UT Austin Research

Reflecting on an incredible year of innovation! We're thrilled to showcase the groundbreaking research at The University of Texas at Austin that has made a lasting impact far beyond the Forty Acres. Explore our new Year of Impact website?to learn how UT researchers, scholars and creators are changing lives and communities by making discoveries and mobilizing knowledge ?? https://lnkd.in/eAZagzzh #TexasResearch?#WhatStartsHere?#ItStartsWithResearch?#Impact

How do robots learn to work with humans? At The University of Texas at Austin, Christina Petlowany, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at the Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, is deepening our understanding of human-robot interaction at Texas Robotics. She studies how humans process visual information in different mental states and how that affects robot teamwork and decision-making. Her work helps create autonomous systems that can adjust their behavior based on human physiological and emotional states, making human-machine collaboration more intuitive and effective. This research has major implications for defense, disaster aid, self-driving cars, and beyond. ?? Read more about Christina’s work and its fascinating applications here: https://bit.ly/3FElqQJ #UTAustin #TexasRobotics #RoboticsResearch #UTResearch #WhatStartsHere #AutonomousSystem #AI #Innovation #DefenseResearch

???? Microplastics, meet your match. Thanks to a nontraditional research collaboration between a chemist and a transportation engineer, University of Texas researchers Carlos Baiz and Christian Claudel are developing an autonomous rover to track and analyze microplastic pollution along Texas beaches. This groundbreaking project—powered by machine vision, infrared detection, and robotics—started as a spark at our Associate Professor Experimental (APX) retreat and has evolved into a fully funded, three-year mission to tackle environmental pollution head-on. Building on this initiative, the research has expanded into another project in partnership with the Marine Science Institute, led by researcher Zhanfei Liu. ?? Read more about this innovative research: https://lnkd.in/g3y6D3Hd #UTResearch #Microplastics #Sustainability #MachineVision #Engineering #TexasResearch #WhatStartsHere #ItStartsWithResearch

On March 17,?Lorena G Moscardelli?will take the helm of the?Bureau of Economic Geology, the oldest and second largest research institution at UT. Founded in 1909, the bureau is the largest unit within the?Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin?and is the State of Texas Geological Survey, which advises state decision makers and agencies on issues related to state resources. As director, Moscardelli will also serve as the state geologist of Texas. Read more:?https://utex.as/41Lu33h

Join us Wednesday, April 2nd, for a discussion on creative energy solutions for industries that cannot be easily electrified. Moderator Michael Baldea, Professor, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, will be joined by Robin Bodtmann, Managing Director, Capsol Technologies ASA, Amy Hebert, CEO, Arcadia eFuels, and Kelsie Van Hoose, PE, MBA, Director, New Energy Ventures for an insightful dialog. ? ? This panel is part of Energy Week, March 31–April 4, 2025, The University of Texas at Austin’s premier energy event, hosted by Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin and Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center, that features expert-led panels, research presentations, mini-symposia, and dynamic networking opportunities for students, researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers. Energy Week is FREE and open to the public. RSVP: https://bit.ly/4jBEP4o? ? #Electricity #CleanEnergy #Decarbonization #Industrialdecarbonization #ChemicalEngineering?

Did you know that advancing next-generation battery chemistries is essential for meeting the growing energy storage demands of electrification? Cutting-edge research is driving the discovery of novel materials to enable more efficient, scalable, and sustainable solutions. Revisit a recent expert-led seminar where Assistant Professor Kent Zheng from the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin provided an in-depth look at the evolving battery landscape. He explored the breakthroughs shaping the future of energy storage and the innovations accelerating sustainable material discovery. Don’t miss the key insights from this essential conversation on the future of batteries and the energy transition! https://lnkd.in/e35ceFzY

Debra Umberson is changing how we understand grief, showing that bereavement is more than a personal experience—it’s a public health issue. Her research examines how loss affects health over a lifetime and has helped shape national policies, including securing bereavement leave for U.S. service members. At UT, researchers like Umberson turn bold ideas into real-world impact, advancing knowledge that improves lives and strengthens communities. Learn more about Umberson and other UT Changemakers: https://lnkd.in/gDVYAXF2 #ItStartsWithResearch #TexasResearch #WhatStartsHere

Improved brain decoder holds promise for communication in people with aphasia. People with aphasia — a brain disorder affecting about a million people in the U.S. — struggle to turn their thoughts into words and comprehend spoken language. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have demonstrated an AI-based tool that can translate a person’s thoughts into continuous text without requiring the person to comprehend spoken words. They are working with #TEXASMoody professor Maya Henry, who studies aphasia, to test whether their improved brain decoder works for people with aphasia. Learn more about this research: https://lnkd.in/gxytFMR9

We are thrilled to share that two of our outstanding junior faculty, Berkin D?rtdivanl?o?lu and Javad Mohammadi, have received the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award! Their dedication to pioneering research and education continues to push the boundaries of innovation. With their awards, the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering now has eight assistant professors holding NSF CAREER Awards — an unprecedented achievement. Please help us congratulate Berkin and Javad!

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, Steven Finkelstein and his team precisely confirmed a galaxy that is one of the oldest realms to be witnessed by humanity, shedding new light on how the first galaxies formed and evolved in the universe’s infancy. ? Research transforms bold ideas into discoveries that improve lives, strengthen communities and expand the human imagination. At UT, researchers are the changemakers. Learn about Finkelstein and the UT Changemakers at https://lnkd.in/gpZk4AEr #ItStartsWithResearch #TexasResearch #WhatStartsHere