Tennessee State University
Nashville, Tennessee, US
Tennessee State University is a public historically Black land‑grant university in Nashville, founded in 1912. The institution offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs and serves as Tennessee’s 1890 land‑grant, providing research, teaching, and extension services statewide. TSU is recognized for strengths in agriculture, engineering, education, business, and the social and health sciences, with a mission focused on access, community engagement, and economic development.
Tennessee State University conducts applied and fundamental research across agriculture and environmental sciences, engineering and computer science, education and learning sciences, and health and behavioral studies. Its land‑grant programs include agricultural research and Cooperative Extension with long‑running USDA‑supported projects in plant science, urban agriculture, food safety, and natural resource management. Notable research units include the College of Agriculture’s research programs and extension centers, the Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences, and the Center of Excellence in Information Systems, along with specialized facilities such as the Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center. TSU investigators regularly secure funding from federal agencies including USDA‑NIFA, NSF, NIH, and the State of Tennessee, often in partnership with regional industry and community organizations. Technology transfer and outreach emphasize practical solutions in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, data and information systems, and workforce development for Middle Tennessee and beyond.Top industry applications
Halo AI analyzes publication data from OpenAlex to identify which industry applications have the highest concentration of publishing faculty at this institution. It also incorporates applications self-identified by faculty.
Agriculture
Pest and disease management
Tennessee State University scientists develop integrated pest and disease management tools for nursery and crop producers, combining biological controls, precision fungicides, and AI-driven diagnostics to fight vascular streak dieback, Phytophthora rot, and invasive beetles. Their field-tested bacterial endophytes suppress pathogens while boosting yields in peppers and tomatoes, and rapid molecular assays catch soilborne threats before they spread. These innovations cut chemical use, reduce labor costs, and protect high-value plants, meeting industry demand for sustainable solutions in the multi-billion dollar ornamental market.Relevant Innovators
Mustapha Olawuni
PhD Candidate
Pest and disease management
Pest and disease managementFG
Fulya Baysal Gurel
Principal Investigator
Pest and disease management
Pest and disease managementJO
Jason Oliver
Principal Investigator
Pest and disease managementPest and disease managementPest and disease management
Pest and disease managementPest and disease managementPest and disease managementAgriculture
Livestock management
Tennessee State University scientists develop antibiotic-free poultry solutions using plant-based feed additives, probiotics, and optimized water treatment to cut pathogen loads and improve gut health. They also tackle antimicrobial resistance on small cattle and goat farms, advance heat-tolerant beef genetics, and boost meat-goat reproductive performance to strengthen food safety, climate resilience, and producer profitability across the Southeast.Relevant Innovators
EJ
Emily Jacobson
Research Associate
Livestock managementLivestock management
Livestock managementLivestock managementAlaeldein M. Abudabos
Unclaimed
Livestock management
Livestock managementSamuel N. Nahashon
Unclaimed
Agricultural biotechnologyLivestock managementVeterinary medicine & animal health
Agricultural biotechnologyLivestock managementVeterinary medicine & animal healthFood & nutrition
Food safety and quality control
Tennessee State University researchers are developing rapid biosensors and non-thermal pasteurization technologies to detect and eliminate Salmonella, Listeria, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens across poultry, produce, and dairy. Their innovations in UV-C LED systems and high-pressure processing offer scalable, commercial alternatives to heat pasteurization that preserve nutritional quality while meeting strict safety standards. This work directly addresses industry demand for real-time pathogen monitoring, reduced chemical preservatives, and safer minimally processed foods.Relevant Innovators
AP
Ankit Patras
Principal Investigator
Food preservation methodsFood processing technologyFood safety and quality control
Food preservation methodsFood processing technologyFood safety and quality controlBrahmaiah Pendyala
Unclaimed
Food preservation methodsFood processing technologyFood safety and quality control
Food preservation methodsFood processing technologyFood safety and quality controlAditya R. Khanal
Unclaimed
Food safety and quality control
Food safety and quality controlAgriculture
Plant breeding and genetics
Tennessee State University integrates drone-based phenotyping, machine learning, and genomic selection to accelerate breeding of high-yielding, stress-tolerant soybeans, sorghum, and legumes. Researchers are also pioneering CRISPR gene editing, novel nanoparticle DNA delivery, and advanced tissue culture platforms to engineer traits in biofuel and horticultural crops. These tools directly address industry needs for faster varietal development, climate resilience, and precision agriculture at commercial scale.Relevant Innovators
AT
Ali Taheri
Principal Investigator
Plant breeding and genetics
Plant breeding and geneticsAC
Anjin Chang
Principal Investigator
Crop yield optimizationPlant breeding and geneticsPrecision farming and smart agriculture
Crop yield optimizationPlant breeding and geneticsPrecision farming and smart agricultureKD
Korsi Dumenyo
Principal Investigator
Agricultural biotechnologyPlant breeding and genetics
Agricultural biotechnologyPlant breeding and geneticsAgriculture
Soil health and fertility
Tennessee State University researchers are optimizing biochar, cover crops, and precision nitrogen management to build soil organic carbon and reduce fertilizer waste on working farms. They translate long-term tillage trials and microbial soil-health indicators into practical benchmarks and field-deployable diagnostics that help growers cut costs and meet sustainability targets. The work directly supports commercial agriculture by aligning soil fertility strategies with climate resilience and environmental compliance.Relevant Innovators
JL
Jianwei Li
Principal Investigator
Polymer compositesSoil health and fertility
Polymer compositesSoil health and fertilityDH
Dafeng Hui
Principal Investigator
Soil health and fertility
Soil health and fertilityResham Thapa
Unclaimed
Crop yield optimizationPrecision farming and smart agricultureSoil health and fertilitySustainable farming practices
Crop yield optimizationPrecision farming and smart agricultureSoil health and fertilitySustainable farming practicesFood & nutrition
Food processing technology
Tennessee State University researchers pioneer nonthermal processing technologies—including UV-C LED, high-pressure, and ozone systems—to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life in milk, juices, and meats without sacrificing quality. They pair these methods with natural antimicrobials and biopreservatives to deliver clean-label safety solutions for dairy and ready-to-eat markets. The result is scalable, energy-efficient alternatives to heat pasteurization that reduce spoilage costs and capture growing commercial demand for minimally processed foods.Relevant Innovators
Aliyar Fouladkhah
Unclaimed
Food processing technologyFood safety and quality control
Food processing technologyFood safety and quality controlAnjali H. Kurup
Unclaimed
Food processing technologyFood safety and quality control
Food processing technologyFood safety and quality controlPranav Vashisht
Unclaimed
Food preservation methodsFood processing technology
Food preservation methodsFood processing technologyMedicine
Oncology & cancer therapeutics
Tennessee State University researchers are advancing a diverse oncology pipeline that spans plant-derived anticancer compounds, synthetic small-molecule prodrugs, and CRISPR-based precision therapies. Their preclinical studies target resistant breast, lung, prostate, and blood cancers while pioneering peptide vaccines and tumor microenvironment strategies. This work directly supports pharmaceutical demand for innovative, next-generation therapeutics that can overcome treatment failures.Relevant Innovators
RB
Ryan Beni
Principal Investigator
Oncology & cancer therapeuticsPharmaceuticals and drug delivery
Oncology & cancer therapeuticsPharmaceuticals and drug deliveryXW
Xiaofei Wang
Principal Investigator
Oncology & cancer therapeutics
Oncology & cancer therapeuticsAS
Artenzia Young Seigler
Principal Investigator
Oncology & cancer therapeuticsVaccine development
Oncology & cancer therapeuticsVaccine developmentLast updated by Halo AI Mar 25, 2026. Please verify key information.
OpenAlex
OpenAlexFor general inquiries
QQ
Quincy Quick
University Administrator, Tennessee State University
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Top industry applications
Pest and disease managementLivestock managementFood safety and quality controlPlant breeding and geneticsSoil health and fertilityFood processing technologyOncology & cancer therapeutics
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