Tom Berg is an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, whose work bridges industrial and systems engineering, health informatics, and applied systems modeling. His research develops digital twins, machine learning, and model-based systems engineering methods to improve decision-making in high-consequence environments, ranging from nuclear security operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex to healthcare delivery and rural disaster preparedness. He has served as principal investigator on numerous federally funded projects, primarily through the U.S. Department of Energy, and his recent work applies large language models to predictive maintenance and clinical decision support. Berg teaches graduate courses in design of experiments, statistical methods, and health informatics, working with both engineering and nursing students. He has published across simulation, systems engineering, and nursing informatics venues and serves as a reviewer for Computers, Informatics, Nursing. His broader interests include cancer epidemiology informatics, healthcare systems modeling, and precision and federated health data platforms.

Education

• PhD Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Courses Taught

• IE 542 / ENMG 542, Design of Experiments for Engineering Managers
• IE 516, Statistical Methods for Industrial Engineers
• NURS 557, Introduction to Healthcare Informatics
• NURS 558, Healthcare Information Architecture and Security
• NURS 488R, Nursing Honors Capstone
• NURS 577, Special Topics
• NURS 614, Nursing Preceptorship and Health Policy
• Population Health (N604)

Professional Service

• Fellow, Medical Sciences Degree Program, College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (2025-2026)
• Chair, Access, Engagement and Belonging Committee (2024-2025)
• Faculty Member, Center for Precision Health (2024-2026)
• Member, Diversity Advisory Council, College of Nursing (2022-present)
• Member, Research Advisory Council, College of Nursing
• Member, Graduate Advisory Council, College of Nursing
• Strategy Director, HITS Fellow, College of Nursing
• Senate Member, UTK Faculty Senate, Faculty Affairs Committee (2020-2023)
• Member, UTK Strategic Visioning Committee (2020)
• Coordinator, Health Informatics Graduate Certificate Program (2020-2023)
• Liaison, Joint Assignment Agreement, DOE/NNSA/CNS
• Research and Technology Advisor, NNSA (DOE Joint Assignment Agreement)
• Reviewer, Computers, Informatics, Nursing (CIN)

Awards & Recognitions

• Allison and Patrick Harrison Nursing Innovation Award, UT College of Nursing (2023)
• Early Career Faculty recognition, University of Tennessee (2021)