Research Advancing Kentucky: How NSF, DOD, DOE funding fuels scientific innovation
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 11, 2025) — As Kentucky’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky is charged with finding solutions to meet the needs of the Commonwealth.
Federal funding is a key driver of scientific advancement across disciplines at UK, where scientists are addressing broad challenges that face both Kentucky and the nation.
Similar to how dollars from the National Institutes of Health drive impactful medical research, funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advance critical scientific research at UK.
In fiscal year 2025, UK received $25.2 million from the NSF, $26.7 million from the DOD and $23.4 million from the DOE for a wide range of research projects. This work pushes the boundaries of critical materials, environmental preparedness, military safety technology and advanced energy solutions.
“Support from these agencies is a game changer for our university and our state,” said Ilhem Messaoudi, acting vice president for research at UK. “It powers the kind of groundbreaking work that saves lives, creates jobs and delivers real answers to the toughest challenges facing Kentucky families. Our partnerships with the NSF, DOD and DOE show how federal investment in research is directly improving the wellbeing of our communities and our economy.”
Federal funding from these agencies supports key projects at UK, including:
- CLIMBS, a $20 million NSF-funded statewide research project with $4 million in matching funds from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. The goal of this work is to protect Kentuckians from extreme weather events.
- Advancing UK’s expertise in recovering critical materials from electronic and coal waste. Funding supports engineers’ work to find new methods to gain materials for tomorrow’s electronics.
- Ensuring Kentucky’s waterways are clean. With NSF support, UK researchers are gaining key knowledge to ensure safe drinking water across the Commonwealth.
Funding from the NSF, DOD and DOE also provides opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to launch careers in science and engineering.
These federal dollars also boost Kentucky’s economy by supporting high-tech jobs and attracting new talent to the region.
Learn how federal support is fueling research that advances Kentucky in this video series.
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.