CTR Annual Report 2025
Annual Report 2025
A Word from the Director
CTR closed fiscal year 2025 at $14.5 million in annual expenditures. Three years ago, that number was $8.1 million. We nearly doubled the center’s research enterprise by investing in people, partnerships, and the research areas where Tennessee has a right to lead.
Our funding base is diversified by design. Federal sponsors account for 42% of our revenue. The Tennessee Department of Transportation provides 32%. The Tennessee Highway Safety Office contributes 7%. Industry, foundations, and other state agencies make up the remaining 19%. No single sponsor dominates, and that makes CTR more resilient.
We secured $8.3 million in new awards this year across 14 funded projects. Another 19 proposals were approved and are advancing toward a contract. In total, our faculty submitted 37 proposals worth $28.7 million, a pipeline that reflects both the ambition and the competitiveness of this team. TDOT funded 13 new projects spanning pavement performance, aeronautics, freight waterways, data systems, and the I-24 Smart Corridor evaluation. Our freight university transportation center, FERSC, moved into its third year of research across a six-institution consortium. We also launched two new platform projects funded by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: one to build a statewide automotive cybersecurity testing capability, and another to develop an AI-driven disaster management platform, each at $500,000.
Our faculty and students showed up. At the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., they presented in 54 poster and lectern sessions. I spoke on the convergence of electric vehicles and autonomous technology at the Electric Mobility Innovations Conference in Cleveland, Tennessee, on AI for transportation at the UTK Sparks event, and on cybersecurity for airport ground transportation at the national Airport Ground Transportation Association conference. These are the stages where CTR’s work reaches the people who fund and use it.
Our outreach programs reached deeper into Tennessee this year. #GetConvinced held 21 teen driver safety events, engaging more than 2,300 high school students. Tennessee Vans delivered its 1,162nd vehicle and added 8 new nonprofit partners, bringing the program’s reach to 362 organizations statewide. We hosted visiting scholar Vladyslav Panchenko through the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program, as well as Alphonse Nkurunziza from the University of Rwanda. And two of our graduate research assistants, Matthew Davis and Allison Rewalt, were named UTC Outstanding Students of the Year.
The path forward is clear. We are competing for the next generation of federal transportation center awards. We are deepening our partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the UT-ORII Transportation Convergent Research Initiative. And we are expanding CTR’s capacity in cybersecurity, freight resilience, and advanced mobility. This center was built to lead, and FY2025 showed exactly that.
Kevin Heaslip, P.E.
Professor and Director
Center for Transportation Research
Finances
Awards vs. Expenditures Over Time
Awards and Expenditures by Purpose
| Researcher | Awards funded by PI FY25 | Total 2025 Sponsor Expenditures by PI | Total 2025 Cost Match Expenditures by PI | Total 2025 Expenditures & Cost Match by PI |
| Baoshan Huang | $250,000 | $203,056 | $203,056 | |
| Khalid Alshibli | $177,601 | $142,132 | $142,132 | |
| Andrew Yu | $299,999 | $134,080 | $134,080 | |
| Lee Han | $449,473 | $518,072 | $518,072 | |
| Jerry Everett | $1,367,734 | $4,459,041 | $236,246 | $4,695,287 |
| Matthew Cate | $92,200 | $684,860 | $684,860 | |
| DeAnna Flinchum | – | $604,325 | $604,325 | |
| Mingzhou Jin | $150,000 | $1,336,312 | $114,012 | $1,450,323 |
| Kevin Heaslip | $1,688,730 | $1,263,544 | $139,289 | $1,402,833 |
| Chris Cherry | $2,221,876 | $400,115 | $80,986 | $481,100 |
| Candace Brakewood | $47,727 | $140,919 | $140,919 | |
| Subhadeep Chakraborty | – | $29,249 | $29,249 | |
| Qiang He | – | $61,768 | $61,768 | |
| Asad Khattak | $75,000 | $184,154 | $184,154 | |
| John Ma | $250,000 | $114,965 | $114,965 | |
| Marcella Kaplan | – | $96,831 | $96,831 | |
| Donald Maier | $250,000 | $170,837 | $170,837 | |
| Hongyu Zhou | $250,000 | $37,593 | $37,593 | |
| Haochen Li | – | $37,593 | $37,593 | |
| Kai Huang | $250,000 | $37,970 | $37,970 | |
| Yangsong Gu | $200,000 | $40,543 | $40,543 | |
| Jiangbiao He | $287,064 | $81,285 | $5,794 | $87,079 |
| John Schwartz | – | $18,299 | $18,299 | |
| Total by Researchers | $8,307,403 | $10,797,541 | $576,326 | $11,373,867 |
| Other | Total Other Expenditures | Less Cost Share | Total 2025 Expenditures | |
| BASE Expenditures | $625,758 | ($40,634) | $585,124 | |
| RIF Expenditures | $470,542 | ($47,871) | $422,671 | |
| Training/Workshops | $240,711 | $240,711 | ||
| Startup/Kevin | $111,868 | $111,868 | ||
| TN Vans | $1,419,995 | $1,419,995 | ||
| AGTA | $47,814 | $47,814 | ||
| TEAM TN | $99,085 | $99,085 | ||
| NTRC | $218,977 | $218,977 | ||
| Total Other Expenditures | $3,234,749 | ($88,505) | $3,146,244 |
| Overall Total Expenditures | $14,520,111 |
Funding Sources in FY2025
CTR’s research is supported by a mix of state, federal, and other competitive funding sources that reflect the center’s broad impact and strong partnerships.
Major support from the Tennessee Department of Transportation enables applied research addressing infrastructure performance, safety, data systems, freight, aviation, and emerging technologies. Federal funding from agencies including USDOT, DOE, and EPA supports national university transportation centers and research initiatives. Additional funding from state agencies, foundations, universities, and industry partners advances work in traffic safety, micromobility, electrification, cybersecurity, and data innovation.
Together, these funding sources allow CTR to deliver research-driven solutions that contribute to national transportation priorities.
Awards by Source
| Source | Project Title | PI | Award Amount |
| TDOT | Task Order under UTAP Grant for Phase II of TDOT Aeronautics Crack Determination | Andrew Yu | $99,999 |
| TDOT | Evaluating the Economic Effects of Rail Connectivity Enhancements in Tennessee: A Multi-Case Analysis | Andrew Yu | $200,000 |
| TDOT | A Balanced Approach to Performance of OGFC | Baoshan Huang | $250,000 |
| TDOT | Active Transportation Quick-Build Program Guidelines | Christopher Cherry | $250,000 |
| TDOT | Navigating Possibilities: Unlocking Tennessee’s Waterways for Interstate Freight Transportation | Donald Maier | $250,000 |
| TDOT | Development of an Artificial Intelligence Tool for Accurate Utility Relocation Cost Estimation in Tennessee | Hongyu Zhou | $250,000 |
| TDOT | Evaluation and Optimization of Retro-reflectivity Life of Cost-effective Pavement Markings | Kai Huang | $250,000 |
| TDOT | Foundation Assessment for Reuse of Existing Foundations | Khalid Alshibli | $177,601 |
| TDOT | TDOT Data Management with Innovative Technologies Research Implementation Support (DMITRIS) – 1 | Lee Han | $199,473 |
| TDOT | Real-Time TDOT Customer Satisfaction Visualization for Strategic Decision Support | Lee Han | $200,000 |
| TDOT | Evaluating the Impacts of I-24 Smart Corridor Strategies (RRFP No. 19) | Lee Han | $50,000 |
| TDOT | Benefit-Cost Dashboard Development for Tennessee Highway Beautification Efforts | Yangsong Gu | $200,000 |
| TDOT | Use of Confinement reinforcement in prestressed concrete beams to improve resistance to impacts from overheight loads | Zhongguo Ma | $250,000 |
| Total TDOT Awards | $2,627,073 | ||
| NCA&T (USDOT) | Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) | Asad Khattak | $75,000 |
| UNM (USDOT) | Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety | Christopher Cherry | $343,036 |
| US-EPA | Mobility and Transportation Options for Preventing Air Pollution and Improving PH/CR | Christopher Cherry | $100,000 |
| ORNL UT Battelle (DOE) | Fuel Economy Information Program | David Clarke | $400,000 |
| NCA&T (USDOT) | Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) | Jerry Everett | $75,000 |
| NCA&T (USDOT) | Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) | Jerry Everett | $30,000 |
| NCA&T (USDOT) | Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) | Jerry Everett | $331,210 |
| ORNL UT Battelle (DOE) | Fuel Economy Information Program | Kevin Heaslip | $150,000 |
| USDOT | Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain (FERSC) | Kevin Heaslip | $982,590 |
| USDOT | Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain (FERSC) | Mingzhou Jin | $982,590 |
| Total Federal Awards | $3,469,425 | ||
| THSO | Judicial Outreach Liaison (JOL) | Jerry Everett | $428,031 |
| THSO | 2024-2025 Get Convinced/Teen Safety | Jerry Everett | $96,667 |
| THSO | 2024-2025 Statewide Observational Survey of Seat Belt Use in Tennessee | Matthew Cate | $92,200 |
| Total THSO Awards | $616,898 | ||
| TDECD | Designing Multimodal Transit for Blue Oval City and Volkswagen | Candace Brakewood | $30,000 |
| California Air Resources Board | Quantification Methodology Development for Electric Bicycle Incentive Projects | Christopher Cherry | $1.400 |
| California Air Resources Board | Quantification Methodology Development for Electric Bicycle Incentive Projects | Christopher Cherry | $12,600 |
| University of Wisconsin (WDOT) | Ped Visibility to Tall Vehicles | Christopher Cherry | $43,000 |
| AAA Foundation | Safety of micromobility: Regulations, Data, and Stakeholders | Christopher Cherry | $202,066 |
| SGVCG | SGV E-bike incentive program | Christopher Cherry | $84,998 |
| Arnold Ventures | Toward developing a national and open police-reported traffic crash data repository | Christopher Cherry | $71,076 |
| Florida State University | IZEA – Integrated Zero-Emission Aviation using a Robust Hybrid Architecture | Jiangbiao He | $47,727 |
| Florida State University | IZEA – Integrated Zero-Emission Aviation using a Robust Hybrid Architecture | Jiangbiao He | $101,140 |
| TDECD | TNGO Award: Building Platform for Development of Automotive Cybersecurity Testing | Kevin Heaslip | $500,000 |
| TDECD | AI-driven Disaster Management Platform | Kevin Heaslip | $500,000 |
| Other Awards | $1,594,007 |
| TDOT | $2,627,073 |
| Federal | $3,469,425 |
| THSO | $616,898 |
| Other | $1,594,007 |
| Total Awards | $8,307,403 |
Proposals
Strong proposals allow CTR to advance cutting-edge research, support student and workforce development, and deliver data-driven insights that improve safety, mobility, and infrastructure for Tennessee and beyond.
| Project Title | PI | Agency | Proposed Amount | Status |
| Advancing Access to Innovative E-Cargo and E-Family Bicycles | Christopher Cherry | San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments | $99,999 | Proposal Approved |
| Building Platform for Development of Automotive Cybersecurity Testing | Kevin Heaslip | Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development | $500,000 | Funded |
| PATH-TN | Candace Brakewood | University of Memphis (UM) | $34,872 | Funded |
| Toward developing a national and open police-reported traffic crash data repository | Christopher Cherry | Arnold Ventures | $94.562 | Funded |
| Baltimore E-Hub | Marcella Kaplan | Burroughs Wellcome Fund | – | Proposal Approved |
| Eye Glance Metrics | Samantha Haus | toXcel, LLC | $294,753 | Proposal Approved |
| Navigating Possibilities: Unlocking Tennessee’s Waterways for Interstate Freight Transportation | Donald Maier | Tennessee Department of Transportation | $250,000 | Funded |
| NASA ULI IZEA | Jiangbiao He | Florida State University (FSU) | $250,000 | Funded |
| Driver Body Position and Readiness to Respond when using L2 Systems | Samantha Haus | toXcel, LLC | $398,886 | Proposal Approved |
| Integrated EV Charger-Inverter System | Jiangbiao He | Western Michigan University (WMU) | $564,688 | JIT Request Approved |
| Prevalence of Various Forms of Distractions and Factors that Influence Driver Engagement | Asad Khattak | AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety | $449,725 | Proposal Approved |
| BTSCRP BTS38 | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine | $550,000 | Proposal Approved |
| NCHRP 08-185 | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine | $450,000 | Proposal Approved |
| Multi-State Assessment of Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab | Jerry Everett | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NCAT) | $149,800 | Funded |
| Connecting Underserved Rural Populations that have Disabilities to Automated Vehicle Technology for Improved Access and Mobility | Asad Khattak | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NCAT) | $149,999 | Funded |
| Equity 360 Change Delivery and Performance Monitoring | Jerry Everett | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NCAT) | $60,003 | Funded |
| Khattak: NCHRP 2024 | Asad Khattak | Metro Analytics | $49,998 | Proposal Approved |
| TEAM TN | Robert Gibson | US – NSF – National Science Foundation | $16,026,579 | Proposal Approved |
| Crash Prediction Methods for Long-Duration Work Zones | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | Transportation Research Board | $700,000 | Proposal Approved |
| IMPRES | Marcella Kaplan | Barron Associates | $60,000 | Withdrawn |
| AI Pavement Tool | Marcella Kaplan | University of Arizona (UA) | $55,000 | Proposal Approved |
| Amendment to TDOT RES2023-18 | Lee Han | Tennessee Department of Transportation | $50,000 | Funded |
| CR2C2 Year 3 | Jerry Everett | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NCAT) | $656,991 | Funded |
| FERSC Year 3 | Kevin Heaslip | DOT – US Department of Transportation | $3,014,036 | Proposal Approved |
| Multimodal AI for Automated Crash Typing | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | DOT – FHWA – NCHRP – National Cooperative Highway Research Program | $150,000 | Proposal Approved |
| Mobility and Transportation Options for Preventing Air Pollution and Improving PH/CR | Christopher Cherry | ActiveSVG | $100,000 | Funded |
| Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety | Christopher Cherry | University of New Mexico (UNM) | $621,375 | Proposal Approved |
| CIWalk | Katherine Asmussen | Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) | $19,716 | Proposal Approved |
| Examining the Pre-Crash Circumstances Leading to Pedestrian Fatalities | Samantha Haus | AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety | $378,176 | Proposal Approved |
| High Obesity Program | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | HHS – CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | $20,226 | Funded |
| AAA Infrastructure Improvement | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety | $299,986 | Proposal Approved |
| TNGO NTT Data | Kevin Heaslip | Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development | $500,000 | Funded |
| SGV E-bike incentive program I-10 Expressway evaluation | Christopher Cherry | San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments | $75,000 | Proposal Approved |
| SS4A | Rudolfo Reyes | DOT – US Department of Transportation | $296,911 | JIT Request Approved |
| PROTECT-CMV | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | DOT – FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin | $300,000 | Proposal Approved |
| CMV Enforcement Optimization | Mohammad Razaur Shaon | DOT – FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin | $599,961 | JIT Request Approved |
| Data Purchase OTH2023-01E-10 FY25 | Jerry Everett | Tennessee Department of Transportation | $396,108 | Funded |
| Total Value of Proposals | Number of Proposals | |
| FY25 Total Proposals | $28,667,350 | 37 |
| Funded Proposals | $3,212,561 | 14 |
| Approved Proposals | $23,933,229 | 19 |
| JIT Request Approvals | $1,461,560 | 3 |
| Withdrawn | $60,000 | 1 |
Partner Centers
The University of Tennessee is an R1 research institution that recognizes the value of collaboration. The Center for Transportation Research partners with other departments, colleges within the university, and schools across the United States to develop programs and share research.
The Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP) is an interdisciplinary network of scholars and partners that extends across the University of Tennessee, to every level of government, the nonprofit sector, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and industry representatives.
The Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient & Resilient Supply Chain (FERSC) is a Tier 1 University Transportation Center consortium led by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) is a Tier-1 University Transportation Center led by the University of New Mexico (UNM) (UTC) and supported by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) The Transportation Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) was initially funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2023. CR2C2 is set to operate as the Region 4 University Transportation Center (UTC), tasked with tackling transportation hurdles in the southeastern United States, covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Programs
CTR’s programs, including #GetConvinced, AMIL, TTAP, Rail Training, and Tennessee Vans, advance the Center’s mission by applying research and expertise to effective, real-world transportation solutions. Collectively, these programs support workforce development and provide technical assistance and guidance to transportation agencies, operators, and system users to enhance safety and mobility across Tennessee.
#GetConvinced
Teachers and event planners hosted 21 #GetConvinced teen driver safety events over the past twelve months. These events enabled the Center for Transportation Research staff and student interns involved in the program to reach over 2,300 high school students with interactive driving safety messaging and activities. During these events, many of these teenagers rode our “Seatbelt Convincer,” a crash simulator that shows riders how seatbelts save lives by demonstrating a 5-7 MPH crash.
In addition to the Seatbelt Convincer, students who attended #GetConvinced events participated in fun activities such as Kahoot quizzes, an Oculus virtual reality distracted driving demonstration, and sobriety tests with Fatal Vision drunk goggles.
This fiscal year, #GetConvinced acquired a GoKart and a golf cart, which will enable students to have more realistic simulated impaired and distracted driving experiences.
Thank you to the teachers and event planners at the Sevierville Police Department, Halls High School, the Tickle College of Engineering, Career Magnet Academy, Lakeway Christian Academy, Bearden High School, Cocke County High School, Karns High School, South Doyle High School, Heritage High School, the TN SRO conference, Hardin Valley Academy, Grainger High School, and Farragut High School for hosting the #GetConvinced program.
Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab
The Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab (AMIL) program is dedicated to advancing STEM education and fostering innovation. Our mission is to create enhanced educational opportunities for rural/urban core students through hands-on learning and exposure to cutting-edge transportation technologies. By creating and implementing the AMIL program, we aim to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technologists. Our focus on eye-catching demonstrations and project-based learning ensures that students learn about STEM principles and see their real-world applications.
STEM Education
- Use transportation technologies to teach STEM concepts
- Provide hands-on activities for students
- Train teachers to implement transportation themed & standards-based lessons
On-Site Demonstrations
- Display a real-life transportation scenario with active student participation
- Expose students to advanced transportation Vehicles and tools
Career Exposure
- Use the Demonstration and activities to introduce students to the various career paths in transportation and STEM
TTAP
TTAP is a part of the Federal Highway Administration’s nationwide Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) network. As Tennessee’s LTAP center, TTAP carries out this mission by providing training, technical assistance, news and announcements, and web-based resources. Our audience includes employees of cities, towns, and counties; state government; private consultants and contractors; and other individuals and organizations with a role in planning, building, maintaining, and improving Tennessee’s roadways.
TTAP is a program of the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research and is made possible by financial support from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
- Tennessee Academy of Transportation Engineering (TATE)
- TATE offers a coordinated series of classes that address current topics in design, operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities.
- Traffic Signal Academy
- A set of courses which focus on improving the overall quality of traffic signal operations in the U.S. through education.
- Road Safety Champions
- Information on common roadway safety issues, tools to help recognize and prioritize safety concerns, and best practices for safer roadways.
- TTAP Training
- Continuing education covering a broad range of transportation topics with an emphasis on local and rural roads.
Rail Training
The University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research has provided education and training to the railroad industry for over 30 years. The list below describes courses currently offered. CTR will develop and present customized courses to address client needs.
- Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standards
- Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standards for High-Speed Rail
- Track Inspection and Safety Standards for Rail Transit Systems
- Basic Railroad Track Maintenance
- Railroad Track Design
- Advanced Railroad Track Geometry
- Railroad Timber Bridge Inspection and Maintenance
- Railroad Steel Bridge Inspection and Maintenance
- Railroad Bridge Worker Safety
- Railroad Freight Car Inspection for Interchange and Safety
- Roadway Worker Protection – An Overview
CTR Director Emeritus Dr. David Clarke is a current lecturer and one of the premier academic experts on rail transportation. His 43-year career includes extensive experience in railroad education, research, and engineering. He has taught in the center’s railroad continuing education program since 1992, with courses in various railway engineering topics taught throughout the United States and internationally. Dr Clarke brings experience gained through over 25 years as a consulting engineer to his classes. He is a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. (AREMA)
Tennessee Vans
Tennessee Vans (TN Vans) facilitates personal mobility throughout Tennessee by assisting public agencies, private groups, and non-profit organizations by providing transportation services. TN Vans is operated by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research, and the program provides vehicles to the community through its agency purchase program.
The Agency Purchase Program allows qualified community agencies to purchase vehicles through an affordable financing plan. TN Vans has currently distributed 1,162 vehicles to participants across Tennessee. The program has added 8 new Tennessee Nonprofits in 2025 to their participant list. TN Vans has now have worked with 362 different nonprofits across the State of Tennessee.
Events
During fiscal year 2025, the Center for Transportation Research advanced its mission by leveraging University of Tennessee resources to support transportation research, workforce development, and professional collaboration. Through engagement with students, professionals, industry partners, and public agencies, CTR shared research, promoted emerging technologies, and provided guidance that supported informed decision-making and effective transportation solutions, reinforcing its commitment to excellence and integrity in service to the transportation community.
Engineers Day
Tickle College of Engineering, UTK
The University of Tennessee College of Engineering hosted this event on October 17, 2024 for prospective college students. Organizations hosted booths highlighting the role and impact of engineering, including CTR’s #GetConvinced booth, which featured the seatbelt Convincer, a crash force and G-force poster, and engineering and driver safety trivia.
Smoky Mountain Mobility Conference
Chattanooga, Tennessee
This conference on October 28th through 30th, 2024 focused on advancing a smart, clean, secure, and safe future for transportation. Dr. Michelle McGuffin represented TEAM TN in talks with other leaders to discuss technology, policy, and equity.
UT Energy and Environmental Fair
Herbert College of Agriculture, UTK
This event, held on October 31, 2024, highlighted how the University of Tennessee is advancing energy initiatives while prioritizing environmental stewardship. Director Kevin Heaslip represented the Future Mobility Institute, while Dr. Michelle McGuffin and Marissa Maurer engaged attendees in discussions about CTR’s current research.
TNMUG Meeting
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Dr. Jerry Everett represented the center at the Tennessee Model Users Group (TNMUG) meeting December 3rd and 4th, 2024. TNMUG’s objective is to support travel demand modeling research and practices.
Transportation Research Board 2025 Annual Meeting
Washington, D.C.
This meeting is the largest global gathering for transportation professionals, bringing thousands from government, industry, and academia to discuss all modes of transport, focusing on innovation, research, and policy. From January 5th through 8th, 54 poster and lectern sessions were populated by research from faculty associated with the university and with CTR.
Electric Mobility Innovations Conference
Cleveland, Tennessee
On February 28, 2025 at the Smart Factory Institute, Director Kevin Heaslip spoke about the future of automotive intelligence: merging EVs with autonomous technology. From panel discussions on sustainable battery solutions to workshops on scaling EV production, this event provided actionable strategies to address industry challenges and seize opportunities.
Sparks AI and Industry Event
College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies, UTK
Director Kevin Heaslip spoke on AI for Transportation
at this event on March 4th, 2025. Heaslip noted the importance of not just making AI models that are fast and efficient, but also robust. “Technically, the car is working as it’s programmed to—avoiding obstacles. But, AI doesn’t have a soul to know that this tree isn’t a legitimate threat,” Heaslip said. “Creating models that can adapt will be key.” In addition to the presentations, industry partners of the college were encouraged to network with UTK faculty and students in attendance.
Smart Mobility Conference
Nashville, Tennessee
CTR faculty and staff attended the 3rd Annual Smart Mobility Conference on April 4–5, 2025. The event fostered dialogue among academia, industry, and government leaders on the future of mobility in Tennessee and featured innovative exhibits alongside student research posters.
UTK Volunteer Electric Vehicle Experience
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
AJ Knowles, a sociology PhD student, represented the Center for Transportation Research on Earth Day, April 22, 2025, at the Volunteer Electric Vehicle Experience hosted by Drive Electric Tennessee. He engaged with students interested in advancing transportation technologies.
2025 Drive Electric Tennessee Momentum Summit
Middle Tennessee State University
This summit was sponsored by Drive Electric Tennessee and held on June 24th, 2025. At this event Dr. Kevin Bai participated in the EVs in Higher Education panel, Dr. Marcella Kaplan chaired a table discussion around TEAM TN, and Dr. Michelle McGuffin answered questions throughout the day as a booth representative of CTR and TEAM TN.
Airport Ground Transportation Association Conference
San Antonio, Texas
Director Kevin Heaslip shared his insights on safeguarding digital systems for airport ground transportation at this event on September 21st through 24th, 2025. Dr. Heaslip discussed strategies, challenges, and best practices to protect this vital part of an organization’s digital infrastructure. Investing in cyber safety improves operational efficiency and ensures businesses can continue operating smoothly.
TEAM TN “From Learning to Earning” Conference
Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Smyrna
This meeting was coordinated through Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and held on November 7th, 2025. Colleges, industry partners and STEM students from across Tennessee explored innovative strategies for aligning academic programs with workforce needs, building stronger industry-academic partnerships and preparing the next generation of STEM leaders.
2025 Engineering Expo
Knoxville, Tennessee
At this event on September 30th, 2025 the UT CTR communications team met with engineering students to talk about the research and programs at CTR and our open positions. This also served as a networking event.
Visiting Scholar
Vladyslav Panchenko
The UT Center for Transportation Research (CTR) hosted Vladyslav Panchenko this fall as part of the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program administered by American Councils for International Education. Panchenko spent four weeks at the University of Tennessee engaging with faculty and researchers across multiple disciplines.
The BridgeUSA program supports collaboration between Ukrainian and American educators and researchers through joint research, shared teaching practices, course development, and scholarly publications, with the long-term goal of helping Ukrainian universities train specialists critical to the country’s reconstruction and recovery.
Panchenko, whose research focuses on electrical engineering, worked with faculty from the Tickle College of Engineering’s Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and CTR. During his visit, he observed classes, participated in technical discussions, delivered presentations, and explored opportunities for future research collaboration.
Through these activities, Panchenko gained insight into the U.S. higher education system and electrical engineering curriculum, knowledge he plans to apply within Ukrainian academic programs upon his return.
Media
Local News Coverage
Improving safety on the roads: UT Traffic Signal Academy trains future operators across the state and the country
UT Traffic Signal Academy trains future operators across Tennessee
Have you ever wondered how traffic signals work? Here’s a look behind the scenes
Tennessee Vans Interviews
Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED)
Uunik Academy and STEAMI Learning Institute
Wesley House Community Center
University Press
UT Research: A team led by Airton Kohls created one of nine projects that will receive the first round of funding from AI TechX.
Tickle College of Engineering: UT Team Lead by Dr. Kevin Heaslip Awarded $1 Million through Transportation Network Growth Opportunity Initiative
Tickle College of Engineering: Ukrainian Professor Gains Valuable Insight at UT
University of Toronto: Mobility Network Post Doc Spotlight: Usman Ahmed
UT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: UT Awarded $1 Million through Transportation Network Growth Opportunity Initiative
UT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: CTR Affiliated Faculty Member – Calderón’s Research Seeks to Ease Freight Congestion
UT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: CTR Graduate Research Assistants Davis, Rewalt Named UTC Outstanding Students of the Year