By Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis

This spring the Office of the Vice President for Research sponsored Kaylynne Glover, a Ph.D. candidate in biology, and Alexa Johnson, a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant in the UK Sports Medicine Research Institute (SMRI), to go to Washington D.C. for “CASE: Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering.” This three-and-a-half-day program through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offered these young researchers a firsthand view of Congress, the federal budget process and effective science communication.

“I love the intersection between science and society. That's where I want to spend my life,” said Glover, “I want to be able to work with the public, but what else can I do other than write blogs or create a Facebook page that advocates for science? In my limited

By Jenny Wells

Catherine Linnen, an assistant professor of biology in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, is the recipient of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. The program will provide Linnen with $950,000 over five years to conduct research in evolutionary genetics and develop a teaching program to promote scientific research to students and the community. The two projects will be integrated to support the core goals of the grant. 

"Being chosen for a CAREER award is perhaps the biggest honor of my academic career," Linnen said. "The funds provided by this award will enable my lab to pursue cutting-edge research on the origins of

By Olivia Ramirez

Photo Courtesy of UK Athletics | Dr. Robert Hosey with a student athlete.

When an athlete takes a hard hit or fall, one of the first things that comes to the minds of coaches, athletic trainers, team physicians and spectators is the risk of concussion. Protocols are in place to assess if an athlete has sustained a concussion or if they can be cleared to go back into the game. However, there is some ambiguity between physicians as to what constitutes a concussion.

That's why over the next three years and with a nearly $1 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, researchers at the University of Kentucky are studying whether a rapid blood test could serve as another means of support in diagnosing concussion.

Mark Lovell, the Jack and

By Nick Harling

The University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences has named the 2018 recipients of the Trunzo Scholarship for Education Abroad and Internships in Politics, Government, Law, or Public Policy. Since its inaugural year of 2017, this competitive scholarship, sponsored by Robert ’78 and Anne Trunzo, awards funding to students planning to study abroad and to students for participation in internships.

The 2018 Recipients of the Trunzo Scholarship for Education Abroad are:

By Nick Harling

Theodore Schatzki, geography and philosophy professor in the University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences,  recently received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Humanities at Aalborg University (AAU), located in Aalborg, Denmark. The award comes out of recognition on Schatzki’s work on practice theory, a research field delving into how humans create and transform the world in which they live.

This honor is yet another chapter of Schatzki’s relationship with AAU. Since being appointed in 2016 as the Obel Professor in the AAU Department of Learning and Philosophy, Schatzki “has inspired colleagues” at AAU “to engage in practice theory in relation to several fields of research,” according to his nomination.

AAU, founded in 1974, chiefly practices problem based and project organised learning (PBL) -

By Lindsey PIercy

UK College of Arts & Sciences graduate Claire Bishop pictured with "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek.

Here's today's "Daily Double" question: This Lexington teacher will compete in the "Jeopardy!" Teachers Tournament tonight. Answer: Who is Claire Bishop? That's correct!

Bishop, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, is one of 15 upcoming competitors on the long-running TV quiz show. The "Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament" starts airing tonight (May 7) on CBS.

"I was shocked when I looked down at my phone after the bell rang on a Friday afternoon to see a voicemail from a California area code. It had been several months since I had gone to the in-person audition in Nashville," she said. "After a while you forget and/or give up

Bryan Ingoglia is currently (May 2018) a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Brian grew up in Northern Kentucky, came to UK with the intention to obtain a degree in biology and attend medical school.  Like many undergraduate students, Brian’s interests changed as he took more advanced courses and became involved in undergraduate research. He decided to pursue graduate studies in chemistry and, near the completion of his graduate degree, he provided answers to a few questions.

This interview is part of a series conducted by the department called, “UK Chemistry Alumni: Where Are They Now?” This interview was coordinated by Dr. Susan Odom.

What made you decide to apply to UK? To accept the offer for admission?  

In high school, I received an award from UK for

By Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis

Left to right: Herman Daniel Farrell III, David Van Sanford, Mark Williams, Rick Honaker, Brian Noehren, Heide Gluesing-Luerssen, Heather Bush, Matthew Zook, Jennifer Wilhelm, Sharon Walsh, Nancy Grant Harrington, Richard Ausness.

This week, it was my distinct pleasure to present the University Research Professorship Awards to 14 members of our faculty who have demonstrated excellence in research and creative work that addresses scientific, social, cultural, economic and health challenges in our region and around the world.

At a reception hosted by President Eli Capilouto at Maxwell Place, with their families, deans, associate deans for research and nominators on hand to celebrate with them, we had the opportunity to recognize and publicize the accomplishments of these scholars.

The University

By Whitney Hale and Jenny Wells

 

The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced that 2017 philosophy graduate Benjamin Troupe, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, will receive one of only 30 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships. Troupe is the first UK student to be awarded the prestigious honor.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, the Pickering Fellowship Program provides graduate students with up to $37,500

By Jenny Wells

Elizabeth Dempsey, of Cedar City, Utah, will speak at the 10 a.m. UK Commencement ceremony on May 6. She is graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science from UK College or Arts and Sciences with minors in communication and military leadership.

Per University of Kentucky tradition, UK President Eli Capilouto has selected student representatives to speak at each of the four UK Commencement Ceremonies. The ceremonies will be held Friday, May 4, and Sunday, May 6, in Rupp Arena.

The four student speakers are:

Esias Bedingar

Bedingar, from N’Djamena, Chad, will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony on May 4. He is graduating with a bachelor's degree in public health from the UK

A former student here at the University of Kentucky Center for English as a Second Language is now being honored as one of the four commencement speakers during the May 2018 Graduation Ceremonies. Esias Bedingar, from Chad, began studying English with our instructors in 2014. Now, just four years later, Esias has completed his Bachelor's in Public Health. Follow this link to read the UKNOW story about Esias, his accomplishments, and his upcoming speech. We are proud to call Esias a CESL alumnist and wish him well as he continues on with his Master's Degree at Harvard University.

By Tatyanna Pruitt

“I’m just happy to come to UK, it was so worth it!” said Veronica Abt, a senior majoring in Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures & Cultures (MCLLC)/Japan Studies track in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, with a minor in linguistics. Abt came to the University of Kentucky from Brookline, New Hampshire.

“My older brother is the one who got me interested in Japan, not just the anime, but the Japanese culture as well. Japanese history is so rich and so much longer than America’s,” Abt said. “During my sophomore year of high school, I knew I wanted to major in Japan Studies when I came to college and that I wanted to be an English teacher in Japan.”

Abt grew up in a small town with a population of less than 5,000. While researching Japanese programs for college, she stumbled upon the Japanese

By Hiyabel Ghirmay

Suzanne Segerstrom, psychology professor in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, is known for her clinical research on optimism and other personality traits in relation to health. Recognized as one of the prominent scientists in the discipline, Segerstrom recently joined an elite group in her field as a newly elected fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

“This is a significant honor, and one that is well earned,” said Mark Kornbluh, dean of the college. “I am proud to have Suzanne as part of our faculty. The Department of Psychology, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University of Kentucky all benefit from her excellent work.”

From the

By Jenny Wells

Maggie Campe, a doctoral candidate in the University of Kentucky Department of Sociology and research assistant in UK’s Center for Research on Violence Against Women (CRVAW) is the inaugural recipient of the Lindsey M. Bonistall Research Fellowship from PEACEOUTside Campus. The fellowship will provide $15,000 to Campe to conduct research related to on- and off-campus safety.

“I thought that the fellowship proposal call coalesced with my dissertation work really well, and that my dissertation research could really align with the mission of the PEACEOUTside Campus Foundation,” said Campe, who is studying campus sexual violence. “It has really given me the opportunity to (quicker than I might be able to

By Whitney Hale

Award-winning poets Gabrielle Calvocoressi and Tarfia Faizullah will present workshops as part of the 2018 Kentucky Women Writers Conference this September.

As poetry lovers across the United States celebrate National Poetry Month, the Kentucky Women Writers Conference is announcing some of its lineup of poets for its 40th conference this fall. The conference will feature two poetry workshops with award-winning writers Gabrielle Calvocoressi and Tarfia Faizullah during its Sept. 13-16 run, in Lexington. The Wild Women of Poetry, which will take place the evening of Sept. 15, will announce its lineup later this year. In addition, the conference is currently accepting submissions for its emerging writer awards, the Betty Gabehart Prizes in fiction, nonfiction and poetry

By Sarah Wood

There are 177 international studies majors and 49 minors in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Kentucky. The International Studies Program has grown from 25 students at its inception in 2007 to more than 200 students this semester. Though the major has grown significantly over the years, it has not had a designated study space. That changed this semester.

“One of the issues in the program is the fact that current and prospective students feel isolated from other students within the major,” said Monica Diaz, director of the International Studies Program. “The problem with not having space is that students feel like, ‘Who do I talk to? Where do I go? How can I find other people within my major?”

The newly renovated rooms on the 14th floor of Patterson Office Tower provide a space where students can study and make connections

By Hiyabel Ghirmay

The University of Kentucky has a growing commitment to being one of the top research institutions in the nation by pursuing excellence in interdisciplinary research and creative efforts that not only enrich lives, but also address the most important challenges of the Commonwealth and beyond. Serving over 5,000 UK undergraduates each year, despite being only four years old, the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies (WRD) has quickly established itself as both an emerging area of strength in creative endeavors, as well as a hub of interdisciplinary research and projects that cross traditional boundaries.

A new and exciting learning space called the “Digital Distillery” is the department’s latest effort in cultivating and supporting scholarship at the undergraduate level. The Distillery is a learning and working space as well as a

The Political Science Department’s investment in undergraduate research started paying major dividends this semester, with students producing and presenting scientific research to an unprecedented degree.

Three students – Gammon Fain, Anne Klette, and Vandenbosch Outstanding Senior finalist Elizabeth Dade – took their research projects to national disciplinary conferences, where they received advice on their work from scholars at top academic institutions around the country.  Fain, in particular, managed an historic achievement: He won the 2018 Rifai Award for best student paper at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Political Science Association – the first time the University of Kentucky has ever