Dr. Mina Sartipi (photo by Angela Foster)
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce today announced the appointment of Dr. Mina Sartipi as interim vice chancellor for research, effective January 2026.
Sartipi currently serves as the executive director of the UTC Research Institute and as the founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP). She is a Guerry Professor and UC Foundation Professor in UTC’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering and holds a joint faculty appointment with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“Mina is a highly respected faculty member in our College of Engineering and Computer Science and research leader with deep institutional knowledge and a strong record of translating research into real-world impact,” Bruce said. “Her leadership at UTCRI and CUIP, along with her ability to build strong partnerships across government, industry and academia, positions UTC well to continue advancing its research mission during this transition.”
In her current roles, Sartipi has led cross-disciplinary research initiatives that leverage Chattanooga’s city-scale mobility testbed, regional partnerships and emerging technologies. Her work has contributed to more than $35 million in funded research from federal, state and private sources, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Institutes of Health, the State of Tennessee, the City of Chattanooga and multiple industry partners.
“I am honored to serve as interim vice chancellor for research,” Sartipi said. “UTC has built strong momentum by aligning faculty excellence with meaningful partnerships and applied research. I look forward to working across campus to support our researchers, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and continue expanding UTC’s role as a trusted partner in discovery, innovation and workforce development.”
CUIP has collaborated extensively with local, state and federal partners to deploy research in real-world settings, including the development of Chattanooga’s MLK Smart Corridor and other large-scale smart city initiatives focused on mobility, energy and health.
Sartipi joined UTC as an assistant professor of computer science in 2006. She was designated as a UC Foundation Professor and a Guerry Professor in 2015 and 2020, respectively; named a faculty member of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education—jointly operated by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—in 2018; and received a joint faculty appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2023. She was also named a 2019 Chattanooga Influencer by Edge, Chattanooga’s business magazine, for her role in advancing smart city research and collaboration with public and private partners.
In addition to her academic leadership, Sartipi serves on the boards of EPB, The Enterprise Center, Chattanooga Design Studio, Siskin Hospital, and Variable, Inc., reflecting her longstanding engagement at the intersection of research, community and economic development.
Sartipi earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, and a master’s degree and doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
