University Research Advisory Committee

Complete Procedures Document

PURPOSE AND SCOPE – The University Research Advisory Committee advises the President and President’s cabinet members on strategies to stimulate growth in scholastic and externally funded research and innovative/creative activities within the university community.  The Committee advises on the development of a comprehensive structure and network of programs to foster these activities in support of all four strategic goals set forth in the University's "Tech Tomorrow" strategic plan with the following objectives as deemed necessary by the committee:

• O1:  Expand scholastic and externally funded research
• O2:  Support faculty collaboration (both internal and external) and development
• O3:  Promote cross-disciplinary and integrated programs and scholarship
• O4:  Foster undergraduate research
• O5:  Advocate for research related faculty and staff positions
• O6:  Review and evaluate administrative processes related to research
• O7:  Support technological and research related entrepreneurship

The Committee reports directly to either the Academic Council or Administrative Council, or both, depending on the matter at hand.  In carrying out its function the Committee will:

1. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges to research growth and externally funded scholarly activities at TTU;
2. Identify emerging research opportunities anticipated across the academic disciplines;
3. Make recommendations regarding intellectual and infrastructure needs required to capitalize on major research opportunities;
4. Develop plans and make recommendations for accessing, supporting and sustaining existing and emerging research thrust areas;
5. Review current practices in research administration and recommend strategies to foster research growth; and
6. Make recommendations regarding the commercialization of research and intellectual property issues.

 2020-2021 Members

Name	Classification	Campus Box No.	Email	Term Expires
Dr. Jeremy Blair	Faculty	5085	jmblair@tntech.edu	2023
Dr. Satish Mahajan	Administrative	5004	smahajan@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Jason Beach	Faculty	5042	jbeach@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Steven Anton	Faculty	5014	santon@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Tania Datta	Faculty	5015	tdatta@tntech.edu	2023
Dr. Hayden Mattingly	Faculty	5152	hmattingly@tntech.edu	2023
Dr. Adam Holley	Faculty	5051	aholley@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Kristen Deiter	Faculty	5053	kdeiter@tntech.edu	2023
Ms. Julie Brewer	Administrative	5103	jbrewer@tntech.edu	2023
Dr. Ramchandran Natarajan	Faculty	5022	rnat@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Shelia Hurley	Faculty	5001	shurley@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Brian Leckie	Faculty	5034	bleckie@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Jeff Boles, Chair	Faculty	5055	jboles@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Mark Stephens	Administrative	5136	mstephens@tntech.edu	2021
Ms. Kelly Bell	Graduate Student		kdbell42@students.tntech.edu	2021
Mr. Cody Godwin	Student		cdgodwin42@students.tntech.edu	2021
Ms. Debbie Gernt	Administrative	5037	dgernt@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Terry Saltsman	Administrative	5007	tsaltsman@tntech.edu	2022
Executive Officer to Provide Staff Support Services:	Dr. Jennifer Taylor, VP for Research
Nonvoting Resource Persons:	Mr. Greg Holt

Please visit our SharePoint site for copies of URAC minutes. Note: You must use your Tennessee Tech credentials to log into that page.

Tennessee Tech University Annual Scholastic Research Award
presented by the University Research Advisory Committee

The Annual Scholastic Research Award is a university-wide award for a single, significant and innovative work produced, published, performed or exhibited during the preceding calendar year (January 1 – December 31). 

Applications are open to all tenure-track or tenured faculty, with one award reserved for tenure-track faculty and one award reserved for tenured faculty, for a total of two awards. Each awardee will receive a monetary prize in the amount of $1,500. A faculty member who has won the award shall be ineligible for the same award for a period of three years.

A complete application consists of the following items:

1. A two-page narrative explaining the importance of the work and its relevance to the applicant's larger discipline (NB: Receipt of a grant alone does not constitute an eligible work within the parameters of this award). 

The narrative must be double-spaced with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and on each side, and must not exceed two pages.  The type must be clear, readily legible, and 12-point Times New Roman.

2. A one-page letter of support from a colleague that explains the importance and relevance of the work submitted within the context of the applicant's discipline.  The letter must be on letterhead from the evaluator's institution. The letter may come from the Tennessee Tech faculty, or from outside of Tennessee Tech.

3. Up to 3 pieces of evidence in support of the work.

Evidence can include, but is not limited to, the following: Copies of publications, compositions, programs and reviews of exhibitions or performances, or any other item attesting to the work under consideration. The items the candidate submits as evidence should serve to strengthen the narrative and serve to provide a deeper understanding of the submitted work's significance and innovation to a committee with members representing all disciplines at Tennessee Tech. 

Do not attach a bio, vitae, or resume to the application. 

Application materials must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to sstorie@tntech.edu on or before February 28, 2021. 

THE COMMITTEE WILL REJECT ANY APPLICATION THAT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE GUIDELINES EXACTLY AS SPECIFIED.

The University Research Advisory Committee will review applications each spring semester and award winners will be announced at the Faculty Recognition Reception. 

SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH AWARD WINNERS

• 2020:  Janet Isbell and Shelly Marasi
• 2019:  Dan Allcott
• 2018:  Jesse Carrick and Mohamed Mahmoud
• 2017:  Steven Canfield, Seth King and ChaBum Lee