16 students awarded CURE Fellowships
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) has announced the 16 students who have been selected for the 2025 Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship program.
Sponsored by OUR and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the CURE Fellowship provides students with the opportunity to engage in impactful, faculty-mentored research within seven of UK’s eight Research Priority Areas (RPAs): cancer, cardiovascular health, diabetes and obesity, energy, neuroscience, substance use disorder and UNITE.
“Summer research is an essential step toward my goal of becoming a professor at the University of Kentucky,” said Jackson Skeeters, a sophomore interior design major. Skeeters is working with mentor Jennifer Meakins, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the College of Design’s School of Interiors. “It allows me to deepen my work in sustainability and design while connecting with others who share a passion for research.”
Each CURE Fellow receives a $5,000 stipend to support their research endeavors during the Summer 2025 term. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor affiliated with one of the RPAs, fellows will pursue individual research projects and participate in a collaborative cohort experience. The fellowship culminates in the Summer Research Symposium, where students will present their findings to the campus community, on Aug. 26.
The CURE Fellowship program reflects UK’s ongoing commitment to fostering undergraduate research and cultivating the next generation of scholars and community leaders.
UK’s 2025 recipients of the CURE Fellowship are:
Cancer Research Priority Area
- Jimmie Locker, biology junior; Mentor: Young-Sam Lee, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Cardiovascular Health Research Priority Area
- Emma Anderson, neuroscience and Lewis Honors College junior; Mentor: Ila Mishra, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine
- Susma Sah, biology freshman; Mentor: Kenneth Campbell, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Diabetes & Obesity Research Priority Area
- Kennedy Lamb, human health sciences and Lewis Honors junior; Mentor: Jessica Santollo, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biology
- Alexandria Rumenser, nursing sophomore; Mentor: Simon Fisher, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine
Energy Research Priority Area
- Alexander Blevins, computer engineering technology junior; Mentor: Philip Lee, Ph.D., Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Engineering Technology
Neuroscience Research Priority Area
- Omar Abou El-Ezz, neuroscience and Lewis Honors sophomore; Mentor: Adam Bachstetter, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience (funded by Neuroscience)
- Lauren Moore, neuroscience and psychology, and Lewis Honors junior; Mentor: Joshua Morganti, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Emalie Mullane, biology junior; Mentor: Jessica Santollo. Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biology
Substance Use Priority Research Area
- Diana Gomez Gallo, neuroscience and Lewis Honors junior; Mentor: Anel Jaramillo, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Sophie Imler, psychology and Lewis Honors sophomore; Mentor: Peggy Keller, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology
- Katherine Ragiel, nursing junior; Mentor: Kristin Ashford, Ph.D., College of Nursing
- Shriya Shah, neuroscience sophomore; Mentor: Pavel Ortinski, Ph.D., College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience
- Austin Trotter, neuroscience and psychology, and Lewis Honors junior; Mentor: Martha Tillson, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Sociology
UNITE Research Priority Area
- Bernardo Alves Rodrigues, computer science and Lewis Honors freshman; Mentor: Muhammad A.B. Siddique, Ph.D., Pigman College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science
- Jackson Skeeters, interior design sophomore; Mentor: Jennifer Meakins, Ph.D., College of Design’s School of Interiors
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.