5th annual expo offers research connections for UK undergrads
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 21, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) will host the fifth annual Research + Creative Experience Expo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at the Gatton Student Center Social Staircase. The event introduces undergraduates to the diversity of research at UK, allowing students to network with research faculty and staff, and learn about mentored research opportunities.
“The expo is the perfect marketplace for students to try out internship ideas, meet future mentors and explore research opportunities available on campus,” said Carol Street, director of UK Libraries Learning Lab. “I love being able to meet students to talk with them directly about our internships. Seeing students’ faces light up when they can see themselves in our internship program never fails to remind me how the right internship can change someone’s life.”
Presented by the UK Office of Undergraduate Research, the expo provides a variety of resources and information while bringing research mentors and programs seeking applicants together with interested students to learn about available research opportunities. Representatives from research groups, centers and programs will talk about their work and share information on undergraduate opportunities including paid summer research fellowship programs.
By pursuing mentored research, UK undergraduates can immerse themselves in projects to gain experiential “hands-on” learning that is translatable to real-world skills. At the expo students can learn about the upcoming Summer 2025 fellowship cycles and how to prepare to become the strongest possible applicant.
Students from all majors, backgrounds and skill levels are encouraged to attend and talk with faculty, graduate students and undergraduate research ambassadors to learn about available research experiences.
Students are encouraged to review the list of colleges, departments and research centers attending the expo online here.
Students seeking assistance with navigating the summer research fellowship application process, such as completing a personal statement and writing a research proposal, may visit the OUR events page to learn about upcoming workshops and drop-in advising.
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.