dialogue about waste, consumption, and more sustainable habits.
Assessing the impact of environment and management on cotton production: Could the use of DSSAT-CROPGRO-Cotton model help?
Smirti Shahi
PhD student, plant, soil, and environmental sciences
Smirti Shahi is researching how to grow cotton more efficiently and sustainably, especially in the face of changing weather and limited water resources. She uses a computer model to study how factors like rainfall, irrigation, and the timing of certain farming practices affect cotton growth and quality. By analyzing years of data and conducting field experiments in Tennessee, she hopes to help farmers choose the best cotton varieties and farming methods to save water and deal with unpredictable climate conditions. Her work aims to make cotton farming better for both farmers and the environment.