![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/Brett-Compton-200x300-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBrett Compton<\/strong> Brett is not only a very accomplished scholar, but has been excellent in the classroom. He has taught a range of undergraduate, graduate, and advanced\/special topics graduate courses with content addressing mechanics of materials in mechanical engineering. It is clear that he is a gifted and talented educator that genuinely cares for his students. He also goes beyond this and has taken care to mentor student groups to competition. His combination of high standards and student satisfaction is certainly admirable for the large and small classes he teaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dustin Crouch Dustin has made great progress toward establishing an independent research program in a relatively short time. Since his joining the department, he established the Upper Limb Assist Lab, with the goal to enhance the function of individuals with upper limb movement disability. He is building a vibrant research program whose promise has already been recognized by multiple external funding agencies. He is making strong progress in several key areas of research, including funding, publications, and student mentorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Richard Komistek Richard has an excellent and continuous record of scholarship, funding, teaching and service. He ranks at the very top of his field in the world, and is a pioneer in biomechanics modeling and analysis. His team conducts research related to knee and hip implants, mainly using fluoroscopy to analyze the motion of these implants and mathematical modeling to assess the in vivo forces and stresses. During the past five years, Dr. Komistek has continued to push forward in his various research programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caleb Rucker Caleb represents a model for the next generation of faculty at UT, that is strong in traditional areas of scholarly work, mentoring, education and service and also seeks to translate his research into use for the betterment of society. His research in robotics and surgical devices is application-driven and has generated several invention disclosures during his time at UT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uday Vaidya The Tickle College of Engineering held its annual Faculty and Staff Awards celebration virtually last night to recognize outstanding members of the college who have gone above and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[62],"class_list":["post-377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-awards-banquet"],"yoast_head":"\n
Teaching Fellow Award
In recognition of superior teaching in the college.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/Dustin-Crouch_UT-photo-214x300-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Professional Promise in Research Award
In recognition of tenured or tenure-track faculty members at the assistant or associate professor rank who have received national or internationals recognition in their fields and show professional promise in their research.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/komistek1-240x300-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Research Achievement Award
In recognition of tenured faculty members who have been tenure-line for more than 10 years and have received national or international recognition in their field.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/rucker-240x300-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Translational Research Award
In recognition of a faculty member or group of individuals whose research has achieved societal benefit through the development of intellectual property via licensing agreements, patents, and\/or business startups.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/bme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/uday-vaidya-200x300-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Special Service Award
In recognition of remarkable leaders who volunteered to take on additional responsibilities, in addition to their full-time positions, over the last year for the good of the university and the state.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"