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About UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) was launched by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2021, in response to?America’s need for a stronger pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent. UT-ORII is leveraging its joint UT-ORNL resources to foster an earlier interest in STEM in Tennessee schools, grow its interdisciplinary graduate programs, and accelerate collaborative discovery and innovation in convergent research initiatives of critical importance to the nation and to Tennessee. UT-ORII’s goals are for Tennessee to be known worldwide as a hub for talent and discovery; and to create a model that the U.S. Department of Energy can replicate nationally for joint research and innovation, interdisciplinary education and workforce development focused on these and other areas of greatest national importance: Advanced Manufacturing for Affordable Building Construction, Circular Bioeconomy Systems, Fusion Technology and Materials for Extreme Environments, Radiopharmaceutical Therapies, and Transportation. Duties and Responsibilities This position offers an opportunity to conduct plant science research in the laboratory of Dr. Somnath Koley within UT-ORII’s Circular Bioeconomy Systems (CBS) Convergent Research Initiative. Students will design and lead independent research projects focused on plant biochemistry. Responsibilities may include plant cultivation, biomass and phenotypic analysis, sample preparation for metabolomics, and the application of advanced techniques such as stable isotope labeling and metabolic flux analysis. Ideal candidates are creative, motivated, and eager to collaborate with industry and government partners. This role supports not only cutting-edge scientific discovery but also a collaborative research environment that expands opportunities and impact. |