LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research has chosen 20 undergraduates for the 2023 Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience Fellowship program.
Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the CURE Fellowship program helps undergraduates to become leaders for their respective communities by providing opportunities to develop knowledge and skills through research within six of UK’s Research Priority Areas: cancer, cardiovascular health, diversity and inclusion, energy, neuroscience and substance use disorder.
Students selected as CURE Fellows received a $5,000 stipend to support their research during the summer 2023 term. Fellows will engage in a research project under the guidance of a mentor associated with one of the participating RPAs. Students will work with the other fellows in their cohort during the summer research period and present their research at the Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 31.
UK's 2023 recipients of the CURE Fellowship are:
Cancer Research Priority Area
- Breanna Pane, junior biochemistry and neuroscience major; Mentor: Eddy Yang, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Radiation.
- Harrison Yang, junior biology major; Mentor: Fanny Chapelin, Ph.D., in the College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Cardiovascular Research Priority Area
- Elizabeth Elliott, sophomore honors chemistry major; Mentor: Robin Cooper, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biology.
- Abraham Alhamdani, junior honors neuroscience major; Mentor: Tammy Stephenson, Ph.D. in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
UNited in True racial Equality Research Priority Area
- Leena Haider, junior honors biology major; Mentor: Kirby Mayer, Ph.D., in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Physical Therapy.
- Mariana Mesa Castillo, junior architecture major; Mentor: Leen Katrib, in the College of Design’s School of Architecture
- Kacie Peters, junior Honors psychology major; Mentor: Christia Brown, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology.
- Daniela Rodriguez Soto, sophomore management and marketing major; Mentor: Kimberly Parker, Ph.D., in the College of Communication and Information’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication.
Energy Research Priority Area
- Khamil Allen Thomas, freshman computer engineering major; Mentor: Chad Risko, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Chemistry.
Neuroscience Research Priority Area
- Kyle Dahlgren, sophomore psychology major; Mentor: Thomas Adams, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology.
- Hannah Miller, sophomore honors biology major; Mentor: Brad Hubbard, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Physiology.
- Neo Nathoo, sophomore neuroscience major; Mentor: Patrick Sullivan, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.
- Elizabeth Rice, sophomore agricultural and medical biotechnology major; Mentor: Luke Bradley, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience.
- Avanti Sawardekar, sophomore honors biomedical engineering major; Mentor: Salvatore Cherra, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience.
Substance Use Research Priority Area
- Joseph Elsoueidi, sophomore biology major; Mentor: Jill Turner, Ph.D., in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Rachel Gressick, junior public health major; Mentor: Carrie Oser, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Sociology.
- Jocelyn Martin, junior honors neuroscience and psychology major; Mentor: Michael Bardo, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology.
- Caden Maynard, senior psychology major; Mentor: Peggy Keller, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology.
- Safiyah Sadek, junior neuroscience major; Mentor: Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences.
One recipient chose to remain anonymous.
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 $501 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
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