Student News

Make Research Part of Your Undergraduate Experience

UK professor Robin Cooper, Ph.D. with undergraduate student researcher Cecilia Pankau.
UK professor Robin Cooper, Ph.D., with undergraduate student researcher Cecilia Pankau.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2021) — As a top-tier research institution, the University of Kentucky has hundreds of opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research and creative work alongside world-class faculty, researchers and scholars.

Undergraduates looking to participate in research and creative work should start with UK’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). The office, which serves as a year-round resource to help connect students to research opportunities, will host information sessions every week this month for students interested in making mentored research and creative work a part of their college experience.

“The sessions are intended for undergraduate students across all levels and all majors, even those who are still undecided,” said Jesi Jones-Bowman, student program and marketing specialist with OUR. “Participating in undergraduate research is not only linked to career and academic success, it helps students discover what they are passionate about. Students don’t have to come here knowing exactly what they want to do. Research allows them to dip their toes in different areas to figure out what they like. It opens their eyes to new interests and new possibilities.”

In addition, research at UK is not only for students interested in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, it extends across all disciplines.

At the events, OUR Undergraduate Research Ambassadors who represent 19 different research areas on campus, will be on hand to guide students through the process — from identifying opportunities to connecting with faculty mentors. As peers currently undertaking mentored research and creative work, the ambassadors give a student perspective to the experience and address some common questions and misperceptions about undergraduate research.

The student ambassadors support OUR’s efforts to connect students to research opportunities throughout the year. The office also links students to presentation, internship and funding opportunities. OUR currently funds seven competitive awards programs including Virtual Research Travel Grants and Summer Research Fellowships.

“UK is uniquely positioned as one of only eight institutions in the country with liberal arts, engineering, professional, agricultural and medical colleges and disciplines on one campus,” Jones-Bowman said. “We encourage students to take advantage of the innovation and discovery taking place here early on and we’re here to help them discover what’s wildly possible with research at UK.”

Students can register for information sessions here or visit https://our.uky.edu/ for more information.

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.