University of Tennessee
Materials Science & Engineering Department


MSE @ EURēCA Poster Competition
Knoxville, TN, April 7, 2026


The Materials Science & Engineering Department was well represented at the 2026 Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA), an annual poster event and competition at the University of Tennessee. By our count, there were 18 posters with some combination of MSE undergraduate researchers and/or MSE faculty mentors.

Callie Jee, a sophomore in MSE, presented her prize-winning poster from TMS. Callie is co-advised by Prof. David Harper (Center for Renewable Carbon & joint appointment in MSE) and Prof. David Keffer.


Maya Vidal-Laramee, a freshmen in MSE, is also co-advised by Prof. Harper and Prof. Keffer.


Tadi Chaparadza, a sophomore in MSE, is advised by Prof. Kate Page.


Jack Efferson, in Nuclear Engineering, is co-advised by Prof. Dustin Gilmer and Prof. Caen Ang (NE).


Ariel Thompson, in Information Sciences, is advised by Prof. Mashid Ahmadi.


Ronan Tollefsen, a junior in MSE, is co-advised by Prof. Harper and Prof. Keffer.


Brennan Cawley, a freshman in MSE, is co-advised by Prof. Chuck Melcher and Prof. Mariya Zhuravleva in the Scintillation Materials Research Center.


Tripp Hancock, in Mechanical Engineering, is advised by Prof. Harper.


Ayush Joshi, a sophomore in MSE, is co-advised by Prof. Harper and Prof. Keffer.


Jocelyn Hess, a senior in MSE, presented her prize-winning poster from TMS. Jocelyn is co-advised by Prof. Harper and Prof. Keffer.


Chloe Judd, a sophomore in MSE, is advised by Prof. Dustin Gilmer.


Quintinne Madsen, a junior in Physics, is co-advised by Prof. Harper and Prof. Keffer.




From left to right: Marlena Alexander (MSE senior), Jacob Phillips (MSE senior), Megan Gillespie (MSE senior) and Jon McColl (MSE senior) presented a senior design poster co-advised by Prof. Philip Rack, Prof. Page and Prof. Rawn.


Megan also presented her prize-winning poster from TMS. Megan is co-advised by Prof. Melcher and Prof. Zhuravleva.




Luke Sakhleh, a junior in MSE, is advised by Prof. Claudia Rawn.


Camdyn Hamlin, a freshmen in MSE, is co-advised by Prof. Melcher and Prof. Zhuravleva.


Amelia Capehart, a senior in Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Aerospace & MSE), is advised by Prof. Gilmer.


Oliver Winkler, in Civil Engineering, is advised by Prof. Dayakar Penumadu in CEE. MSE Prof. Eric Lass co-authored the work.
Congratulations to all the undergraduate researchers who showcased their work at EURēCA. The opportunity for undergraduates to participate in the research process is the calling card of the UTK MSE department. You all have shown the great accomplishments that can be achieved. To all the faculty, post-docs and graduate students who took the time to mentor these young researchers, you have our gratitude. EURēCA is a fun event and I always leave it feeling very proud of the accomplishments coming from the MSE department.

More photos on the Keffer research group site.