6 students selected as 2025 Sustainability Summer Research Fellows
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 27, 2025) — Six University of Kentucky undergraduates have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship, a program that supports student-led projects that advance sustainable practices and community impact through research.
Now in its 11th year, the fellowship is a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Research, UK Sustainability and the UK Student Sustainability Council. Since its launch in 2014, the program has supported 64 undergraduate researchers.
Students selected as Sustainability Research Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend to support their research endeavors during the Summer 2025 term. Fellows engage in a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Students will present their research at the Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 26, the Sustainability Showcase on Oct. 15 and the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars in April 2026.
2025 Sustainability Research Fellows:
- Callie Black, natural resources and environmental sciences junior; Mentor: John Cox, Ph.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
- Bailey Little, English and environmental and sustainability studies junior; Mentor: Lauren Cagle, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies
- Graciela Martinez, environmental and sustainability studies and urban and community forestry junior; Mentor: Lynn Roche-Phillips, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Geography
- Zoe McComas, environmental and sustainability studies and urban and community forestry and Lewis Honors College junior; Mentor: Caleb Wilson, Ph.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Entomology
- Ashley Morrison, agricultural and medical biotechnology junior; Mentor: Bruce Downie, Ph.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Horticulture
- Lily Tynan, equine science management and Lewis Honors junior; Mentor: Hannah Tiffin, Ph.D., Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Entomology
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.