Two new faculty members have joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering starting in the fall 2025 semester, bringing with them an expertise in plasma membrane structures and next generation battery technology.

Carolyn Shurer

Assistant Professor

Shurer joins UT after completing her postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia and earning her PhD in chemical engineering from Cornell University. Her research employs engineering strategies to uncover how the plasma membrane’s biophysical and biochemical organization regulates fundamental cellular processes such as signaling, polarity, and communication with the extracellular environment. By integrating tools from membrane biophysics, lipidomics, and quantitative imaging, her lab investigates how membrane structure and composition influence cell behavior and shape outcomes in human diseases.

“At UT, I’m looking forward to building a collaborative research program that investigates the membrane as a central hub of cellular function and inspires the next generation of engineers and scientists.”

Gabriel Veith

Professor

Veith joints UT as a joint faculty member with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Veith’s research centers on directing and controlling interfaces for batteries and catalysts. His research is specifically directed towards next generation battery technologies, like all solid-state energy storage, which has the potential to double the energy density over existing battery technologies.

“I am excited to join the dynamic team that is nucleating within CBE and generating world-leading science and the next generation of scientific leaders needed to change the world.”

Contact

Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu)