Research & Economic Development

Addresses:

• Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall, Room 102, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
• Tennessee Tech Clement Hall, Room 103, 1 William L Jones Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
  
  

Contacts:  

Website:  Smart Grid Lab |  CESR

Created in response to a set of Grand Challenges to allow for real hardware/software simulations involved in the ever-evolving definition of smart grids.

Offers researchers the use of generators; power grid, solar, and wind emulators; resistance loads; motor loads; a custom-developed SCADA system; a substation testbed, among other resources, to pursue such projects as cascading transmission line failure prevention in power grids, autonomous inspection of power grid assets for preventative maintenance, and testing of an inverter design for a solar emulator to accommodate for changing load.

Smart grid power systems, renewable energy integration into the grid, distributed power plant performance.

Address: Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall, Room 112, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Indranil Bhattacharya
Phone: (931) 372-3352
Email  |  Website

Battery research and high-efficiency solar cell research.  Synthesis, electro-chemical analysis and testing of lithium ion, sodium ion and emerging battery technologies.  

Address:  Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall, Room 120, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Charles VanNeste
Phone:  (931) 372-3682
Email  |  Website

Dr. VanNeste's quasi-wireless power is based on capacitance and resonant structures.  The technology can be used to:

• Power devices coupled capacitively to energized surfaces.
• Power multi-joint robots and communicate to each joint through a single conductive joint path.
• Power sensors through the soil itself.
• Wirelessly power vehicles.  

Address:  Tennessee Tech Clement Hall, Room 101, 1010 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Ying Zhang
Phone:  (931) 372-3265
Email
1.  Coating of metals and alloys for fuel cell and battery applications.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Clement Hall Room 304; 1010 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Wayne Hawkins
Phone:  (931) 372-3104
Email  |  Website

Professional personnel trained in the operation of analytical instrumentation and characterization equipment aptly complement the scientific and technical capabilities of the MSL equipment.

Morphology and topographical characterization is available for a wide range of materials, including (but not limited to) polymers, ceramics, metals (and their alloys), fibers, aggregates, and composites.  The centerpiece of the lab is an FEI Quanta 200 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) equipped with EDAX Octane Pro Detector and EDAX TEAM software for qualitative and quantitative analysis of a variety of specimens and their composing elements.  The MSL also boasts a Zygo 3D Optical Profiler for characterizing and quantifying surface roughness, step heights, critical dimensions and other topographical features.

In addition to the ESEM and Zygo 3D Optical Profiler, the MSL includes a full range of specimen preparation equipment (i.e., acid bench, automated grinding and polishing, sawing, and sputter coating).  There is also an inverted microscope with image analysis software for determining particle size and density counts, and a Vickers scale microhardness indentation device.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall 120A, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Terry Guo
Phone:  (931) 372-3102
Email:  nguo@tntech.edu

18'x18'x10' fully-covered RF Anechoic Chamber with turntable and walkway absorbers on the floor.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Clement Hall 400 & 403, 1010 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Terry Guo
Phone:  (931) 372-3102
Email:  nguo@tntech.edu

The lab is equipped with essential and advanced RF/digital equipment and Software Defined Radio (SDR) based research testbed. 

Address: Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall, Room 426, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Dan Dodson
Phone:  (931) 372-3061
Email  |  Website

State and commercially supported facility that provides interdisciplinary analytical support, ranging from assistance in setting up experimental apparatuses, training students on analytical test procedures and instrument operation, performing analytical analyses, and providing operational space for performance of research projects.

Offers bacterial and stormwater analyses for commercial and residential clients, including providing options available when treatment of drinking water supplies is needed and offering solutions to businesses in managing stormwater runoff to improve water quality of streams.

Address:  Tennessee Tech East Stadium; Rooms 100, 104, 203, 235; 1 William L Jones Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Corinne Darvennes
Phone:  (931) 372-3253
Email

1. Polymer electrolyte membrane and liquid fuel cells (PEM, direct formic acid, direct methanol) – freeze dynamics, mechanical and chemical durability testing, gas diffusion layer influence on PEM performance.
2. Acoustics, noise control, ultrasonics, nondestructive evaluation

Address:  Tennessee Tech Brown Hall, Room 127, 1 William L Jones Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Steven Anton
Phone:  (931) 372-3287
Email

1. Polymer electrolyte membrane and liquid fuel cells (PEM, direct formic acid, direct methanol) – freeze dynamics, mechanical and chemical durability testing, gas diffusion layer influence on PEM performance.
2. Acoustics, noise control, ultrasonics, nondestructive evaluation.
3. Smart materials and dynamic systems.  Study of various smart materials (piezoelectric, thermoelectric, solar, electroactive polymers, etc.) for energy harvesting, structural health monitoring, sensing, and actuation.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Foundry Building, 1 William L Jones Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: F. Vondra
Phone:  (931) 372-3527
Email
Website

The only functioning foundry in the State of Tennessee.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Prescott Hall, Room 453, 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Cynthia Rice
Phone:  (931) 372-6059
Email

Polymer electrolyte membrane and liquid fuel cells (PEM, direct formic acid, direct methanol) – freeze dynamics, mechanical and chemical durability testing, gas diffusion layer influence on PEM performance.

Address:  Tennessee Tech East Stadium, Room 227, 1010 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Stephen Canfield
Phone:  (931) 372-6359
Email

Climbing robotics, control and automation systems for robotics.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Clement Hall, Room 120, 1010 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Jiahong Zhu
Phone:  (931) 372-3186
Email

Fuel cell and battery material research.

Address: Tennessee Tech Foundation Hall, Room 330, Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Peter Li
Phone: (931) 372-3752
Email

Used by students and faculty for special analysis involving geographic information systems technology.

Address: Tennessee Tech Volpe Library, Third Floor, 1100 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Kevin Liska
Phone:  (931) 372-3337
Email  |  Website

Created as an innovation and entrepreneurship hub at Tennessee Tech that oversees virtual reality projects involving the Oculus Rift technology applied to the Governor’s Public Safety program, the Chattanooga Aquarium and the Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) program in the automotive industry.

Offers students opportunities for innovation and prototyping.

Address: Tennessee Tech Vople Library, Third Floor, 1100 N. Peachtree Ave., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact: Ismail Fidan and Terry Guo
Phone: (931) 372-6298
Email: ifidan@tntech.edu, nguo@tntech.edu
Website

Developed through a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Business to provide an interactive and collaborative space for students and faculty to use in pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial projects.

Offers a wide variety of resources and technologies to be used in fabricating prototypes for personal and academic projects through a collaborative meeting space that encourages planning and brainstorming of ideas.

Address:  Bell Hall, Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Jason Hurley
Phone:  (931) 372-6802
Email

The Nursing Simulation Lab has seven rooms. One room has exam tables and is used to learn and practice physical exams on patients.  Another has four Nursing Anne manikins and many other skill trainers and is used to learn and practice fundamental nursing skills, such as medication administration, wound care, and trach care.  The Critical Care Lab has high fidelity manikins with the ability to simulation real patient conditions and are used to run patient scenarios with students providing care.  The OB/Peds Lab is used to teach skills and critical thinking associated with pregnancies and pediatric patients.  Finally, there are three rooms used for prebriefing and preparation and debriefing.

Address:  155 W. 7th St., P.O. Box 5112, Tennessee Tech, Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Darek Potter
Phone:  (931) 372-3792
Email  |  Website

1. National leading facility in rural STEM education, providing enrichment to pre-kindergarten through college students in STEM learning through hands-on inquiry.
2. Enhances the STEM preparation of new and practicing teachers from pre-kindergarten through high school, models innovative instructional design and learning environments, conducts rigorous STEM education research, and collaborates with industry and organizations to strengthen STEM education initiatives across the region, state, and nation.
3. The STEM Center has a fully functional green-room multipurpose space that is equipped with an adjustable desk, laptop, Wacom tablet, and multi-directional cameras that can be used to record high-quality virtual lessons, and a Lending Library that includes over 7,000 educational support items that can be leased for free to support STEM education activities.  

Address:  Shipley Farm, 2395 Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, TN 38501
Contact:  Dennis Duncan
Phone:  (931) 372-3012
Email

The Horticulture Center of Tennessee Tech University’s Shipley Farm consists of approximately 15 acres with a number of growing areas and structures used for teaching, demonstration, and research purposes. The growing areas are divided into approximately 20 field plots of various sizes with one area currently dedicated to the production of grapes, blueberries, and brambles and another for ongoing American Chestnut Blight resistance research.  Additionally, the farm has two unheated gutter-connected plastic high tunnels (20’ x 70’ each), a third heated plastic high tunnel (30’ x 70’), two shade houses (16’ x 48’) that can be covered with plastic for overwintering plants, and a 30’ x 96’ climate-controlled, double-poly, Quonset style greenhouse.   Also nearby are cold frames, space for storing specialized horticultural and test plot equipment, and a shop area for supply storage and repairs. The two main buildings (Unit 1 and Unit 2) contain a total of approximately 4,400 square feet and both have greenhouses attached. Attached to Unit 1 are approximately 1,600 square feet of climate-controlled greenhouses divided into four independent growing areas. These greenhouses are used for faculty and student research projects and for teaching greenhouse enterprise production.  Unit 1 contains a classroom, an office, and a large head-house area that is used for lab activities and experiential learning opportunities.  The head-house area also contains storage areas for tools, supplies, and pesticides as well as a floral cooler and several refrigerated units for storage of seed and perishable supplies.  North of Unit 1 is the Waters' Memorial Pavilion, which is used as a general gathering or work area. Attached to Unit 2 are two greenhouses providing another 800+ square feet of climate controlled growing space.  Inside is a head-house area, the nursery manager’s office, and two laboratory areas suitable for a variety of horticultural research activities.  Unit 2 also contains plant growth chambers and several refrigerated units for storage of seed and perishable supplies . Both main buildings and the pavilion are surrounded by landscaped display gardens used for teaching and demonstration purposes. Allocation of growth chamber and greenhouse space, field plots, and work areas are available upon request through Tennessee Tech University’s School of Agriculture Farm Liaison Committee.

Address:  Tennessee Tech Matthews-Daniel Hall, Room 153, 80 W. 8th St., Cookeville, TN 38505
Contact:  Jason Beach
Phone:  (931) 372-3069
Email  |  Website

Virtual ImmerSive Interactive ObservatioN research center designed to work with immersive virtual reality and explore its impact and future in teaching, learning, and K-12 education.

The Center explores the implications of immersive virtual reality in education through faculty collaboration in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. 

Address:  Tennessee Tech Henderson Hall, Room 3, Cookeville, TN 38505 (Please note:  This lab is scheduled to move in Fall 2021 to the new science building, Room 3127.)  
Contact:  Lauren Michel
Phone:  (931) 372-3188
Email

Used to identify geologic and industrial crystalline materials.