When Joshua Tyler first enrolled at Chattanooga State Community College, his interests were rooted in the arts. It didn’t take long, however, for him to discover a new passion: electrical engineering. After earning an associate degree from ChattState, he transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he went on to complete his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Turning creativity into discovery, Tyler found his place in academia. Now a postdoctoral researcher and faculty member at UTC, he says his journey is just beginning.

“The short-term goal is to continue those research interests as a direct researcher or in an advising role,” he said. “The long-term goal is to get enough students in the pipeline to pursue the same interests—and eventually create dedicated programs.”

His story is a reminder that every story begins with a single step. Start here, go anywhere.

>>> Read more via UTC: From interest to innovation: Joshua Tyler built a Ph.D. career from curiosity