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2023 Research and Creative Achievement

Research and Creative Achievement honors are bestowed to senior faculty in recognition of excellence in research, scholarship, and creative achievement.

Melissa Cardon

Melissa CardonMelissa S. Cardon is the Haslam Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the research director for the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Cardon’s expertise lies in the area of the psychology of entrepreneurs, including positive emotional experiences such as entrepreneurial passion and negative experiences such as stress, failure, and loneliness. Cardon’s research focuses on strategies entrepreneurs can use to maximize their mental health and well-being.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

“UT has given me opportunities to focus on research of my own, but more importantly, has enabled me to spend more time mentoring and working with PhD students across the world including in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Slovenia, and India, as well as at universities in the US, and especially at UT. Also, with UT’s support, I received and served as a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Melbourne, Australia, in 2022.”


Xueping Li

Xueping LiXueping Li is a professor and Dan Doulet Faculty Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, co-director of the Health Innovation Technology and Simulation Lab, and director of the Ideation Laboratory. His research areas include complex system modeling, simulation, and optimization with broad application in supply chain logistics, health care, and energy systems. His research has been sponsored including NSF, NIH, DOE, and HRSA, and a variety of industry partners. He holds nine creation disclosures with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

“Being a Volunteer means making an impact on the Big Orange Family and being a part of a community that values service, leadership, and excellence. UT has provided me with numerous opportunities to explore my passions and to make a difference in my field of study, enabling me to push the boundaries of my research and develop my skills as a scientist.”


Vasileios Maroulas

Vasileios Maroulas Vasileios Maroulas is an internationally recognized professor of mathematics with expertise in artificial intelligence data science. His groundbreaking work has earned him global recognition as an elected member of the International Statistical Institute, prestigious editorial positions, and a US Army Senior Research Fellowship. His cutting-edge research, funded from numerous agencies and industries, has been published in highly regarded journals, cementing his status as a leading trailblazer in the field.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

“As a UT Volunteer, I am driven to guide the next generation of researchers in minimizing the unknown and providing research opportunities that elevate their UT experience. With leading faculty and curious students building research bridges, UT is a dynamic powerhouse with a unique transdisciplinary research framework supported by visionary leadership. I am proud to be part of this community of innovation, committed to shaping the future.”


Michela Taufer

Michela TauferMichela Taufer is an ACM Distinguished Scientist and holds the Jack Dongarra Professorship in High-Performance Computing in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She earned her undergraduate degrees in computer engineering from the University of Padova (Italy) and her doctoral degree in computer science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology or ETH (Switzerland). Taufer has a long history of interdisciplinary work with scientists and research mentorship.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

“To be a Vol is to hold the torch, shadowing oneself to give light to others. At UT, my mentors have enlightened me, and I’ve given light to others. I feel very fortunate to have received such inspiring mentorship from Jack Dongarra; he has been a true role model as I conduct my research. UT has also allowed me to give light to others as I’ve continued my work to broaden participation in high-performance computing among traditionally underrepresented communities at UT and worldwide.”