KNOXVILLE – Gov. Phil Bredesen has committed to spend $6 million to create 200 University of Tennessee faculty positions among researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Bredesen announced the initiative to establish a “world class energy sciences” graduate program.
Bredesen made the announcement at a Friday breakfast meeting attended by about 150 business leaders and government officials in Alcoa.
The governor said he will commit $6 million in seed money in the state budget to jump start the program.
Bredesen also said he hopes the program will attract venture capital and federal money, with a goal of turning UT into a top 25 research university within the decade.