Elementary school summer campers recently had the opportunity to experience science firsthand thanks to the Rocket Mocs. The young campers participated in every step of the process, creating, designing, decorating and finally retrieving their rockets after they were launched.
Headstrong: One stubborn puppy, one determined student
For UTC mechanical engineering grad student Connor Mackey, what started as an engineering experiment quickly turned into a year-long test of creativity, grit and compassion. With no blueprint to follow, Mackey leaned into his problem-solving instincts—producing more than a dozen helmet prototypes for a tiny puppy.
UTC mechanical engineering professor Murat Barisik receives prestigious NSF CAREER Award
Dr. Murat Barisik, assistant professor in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Mechanical Engineering and a leading researcher in nanoscale heat transfer, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
UTC students putting the pedal to the metal to perform at fall Baja competition
The Racing Mocs have registered to travel to Gray Court, South Carolina, in October to compete in the 2025 Baja SAE® Carolina competition. The event showcases student-built all-terrain vehicles by subjecting them to multiple dynamic and endurance tests.
Two UTC mechanical engineering professors honored by national organization
Two members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science, UC Foundation Associate Professor Trevor Elliott and Associate Professor Reetesh Ranjan, have earned national recognition from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)—the world’s largest aerospace technical society.
Launch point: Rocket Mocs aim high in NASA competition
The Rocket Mocs have plans to ascend to new heights. The team, comprised of junior and senior mechanical engineering students in the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been accepted into the 2025 Student Launch Challenge—an annual competition sponsored by NASA—for the seventh consecutive year.
Mechanical engineering graduate solving problems on the football field
UTC nickelback Reuben Lowery III is one of two Mocs named to the prestigious Senior Bowl Watchlist, but he is better known off the football field for his academics, including a 3.78 GPA and a degree in engineering.
Tiny helmet, big hope: Engineering compassion for a Chihuahua in need
When the call came from the Humane Educational Society seeking assistance for a puppy requiring special care, UTC mechanical engineering faculty member Trevor Elliott and recent graduate Connor Mackey were “all in.” Niblet, a 2.5-pound Chihuahua puppy, had arrived at the shelter with a soft spot on the top of his head—about one and a half centimeters in diameter—indicating that his skull had not fully fused.
UTC engineering prof wins prestigious NSF CAREER award
While Dr. Hamdy Ibrahim’s career is considered to be in its early stages today, the National Science Foundation has just cast a big vote of confidence in its future. Ibrahim, a UTC assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is the recipient of a CAREER award from the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program.
Rocket Mocs preparing for NASA competition
For the fifth consecutive year, the Rocket Mocs have qualified for the NASA United Student Launch Initiative (USLI) Challenge. The team has to build a rocket that can reach an altitude of at least 4,000 feet—but no higher than 6,000 feet—for their competition launch.