This Friday in the Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar we’ll hear talks from Physics majors Campbell LeFort and Laura Mangrum. In his talk Spectroscopic Analysis of the β-Decay of 33Mg, Campbell will describe how he uses gamma spectroscopy to understand the deformed 33Mg nucleus. In her talk Bisector Analysis of EV Pisces, Laura will show how photon spectroscopy can be used to observe waves in the atmosphere of a star. The seminar will be at 4pm in Bruner Hall 210, with snacks served starting at 3:30pm. These seminars are geared for undergraduates from any STEM major, but graduate students and faculty are encouraged to attend!
Category: Research
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Caplenor Faculty Research Award Nominations
The Caplenor Faculty Research Award is Tennessee Tech’s highest honor bestowed upon its faculty, recognizing exceptional research and creative activity that has earned peer-reviewed recognition at the university and beyond. Award recipients demonstrate achievement beyond the expectations of tenure and promotion and continue to make meaningful contributions to their fields through publications, presentations, grant funding, and student mentorship.
Please take a moment to recognize a colleague whose outstanding work deserves broader recognition by nominating them for the 2026–27 Caplenor Faculty Research Award. Your nomination can help celebrate the remarkable talent and accomplishments of our faculty. Nominations due by December 4, 2026 to RMotykowski@tntech.edu https://www.tntech.edu/research/caplenor.php
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Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar: Emma Krebs and Emily Norris
This Friday in the Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar we’re continuing our astronomical theme with talks from Physics majors Emma Krebs (Predicting Real-time Solar X-ray Data using U-nets) and Emily Norris (Detection Feasibility of Continuous Gravitational Waves). Emma will describe how she uses machine learning techniques to enhance solar observations and Emily will examine the ability of current and next-generation technology to observe a challenging class of weak gravitational radiation. The seminar will be at 4pm in Bruner Hall 210, with snacks served starting at 3:30pm.
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Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar: Prof. Ron Wilhelm, University of Kentucky
This Friday at the Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar we’ll be visited by Professor Ron Wilhelm from the University of Kentucky. In his talk Probing Velocity Gradients in RR Lyrae Variable Stars, Professor Wilhelm will describe how he uses data from a high-resolution, high-bandpass spectrograph to study the interior dynamics of pulsating stars. The seminar will be at 4pm in Bruner Hall 210, with snacks served starting at 3:30pm. These seminars are geared for undergraduates from any STEM major, but graduate students and faculty are encouraged to attend!
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Fall 2026 Research Mix n Mingle
Connect, collaborate, and spark new ideas at the Research Mix & Mingle! Join us Friday, October 23, from 2–4 p.m. in the Eagles Nest for an informal opportunity to meet colleagues, share research interests, and explore potential collaborations across campus. Register here and contact cafe@tntech.edu with questions.
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Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar: Jack Seger, TTU Physics and Mathematics
This Friday at the Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar, Physics and Mathematics major Jack Seger will describe progress with his continuing work in the Tennessee Tech Ion Beam Lab. His talk Source Section Development and Ion Source Testing at the Tennessee Tech Ion Beam Lab will focus on studying two candidate systems for generating the ions that are to be accelerated. The seminar will be at 4pm in Bruner Hall 210 with snacks served starting at 3:30pm. These seminars are geared for undergraduates from any STEM major, but graduate students and faculty are encouraged to attend!
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Engaging with Industry Partners on TNIX
Tennessee Tech faculty and researchers are invited to a virtual session from 1-2 p.m., Oct. 7, focused on connecting with corporate partners. LaunchTN will share how to respond to partnership opportunities, publish listings that showcase your research and strengthen your profile to stand out to industry partners searching TNIX. Register online to attend.
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Dr. Mari Ramler Accepted to Human Sexuality Intensive at the Kinsey Institute
Dr. Mari Ramler, associate professor of English, has been accepted to, and awarded scholarship funding for, the Kinsey Institute’s Human Sexuality Intensive (May 12-15, 2027). She will receive specialized training on how technology trends affect how society views sex as well as conduct archival research at the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections as she works on her third book. This new book project argues that purity culture is a harmful ideology that manifests through emergent technology. Case studies include AI, OnlyFans, and the “manosphere,” among others. She has previously edited a book about purity culture (published by Penn State University Press) and written a book about religious trauma (under review at Baylor University Press).
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Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar: Levi Cullen (ME/NE) and Atlas Mannen (Phys)
This Friday in the Undergraduate STEM Research Seminar, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering major Levi Cullen and Physics major Atlas Mannen will describe some of their recent research efforts. Levi will describe his work Commissioning a Digital Data Acquisition System for Cosmic Muon Detection. Atlas will discuss an approach to Developing Python Exercises for an Undergraduate Cosmology Course. The seminar will be at 4pm in Bruner Hall 210 with snacks served starting at 3:30pm. These seminars are geared for undergraduates from any STEM major, but graduate students and faculty are encouraged to attend!
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Protecting Your Research: Intellectual Property for Faculty
Your research, software, creative work or inventions may be valuable intellectual property. Join TTAC at 11 a.m., Sept. 29, for a virtual workshop led by Michael Aikens, Ph.D. Learn the basics of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and research data, and how TTAC can help protect your work and identify opportunities for future partnerships and funding. Register online to attend.
