The new faculty members are joining an institution that has positioned its research enterprise around close partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Tennessee Valley Authority. These relationships provide access to specialized facilities, large-scale computing, advanced materials laboratories and expertise in nuclear science and energy systems. University Chancellor Donde Plowman said the recruits were attracted by UT’s growing research ecosystem and by opportunities to work on problems with direct significance for Tennessee and the wider nation.

Among the most technology-focused appointments is Shaundra Daily, who is joining UT from Duke University as a professor in the College of Communication and Information. Daily studies artificial intelligence, human-centered technology and affective computing, a field that uses computational systems to recognize, interpret or respond to human emotions. Her work examines sociotechnical systems, meaning systems shaped jointly by technical tools, human users and social institutions. By designing technologies that improve participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, she investigates how AI can become more inclusive rather than simply more powerful.

Deep Jariwala, arriving from the University of Pennsylvania in 2027 as the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Quantum Devices, will focus on materials and devices for next-generation computing, sensing and communications. His research is expected to explore how emerging materials can manipulate charge, light or other physical properties at very small scales. Such materials could support specialized chips for artificial intelligence, where conventional architectures increasingly face limits in energy consumption and processing efficiency. Quantum devices may also enable sensors capable of detecting subtle changes in magnetic fields, chemical environments or biological signals.

The university is also strengthening its research in digital health through the appointment of Graham Thomas, who joined UT from Brown University as a professor and center director in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Thomas studies methods for optimizing and delivering health interventions, using digital platforms and advanced analytics to understand behavior. His work includes weight management, eating patterns and physical activity. By analyzing data from mobile devices, virtual tools and other digital systems, researchers can examine how interventions work for different individuals and adjust them over time rather than relying on a single treatment approach for everyone.

Laurent Capolungo, who is coming from Los Alamos National Laboratory as a professor in the Tickle College of Engineering, brings expertise in computational materials science. His research uses multiscale modeling to predict how materials and structures behave under extreme conditions. Multiscale approaches connect phenomena occurring at atomic or microscopic levels with the performance of components that can be meters in size. This capability is particularly important for advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy and defense, where materials may encounter intense heat, radiation, mechanical stress or corrosive environments. Better simulations can reduce development costs while helping engineers design safer and more durable systems.

Sustainable materials and circular manufacturing will be advanced through the appointment of Orlando J. Rojas, who will join UT from the University of British Columbia as the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Circular Biomaterials. Rojas studies soft matter, a category that includes polymers, gels, colloids and biological materials whose physical behavior differs from that of rigid solids. His research contributes to the development of technical textiles and biomedical materials, while also examining how renewable or discarded biological resources can replace petroleum-based feedstocks. A circular approach aims to keep materials in productive use for longer, reducing waste and the energy required to manufacture new products.

Jeffery Tomberlin, joining the UT Institute of Agriculture from Texas A&M University as the Chancellor’s Excellence Professor, will bring his pioneering work on black soldier flies. The insects are efficient decomposers whose larvae can convert organic waste into protein-rich biomass and nutrient-containing residue. This process has potential applications in animal feed, fertilizer and waste management, making it a notable example of the circular bioeconomy. Tomberlin’s research also supports forensic entomology, which uses insect development and ecological patterns to help estimate the timing and circumstances surrounding death in criminal investigations.

Two additional appointments extend UT’s reach into precision medicine and population health. Carolyn Anderson, arriving from the University of Missouri as the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Nuclear Medicine: Radiopharmaceutical Therapies, develops radioactive compounds designed to diagnose and treat disease. Radiopharmaceutical therapy agents can carry beta- or alpha-emitting radionuclides directly to cancer cells, delivering highly localized radiation. Companion positron emission tomography agents can reveal where those compounds travel in the body, helping clinicians select treatments and monitor responses. Kimberly Powell, also from Missouri, joins the College of Nursing as an associate professor specializing in precision health for aging populations. Her work examines health data, telehealth and text-messaging interventions that could make care more responsive to older adults’ needs.

Together, the eight appointments represent a deliberate expansion of UT’s research portfolio rather than a collection of isolated hires. Their fields share a common reliance on data, advanced modeling, engineered materials and partnerships across disciplines. From AI systems designed around human needs to insects that transform waste, quantum materials that could reshape computing and radiopharmaceuticals that target cancer, the researchers are working on technologies with both scientific and societal consequences. UT officials say the appointments will create new opportunities for students while accelerating collaborations with national laboratories, industry and public agencies—an approach intended to turn the university’s growing research capacity into visible advances in health, energy, manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

Subject of Research: Artificial intelligence, quantum devices, digital health, computational materials science, circular biomaterials, black soldier flies, nuclear medicine and precision health.

Article Title: University of Tennessee Recruits Eight Researchers to Expand Innovation Across AI, Quantum Science and Health

Web References: https://research.utk.edu/research-strengths/; https://research.utk.edu/partnerships/; https://news.utk.edu/2026/04/08/ut-names-new-governors-chair-for-quantum-devices/; https://news.utk.edu/2026/05/06/ut-names-governors-chair-for-circular-biomaterials/; https://news.utk.edu/2026/07/27/ut-names-governors-chair-for-nuclear-medicine/

References: University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Y-12 National Security Complex; Tennessee Valley Authority.

Image Credits: University of Tennessee

Keywords: University of Tennessee, research priorities, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital health, computational modeling, biotechnology, sustainable materials, circular bioeconomy, nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals, precision health, nursing, aging populations, black soldier flies.

Hydrothermal carbonization is a thermochemical technique that processes wet biomass, such as sewage sludge, food waste, manure, and microalgae, without requiring energy-intensive drying steps. While much research has focused on hydrochar, the solid carbonaceous product, the aqueous phase generated during the reaction has received far less attention. Traditionally, HTC-PW has been treated as a waste management challenge, often disposed of at environmental cost. However, the latest insights suggest that this liquid fraction is a reservoir of organic carbon, macro- and micronutrients, and bioactive compounds that can be harnessed to improve soil health and crop productivity.

Qingnan Chu, Xiangyu Liu, and their colleagues spearheaded this review, meticulously compiling findings from recent studies to highlight the multifaceted value embedded in HTC-PW. Their analysis reveals that this process water can contain exceedingly high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and dissolved organic matter, varying extensively depending on feedstock types and process conditions, such as temperature, residence time, and pH. For example, ammonium nitrogen levels may reach thousands of milligrams per liter, while potassium often exceeds 5,000 mg/L, positioning HTC-PW as a potent nutrient source.

Beyond its nutrient content, HTC-PW carries potential functional benefits for soils. Studies cited in the review demonstrate that when HTC-PW is prudently managed and applied, it promotes soil dissolved organic carbon, enhances nutrient retention capacity, and fosters beneficial shifts in soil microbial communities that facilitate nutrient cycling. Application trials in paddy rice fields have reported yield improvements of up to nearly 30%, alongside enhanced nutrient use efficiency, which could translate into reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and lower environmental footprints.

The versatility of HTC-PW offers exciting opportunities for tailored applications in diverse agricultural contexts. The review clarifies that its chemical composition and efficacy are strongly influenced by hydrothermal carbonization parameters. Milder HTC conditions tend to preserve more bioavailable nutrients, ideal for direct application as liquid fertilizer, while harsher treatments channel nutrients into the solid hydrochar fraction, modifying the residual aqueous phase accordingly. This tunability opens doors to customized formulations adapted to specific crops, soil types, and management objectives, from rice paddies in Asia to fertigation systems in greenhouse environments.

Nevertheless, the authors caution against unregulated or indiscriminate use of HTC-PW. Potential challenges include elevated salinity, phytotoxic organic compounds, heavy metal concentrations, and variable nitrogen forms—all of which may impact plant health and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide. To mitigate these risks, the review recommends a series of control measures: dilution to reduce salinity, pH neutralization, comprehensive bioassays to assess toxicity, stringent contaminant monitoring, and compliance with local agricultural and environmental regulations.

In addition to direct soil amendment, the review presents innovative valorization approaches that expand HTC-PW’s utility beyond fertilization. Conditioning methods such as struvite precipitation enable recovery of high-purity nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, facilitating nutrient recycling and reducing environmental discharge. Meanwhile, integrating HTC-PW into anaerobic digestion or catalytic reforming processes offers pathways to generate methane or hydrogen fuel, respectively, merging waste valorization with renewable energy production in holistic resource recovery frameworks.

From a systems perspective, life-cycle assessments and techno-economic analyses reveal nuanced outcomes dependent on application scenarios. When HTC-PW replaces synthetic fertilizers or circumvents costly wastewater treatments, the total environmental impact often decreases, lowering global warming potential and improving economic feasibility for farmers and waste processors alike. However, the review underscores the critical need for long-term, large-scale field experiments to validate these preliminary findings and to understand the broader implications for soil structure, greenhouse gas fluxes, and circular economy viability.

This synthesis marks a pivotal turning point in how researchers and practitioners perceive HTC-PW—from a problematic effluent to a valuable bioresource integrated within sustainable agriculture. The findings align with global imperatives to enhance nutrient use efficiency, reduce agrochemical dependency, and close nutrient loops in agricultural landscapes. By refining characterization methods, developing predictive models, and instituting standardized quality metrics, future research can further optimize HTC-PW utilization tailored to diverse agroecosystems, enhancing soil fertility while mitigating environmental burdens.

“Controlled, monitored application is the key,” emphasizes corresponding author Zhimin Sha. “The challenge lies in unlocking HTC process water’s full potential while safeguarding environmental and crop health. With continued innovation and rigorous field validation, we can transform what was once considered waste into a cornerstone of regenerative farming.”

In the quest for resilient food systems amid climate pressures and resource constraints, HTC process water exemplifies how scientific ingenuity is redefining waste management. This liquid byproduct—rich in carbon and nutrients—may soon become indispensable in sustainable intensification strategies, turning organic residues into energy and nutrient streams that fuel productive soils and thriving crops, driving forward a circular bioeconomy.

Subject of Research:
Process water from hydrothermal carbonization as a liquid fertilizer and soil health amendment in agriculture.

Article Title:
Process water from hydrothermal carbonization: from waste to liquid fertilizer and soil health amendment in circular bioeconomy

News Publication Date:
27-Apr-2026

References:
Chu, Q., Liu, X., Feng, Y., Li, D., Yin, S., Chen, C., & Sha, Z. (2026). Process water from hydrothermal carbonization: from waste to liquid fertilizer and soil health amendment in circular bioeconomy. Biochar, 8, 96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-026-00614-y

Image Credits:
Qingnan Chu, Xiangyu Liu, Yanfang Feng, Detian Li, Shuai Yin, Chengrong Chen & Zhimin Sha