Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

January 04, 2026 | Katelyn Biefeldt

Dr. Mina Sartipi Named Interim Vice Chancellor for Research at UTC

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce announced in late December the appointment of Dr. Mina Sartipi as interim Vice Chancellor for Research, effective January 2026.

Dr. Mina Sartipi

Mobility innovators across Tennessee and the region may know of Dr. Mina Sartipi for her innovative work on grid efficiency and data collection of intersection traffic, pedestrian patterns, and driver habits. She is the Founding Director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the UTC Research Institute.

Her contributions to research and mobility innovation have had a ripple effect across the region, putting Chattanooga on the map as a hub for mobility innovation.

For example, CUIP has collaborated extensively with local, state, and federal partners to deploy research in real-world settings, including the development of Chattanooga’s MLK Smart Corridor and other large-scale smart city initiatives focused on mobility, energy, and health.

Innovators from across the world seek to test products and data software on the Smart Corridor.

UTC (2023). Courtesy: Angela Foster

“UTC has built strong momentum by aligning faculty excellence with meaningful partnerships and applied research. I look forward to working across campus to support our researchers, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and continue expanding UTC’s role as a trusted partner in discovery, innovation, and workforce development,” Sartipi said.

Read more about Dr. Sartipi’s extensive mobility research.



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