RCD-supported Projects at Research and Creative Inquiry Symposium 2026

The following is a list of research projects that used the services offered by Tennessee Tech’s Research Computing and Data department (RCD). Here we’ve listed the title, authors, advisors, location on the RCI Day 2026 map, and abstract for each project.

Look for this RCD tag while walking the floor to see the impressive projects we’ve helped:

RCI Symposium Tag

If you think RCD could help with your research needs, or would like to discuss the services we offer, you can find a short summary of who we are, what we do, and what resources we have here. Please also feel free to schedule a meeting with one of our crew to discuss how we can help.

Projects that RCD helped:

Evolutionary Mechanisms Shaping Chromosome Architecture in Fusarium

Authors: Salimi, Sahar

Advisors: Mostafa Rahnama

Location: ASC-62

Click here for abstract Abstract: The genus Fusarium comprises ecologically diverse filamentous fungi that include major plant and animal pathogens. One interesting observation is the association with horizontally acquired accessory chromosomes (ACs) and host-specific virulence. Although it plays a central role in shaping genomic architecture and virulence among species, karyotype evolution—changes in chromosome number, structure, and organization—remains poorly characterized in Fusarium. In this study, we investigate genome and karyotype evolution in Fusarium through comparative genomics, synteny analysis, and structural variant profiling using genomes from a set of species representing the breadth of phylogenetic diversity within the genus. Our work focuses on detecting and validating chromosome fusion and fission events, identifying conserved syntenic blocks, and examining the contribution of centromere dynamics and transposable elements to chromosomal rearrangements. Preliminary evidence from published Fusarium genomes indicates substantial variation in genome size, GC content, and TE composition, reflecting repeated cycles of genome expansion and compaction. Such processes, coupled with inter-centromeric recombination and segregation errors, are likely major drivers of karyotypic[RP1.1]. By integrating structural variation with phylogenetic analyses based on single-copy genes, we aim to elucidate evolutionary relationships that are not adequately resolved by sequence-based phylogenies alone. This research will generate a comprehensive assessment of chromosome-level evolution in Fusarium, providing insights into how genome dynamics influence adaptation, pathogenicity, and speciation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying karyotype diversification in Fusarium will not only enhance evolutionary and genomic frameworks for this complex genus but also support improved strategies for managing Fusarium-related diseases in agriculture and public health.

Lineage-specific Dynamics of Telomere-targeted MoTeR Elements and Structural Variation in the Host Diversification of Magnaporthe oryza

Authors: Astha Mishra

Advisors: Mostafa Rahnama

Location: ASC-63

Click here for abstract Magnaporthe oryzae is a filamentous ascomycete that infect more than 50 grass species and causes major diseases such as rice blast and wheat blast. Genomic plasticity in this species is tightly linked to transposable elements (TEs), which are highly enriched in subtelomeric regions that harbor diverse avirulence genes. Previous population-level studies have shown that TE insertion polymorphisms shape gene gain and loss, regulatory diversification, and the emergence of host-specialized lineages. Here, we focus on a family of telomere-targeted non-LTR retrotransposons known as MoTeRs (Magnaporthe oryzae Telomeric Retrotransposons). These elements are known to destabilize chromosome ends, promote ectopic recombination, and drive rapid evolution of subtelomeric sequences. To examine how MoTeRs activity and structural variation (SV) contribute to host diversification, we analyzed complete M. oryzae genome assemblies from eight host-specialized lineages. We found that Triticum- and Lolium-associated lineages show pronounced MoTeR accumulation at chromosome ends despite having lower genome-wide TE content. These lineages also exhibit a reduced overall SV burden compared with high-TE lineages, suggesting more localized rather than genome-wide structural remodeling. Mapping MoTeRs-associated SVs identified 81 Magnaporthe Effector Protein (MEP) genes impacted by rearrangement, linking MoTeR activity directly to effector diversification. Finally, analysis of Illumina assemblies from 29 additional lineages revealed strong lineage-specific patterns of MoTeR expansion and contraction across the species complex. Together, these findings support a model in which MoTeR-driven telomere instability and subtelomeric SVs generate highly dynamic genomic niches that facilitate effector diversification and contribute to the evolution of multiple host-specialized lineages within M. oryzae.

Functional Analysis of Silent Information Regulator 2 (SIR2) in Pyricularia oryzae

Authors: Ari Mortensen, Justin King, Sahar Salimi, Astha Mishra, Mostafa Rahnama

Adivors: Mostafa Rahnama

Click here for abstract Silent Information Regulator 2 (SIR2) is a conserved NAD⁺-dependent histone deacetylase that plays a central role in telomere maintenance, heterochromatin formation, and transcriptional silencing. Despite its importance in model organisms, the function of SIR2 in filamentous phytopathogenic fungi remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the biological role of SIR2 in Pyricularia oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. Deletion of SIR2 resulted in striking developmental and pathogenicity defects: the mutant exhibited a severe reduction in conidiation and complete loss of virulence, which we found to be caused by the failure of conidia to germinate. Transcriptome analysis revealed widespread gene-expression alterations in the sir2 mutant, with strong enrichment for subtelomeric and stress-responsive genes. In parallel, chromatin profiling revealed marked changes in the distribution of the activating histone mark H3K27ac, indicating that SIR2 is required to maintain proper epigenetic landscapes at telomeric and gene-regulatory regions. Consistent with this, multiple subtelomeric gene clusters became aberrantly activated, suggesting a breakdown of telomere-proximal silencing normally maintained by SIR2. Moreover, genes involved in conidiation, germination, and early infection stages showed pronounced expression changes, reflecting the broad regulatory disruption caused by loss of SIR2 rather than simple repression. These chromatin and transcriptional abnormalities point to a global loss of epigenetic stability, potentially altering higher-order chromosome organization and telomere-associated regulatory circuits. Together, these findings demonstrate that SIR2 is essential for fungal development, chromatin integrity, and infection capability. Our study strengthens the broader understanding of how telomere-linked chromatin regulation influences genome function and pathogenicity in P. oryzae.

Comparison of Single-Atom Alloy (SAA Pt-Ir) with Single-Atom Catalyst (SAC Pt and SAC Ir) for Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Ammonia

Authors: Yulieth Mercado, Emily Taylor

Advisors: Ali Estejab

Location: ENG-175

Click here for abstract As global energy demands shift away from limited and polluting fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged as a critical clean energy carrier. Ammonia (NH3) presents a promising solution for hydrogen storage and transport, particularly because it can be recovered from wastewater, providing an avenue for both environmental remediation and energy production. However, the efficiency of extracting hydrogen through ammonia electrolysis depends heavily on the catalyst used. This research contributes to broader goal of using multiscale modeling to evaluate how these catalysis alter reaction kinetics and solvation free energies, ultimately aiming to optimize industrial electrolyzer design. This study utilizes Density Functional Theory (DFT) through the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP) to perform geometry optimizations and calculate the adsorption energies of NH3 and its dissociation products (NH2, NH, and N). Performing geometry optimizations on two single-atom alloys (SAA) 1)a 4-layer Platinum-Iridium with a single Ir atom (Pt-Ir) surface and 2)a 4-layer Iridium surface with a single Pt atom (Ir-Pt) and compare the results with two single-atom catalysts (SAC) of 3)Pt and 4)Ir. This study identifies the most stable adsorption sites, specifically top, bridge, and hollow positions, for ammonia and its dehydrogenated intermediates. The calculated adsorption energies on these surfaces provide the essential foundation for determining reaction thermodynamics in the presence of solvent and electric field effects. These atomic insights are vital for refining the solvation free energy models, moving closer to the development of highly efficient catalysts for green hydrogen production from ammonia.

Authors: Katoshia Grubb

Advisors: Amr Hilal

Location: ENG-204

Abstract currently unavailable.

Next-Generation Robotic Platform for Multimodal Radiation Detection and Emergency Response

Authors: Lacey Coates, Ryan Vongsamphanh, Ryder Haustein

Advisors: Manish Sharma

Location: ENG-249

Abstract currently unavailable.