ForagerOne portal connects faculty and students to grow research at UK

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Madison Herman
Madison Herman and Shelby McCubbin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2023) — Today the University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research launches a new portal in partnership with software developers ForagerOne that will facilitate connections between research faculty and aspiring undergraduate, graduate and postdoc researchers.

Developed with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the Provost, the new portal will connect students and faculty for integrative learning opportunities in all disciplines across campus and enable faculty to strengthen their research teams. 

“This partnership with ForagerOne will establish stronger connections between our research faculty, accelerating discovery in their fields of study, and our outstanding student population. These connections will help forge mentorships to establish the next generation of researchers who will solve the toughest problems facing our Commonwealth and the world,” said UK Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis.

Provost Robert DiPaola said, “The face of sponsored research at the University of Kentucky is changing at a rapid pace, but we want to communicate and strengthen bonds between the research enterprise and provide greater opportunities to our students, the next generation of researchers. This portal will provide unparalleled connectivity between our researchers and students and allow for both groups of users to explore new collaborations, allow for fresh perspectives and ignite new insights into the research process.”

ForagerOne streamlines and standardizes how students look for university-affiliated research opportunities and simplifies messaging to connect students and mentors outside of the classroom.

UK faculty and students can start using ForagerOne in three easy steps:

Faculty

  1. Claim your profile. Faculty profile information is auto populated from Scholars@UK. Log in with your linkblue username and password.
  2. Promote research opportunities. Customize projects (paid, academic credit, volunteer) and engage with students for potential mentorship opportunities.
  3. Connect with students. Indicate to students if you’re currently recruiting. Search student profiles by keyword, level (undergraduate, graduate and postdoc), major, and message students within the platform.

Students

  1. Sign up. Select University of Kentucky and log in with your linkblue username and password.
  2. Create your profile. Select “Student Account” and add your information and research interests.
  3. Explore opportunities. Select “Search Faculty” and filter by keywords, disciplines or recruiting status. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Research Ambassadors will offer hands-on demonstrations of ForagerOne at the Gatton Student Center 9-11 a.m., Feb. 13, 15 and 16, and at the OUR office, 211 Funkhouser Building, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 13-17.

Learn more about ForagerOne at our.uky.edu/ForagerOne.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.