Working at one of the most prestigious science labs in the country can be intimidating, especially when you’re surrounded by some of the top researchers in the field. For three UTC students doing internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they got to experience that challenge firsthand.
Research on the road: A conversation with REU student Tauheedah Brady
Every summer, several undergraduate students at the UTC leave their comfort zones and embark on learning experiences at other universities. Tauheedah Brady, a sophomore chemical engineering major and Brock Scholar in the UTC Honors College, is one of this summer’s REU participants, taking part in the 2025 Ole Miss Chemistry REU program at the University of Mississippi.
‘Our Parks, Our People’: Three UTC students document the people behind Hamilton County parks
Hamilton County is home to numerous parks, trails, playgrounds, ball fields, dog parks and greenways. Many residents enjoy these spaces but may not think twice about who maintains them. This summer, three students from UTC set out to change that, using their internships with Hamilton County Parks and Recreation to document the people behind the scenes who keep it all running.
From the classroom to the boardroom, SMILE Fund shapes future financial analysts
The local Chattanooga community has seen an influx of SMILE Fund alums ready to work in the financial service industry, including former fund presidents Luke Johnson and Ryan Nichols.
UTC engineering student talks research and sustainability with East Ridge High juniors
Senior civil engineering major Grace Pippin loved her physics classes as a high school student, but she wasn’t sure how to turn her passion for science into a career. Then she came to UTC and heard about civil engineering.
Chattanooga from space: UTC faculty research featured by NASA
Dr. Azad Hossain’s research on Chattanooga was recently featured as NASA’s Earth Observatory “Image of the Day.” The article, “Building Out Chattanooga,” compares satellite images of Chattanooga from 2001 and 2024 to show how much the city has grown.
Through the looking glass: UTC history student helps bring city’s past into focus
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga history major Emily Kleiner spent the spring semester curating a public exhibit for the downtown Chattanooga Public Library, “Glass from the Past,” as part of her internship with Overlooked Materials, a local glass recycling service.
University High to UTC: How an incoming freshman stitched together passion and purpose
Shi Mae Bowling has known for years that she wanted to become a costume designer. What she didn’t know was that a high school initiative located on a college campus would turn that dream into a real, reachable goal—and connect her with a mentor who could help make it possible. But thanks to her time at University High, a collaboration between UTC and Hamilton County Schools, Bowling—a graduating senior from the program’s first cohort—has found guidance and a sense of belonging while earning college credit.
Final reflection: A journey of growth, purpose and community
As a participant in ThinkAchieve, an experiential learning program at UTC, Destiny Pope was asked to write a personal reflection. For Pope, what started as a class requirement quickly became something more.
‘Chattanooga’s Forgotten’: UTC students call on City Hall for safer streets
After spending a year studying walkability in Chattanooga’s Oak Grove neighborhood, students in Dr. Chandra Ward’s class brought their findings to City Hall—asking officials to make the area’s streets safer and invest more fairly in underserved communities.