The University of Kentucky is the major graduate and research institution of the Commonwealth, and the major land-grant university in the state. As such, it offers substantial programs in both basic and applied research. These research efforts are the life blood of graduate education programs that prepare new researchers who will continue to expand the boundaries of human knowledge and to seek answers to pressing problems of our complex society. Applied research programs in areas such as agricultural sciences, arts and sciences, business and economics, engineering sciences, mathematical sciences and physics, medicine, and mining and minerals serve the Commonwealth and the nation by addressing critical issues influencing the quality of life and economic well-being of our citizenry.
University faculty and research staff have expertise in many areas especially in the basic biological, medical, physical, and social sciences; the creative arts and the humanities; and engineering. These individuals conduct research that ranges from the investigation of philosophical and ethical dilemmas raised by advances in science and technology to the practical application of basic knowledge in agriculture, energy, rehabilitation, and information retrieval, as well as in the economic development of the Appalachian region.
A significant aspect of research conducted at the University is the concern for its practical application for the betterment of society. Many of the techniques developed and ideas conceived in the laboratory and in advanced study evolve into technological developments of major significance.
Most research programs at the University are supported through federal, state and private sources. Application for such support and the fiscal administration of the monies received are overseen by the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA). Programmatic organization and administration of research is provided by the various research institutes and multi-disciplinary centers and, in the case of individual faculty projects, by the regular departmental, school, and college structures.
Postdoctoral fellowships are available in many research programs. Information concerning the terms of the fellowships is available in the department. Postdoctoral fellows are required to register with the Graduate School through their departments.
Most departments have support for teaching and research assistants. The stipends vary by department. Information concerning assistantships may be obtained from the various departments.
The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) was formed in the spring of 1969 to provide a permanent channel for communication between the administration and the graduate and professional students.
The University of Kentucky has several dynamic professional development programs for graduate students seeking academic careers. The Teaching and Learning Center assists faculty and graduate students in enhancing their teaching and other professional skills through a variety of innovative program offerings, as well as individual consultations and technological assistance.
The national Preparing Future Faculty program is a career development program targeted to graduate students planning to enter the professoriate. UK is one of 10 research universities in the nation to receive three or more awards for its PFF programs.
When appropriate resources are available, the appropriate Chancellor or the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, upon the recommendation of the Dean of the Graduate School and the department affected, welcomes visiting scholars as guests of the University, and grants the privilege of auditing seminars and research courses and of conducting research. Normally there will be no charge except for laboratory expenses. Negotiations for such arrangements should be made in advance through the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.
University of Kentucky Libraries, a member of the Association of Research Libraries, is a system that includes a main library, 13 branch and associate libraries and two information centers. With a book endowment of $24 million and growing, the UK Libraries rank 14th among all U.S. public and private institutions. UK's collection consists of more than 2.7 million books, more than 28,000 periodicals, five million microfiche, and 1.1 million government publications.
The central library is the William T. Young Library, a state-of-the-art facility that opened in April 1998. It houses the social sciences, humanities, and life sciences collections. With over 361,000 square feet of space, the William T. Young Library seats 4,000 patrons, houses 1.2 million volumes, and is open 24 hours a day during the fall and spring semesters. It has one of the most advanced internal networking systems of any library in the world; there are approximately 3,600 network ports and 600 personal computers available for patrons and staff, all interconnected by a high-speed ATM network. Seventy laptop computers are available for student use in the library, as well as a large student computing lab, an audiovisual lab, and distance-learning facilities. The library provides 57 group study and conference rooms, many equipped with multimedia network capabilities, for use by students, faculty and staff.
The University of Kentucky Computing Center provides state-of-the-art computing services to all faculty, students, and staff as well as to members of the National Computational Science Alliance, a cooperative partnership of academic, government, and industry researchers engaged in developing and deploying cutting-edge high performance computing technologies. One of the major efforts of the Alliance involves the creation of the Access Grid, a collection of high performance and high throughput resources and services that will support both formal and informal intergroup communication and interaction between Alliance users. UK is one of the initial sites on the national Access Grid.
The principle large-scale scientific computational facility at UK includes an HP 9000/K460 Technical Server and a cluster of twelve HP N-4000 servers interconnected by a high speed, low latency "hyperfabric" network. Each of the twelve NCX nodes in the cluster has eight PA-8500 processors (running at 440 MHz), 8 gigabytes of main memory, and 108 gigabytes of disk space (plus an additional 72 gigabytes of user disk space on the "login node") giving a total of 96 gigabytes of main memory and over 1.3 terabytes of disk space for the entire cluster. The NCX cluster is rated at 169 GFLOPs.
Following benchmarking of the NCX cluster, University of Kentucky has been ranked 10th out of 17 high performance academic computing centers in the US, and 200th out of the top 500 supercomputer sites world-wide.
The University of Kentucky is a founding member of Internet2, the national research network currently under development and has installed a 45 Mb/s Internet2 connection, which provides access to major research universities and a number of government and private laboratories around the world.
Current projects by UK researchers utilizing the NCX cluster include computational chemistry, computational fluid dynamics, ocean modeling, particle physics, protein structure, and as well as projects in agricultural science, astrophysics, engineering, mathematics, pharmacy, and, nanotechnology.
The Graduate Center for Biomedical Engineering provides multidisciplinary programs of education, research, and service in the application of engineering principles to the areas of medicine and biology. The Center brings together engineers, life scientists, and physicians to conduct original research on a variety of medical-related problems. Areas of research include cardiopulmonary mechanics and controls, neuromuscular function, musculoskeletal mechanics, rehabilitation engineering, computational neuroscience, motor control, orthopedic biomaterials, orthopedic biomechanics and electromagnetic tissue stimulation. Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Biomedical Engineering are offered. The Center is located in the Wenner-Gren Research Laboratory that provides the framework for multidisciplinary research. Faculty and staff of the Center collaborate with investigators from other units of the University including the Departments of Physiology, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Cardiology, Medicine, Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Kinesiology and Health Promotion, as well as the Departments of Agricultural, Chemical and Materials, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering, the College of Pharmacy, and the Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Systems. Center faculty and staff provide opportunities and support for graduate students, medical residents, and selected undergraduates. Graduates of the program enter careers in research institutes, academia, hospitals and industry.
The Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce offers an interdisciplinary master's degree which can be tailored to meet the career needs of individual students. The program is especially useful for students desiring careers in any of the non-academic fields in foreign affairs such as international banking, commerce and journalism, or service with governmental agencies or international organizations in foreign affairs. To assure the interdisciplinary character of the degree, students may concentrate their work in a specific geographical area or focus on certain aspects of international affairs.
In addition, the Patterson School serves in an advisory capacity to Ph.D. programs in departments offering internationally-oriented doctoral degrees in various colleges on campus.
The Ph.D. program in Gerontology provides opportunity for advanced multidisciplinary study of aging and the aged with particular emphasis on issues of health and well-being. This doctoral program is the recipient of a multi-year NIH training grant (1998-2003), coordinated through the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, a Commonwealth Center of Excellence. The Center is a nationally designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, a Center of Excellence in Stroke, and the site of a Geriatric Education Center. The graduate faculty includes representation from Anatomy and Neurobiology, Anthropology, Behavioral Science, Civil Engineering, Dentistry, Family Studies, Geography, Internal Medicine, Management, Neurology, Nursing, Nutrition and Food Science, Philosophy, Physiology, Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology. Areas of particular expertise and emphasis include rural aging, long-term care, cognitive and sensory change, public policy, ethical issues, and the etiology and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and other diseases prevalent among the elderly. Center facilities include 34 biomedical research laboratories, a library, conference rooms, and research and office space. Affiliated facilities for training and research include the University of Kentucky Hospital, Christian Health Center(a University-affiliated nursing home), The Breckinridge (an Alzheimer's assisted living facility), the Center for Rural Health, the Helping Hand Alzheimer's Day Care Program, University of Kentucky Geriatric Support Services, Cardinal Hill Hospital, Northeast Area Health Education Center, and the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
The M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Nutritional Sciences provide opportunity for advanced multidisciplinary study in Nutritional Sciences. Educational opportunities exist in agricultural, biological, clinical, community, medical, social, biochemical, and molecular nutritional sciences. The graduate faculty consists of a core faculty and more than 30 jointly-appointed faculty members representing various academic units of the University including Agronomy, Animal Sciences, Anthropology, Behavioral Science, Biochemistry, Clinical Sciences, Horticulture, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Nutrition and Food Science, Oral Health Science, Psychiatry, Surgery, and Toxicology. Faculty have modern research laboratory facilities for conducting cell culture, human, and animal studies using state of the art equipment. These include trace mineral, vitamin, lipid, amino acid, enzyme, hormone, cytokine, stable and radioactive isotope, microcirculatory, and energy assessment analyses. Clinical facilities for training and research include the University of Kentucky Hospital, the Veteran's Administration Hospital, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky Medical Center Outpatient Clinics, and the Markey Cancer Center. Opportunities for community-based research exist locally, throughout the state, and in international settings.
The Martin School offers three multidisciplinary degree programs—the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Health Administration, and the Ph.D. in Public Administration—and engages in research and public service activities. The disciplines represented by the School's faculty are management, finance, economics, industrial engineering, political science, and health administration. The research and public service components of the Martin School offer the School's faculty, staff, and graduate students the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research on public policy issues.
The Graduate Center for Toxicology (GCT) educates scientists at the M.S., Ph.D. and postdoctoral levels to deal with toxic substances and their effects on humans and the environment. The GCT has a core faculty based in the Health Sciences Research Building and an interdisciplinary faculty of about fifty jointly-appointed faculty members, all of whom are active in teaching and research in toxicology, drawn from the major departments and colleges on campus. The GCT has over 100 graduates among whom are numerous faculty members and government and corporate toxicologists.
Student support comes from Graduate School fellowships, minority fellowships, special fellowships, research assistantships, and NIEHS pre- and postdoctoral fellowships for Research Training in Environmental Toxicology.
Areas of research strength include environmental toxicology, immunotoxicology, molecular mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis, molecular biology, toxicology, and neurotoxicology. Students in the GCT are organized through the Toxicology Student Forum, which is represented on all GCT committees and functions as the students' voice and representative during their time at the University of Kentucky.
The Appalachian Center coordinates and supports research, instruction, extended service, and archival activities relating to the Appalachian region, and administers interdisciplinary research programs such as the Library's Appalachian Collection. The Center offers graduate assistantships and provides assistance and a focal point for graduate students from a range of disciplines who are interested in the study of Appalachia.
Students interested in graduate study with an emphasis in the Appalachian region may contact the director of the Center.
The Sanders-Brown Center on Aging is a multidisciplinary center for gerontological teaching, research, and service, dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults. The Center is responsible for coordinating and integrating research, education and service programs in aging throughout the University of Kentucky. It administers interdisciplinary research programs, coordinates the offering of gerontology courses, and assists in the training of graduate students. Over 150 faculty and staff from many areas and disciplines of the University are involved in programs of the Center (See the Graduate Program in Gerontology).
Students interested in graduate study with an emphasis in gerontology may work toward the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology awarded by the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. The certificate requires 15 graduate credit hours in an approved, multidisciplinary curriculum in gerontology and completion of graduate degree requirements in a major academic discipline. For further information on the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology contact the Certificate Director, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.
The Center for Business and Economic Research provides a focal point for research in the Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and Economics. It provides information and staff support for research projects, assists faculty in efforts to secure external funding for research, and coordinates multidisciplinary team approaches to research. The Center also monitors and analyzes the economy of Kentucky and provides quarterly economic forecasts for the state.
The Markey Cancer Center is a multidisciplinary center for research, patient care, education and community outreach. Research activities are broadly represented through four program areas: tumor immunology, molecular genetics, membrane studies and developmental therapeutics. The Center supports core research facilities for flow cytometry, macromolecular structure, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, hybridoma production, and transgenic mouse construction. These activities, together with a wide range of individual investigator initiated projects, are supported by a combination of funding sources, including research grants from the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and other extramural funding agencies. The Center also has available additional resources in all areas relevant to cancer problems.
The Center for Computational Sciences is a center for research and education with primary emphasis on developing and using computer models to analyze chemical, physical, and biological systems. Faculty from Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and other departments use a multidisciplinary approach to study such systems, utilizing the full range of computational resources—micro, mini, mainframe, and supercomputers. This includes algorithm development and evaluation for vector and parallel, as well as for scalar machines. Courses in applied mathematics, numerical analysis, and computer modeling are available for students interested in this approach to analyzing and understanding these systems.
The Gluck Equine Research Center is part of the Department of Veterinary Science. Research in the Center is supported, in part, by an endowment established by the University of Kentucky Equine Research Foundation. The Center provides state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for the study of a wide variety of diseases of the horse. Research in the areas of infectious diseases, reproductive physiology, parasitology, pharmacology, immunogenetics, growth and development, pathology, blood typing, and toxicology and experimental therapeutics are conducted within the 69,505 square foot building located in front of Commonwealth Stadium.
The Gluck Center offers postgraduate and postdoctoral training in a variety of disciplines. The Center is well-positioned in one of the most concentrated horse breeding areas in the world. Both basic biomedical and problem-oriented research are included in the Center's program.
The Center of Membrane Sciences affords a unique approach to promote multidisciplinary research and education in both natural biological membranes and artificial synthetic membranes. UK faculty from the Departments of Animal Sciences, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, Pharmacy, Physiology and Biophysics, and Psychology are active in the programs of the Center. This collaboration between experts in biological membranes with experts in synthetic membranes constitutes the major strength of the Center and it puts the University and the Commonwealth at the forefront of this vital area of science and technology. No other such Center of Membrane Sciences exists in the United States. The sciences of membranes encompasses broad areas: a) the structure and chemistry of biological membranes and their constituents, transport processes, and information transfer (transmembrane signaling) in living systems; b) the synthesis, structure, and chemistry of synthetic membranes; separation of solutes ranging in size from smaller molecules and ions to large proteins by reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration with biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications; separation of gaseous mixtures by synthetic membranes; c) separation of organic and biomolecules by synthetic membranes containing chemical and biofunctional groups; d) membrane-based catalysis, analysis, and separation combining molecular biology with chemistry and chemical engineering to produce new fundamental and applied studies of biofunctional membranes. Opportunities are available for graduate students in each of the above-listed disciplines as well as in agriculture, allied health, dentistry, medicine, and other areas.
The Center for Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (CPST) offers an institutional framework for multidisciplinary research in the pharmaceutical sciences principally through collaboration with industry. By providing a focus for efforts already underway at the University, the Center assists established and emerging pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology firms engaged in the development, production and marketing of drug products for human and animal health care. The Center's mission is to enrich academic programs, promote technology transfer, conduct specialized educational and training programs relating to pharmaceutical technologies and enhance economic development in the Commonwealth.
The Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Systems is dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing through education, research, and technology transfer. The Center supports active programs in the areas of manufacturing processes, engineered materials and processes, automation systems, and integrated manufacturing systems.
State-of-the-art laboratories are utilized by faculty, staff and students to develop processes for new materials, modeling and simulation, and automation and systems integration. Major areas of research include aspects of metal cutting such as control of machining chatter, methods and theory of chip formation and control, finite element modeling of the machining process, and metrology. The monitoring and control of machine systems also is an important area. Current research also encompasses activities on methodologies for modeling, sensing, and control. Intelligent systems, communication networks particularly adapted to manufacturing systems, and improved distributed computer architectures are being studied. In addition, non-traditional processes such as painting technology, stereolithography, electrodischarge compaction of powdered metal, and injection molding are addressed.
Technology transfer activities help manufacturing companies keep pace with increasing globalization. Specialized areas of assistance offered by the CRMS engineering and technical staff include computer-aided technologies, electronic assembly, product/process optimization, and rapid prototyping. Technology advancements are disseminated to manufacturers by presentations, seminars, workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions, as well as through one-on-one industrial extension activities.
The Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute (IHDI) is a research, training, service and technical assistance program working at local, state, regional, national and international levels to improve services to persons with disabilities and their families. These activities are developed in cooperation with a broad range of both University of Kentucky units and public or private organizations and agencies. These cooperative relationships include education, social services, medicine, allied health, rehabilitation and other related disciplines. Its activities include life span involvements with programs ranging from prevention of disabilities to aging and gerontology. It is a member of the American Association of University Affiliated Programs (AAUAP).
The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) is a research unit of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Kentucky. Its mission includes basic and applied research related to Kentucky's geology and mineral resources, water resources, and geologic hazards. Research results are publicly available in published reports and maps, as well as on the Web at <www.uky.edu/KGS/home.htm>. KGS staff provide technical support to Federal, State, regional, and local government agencies and serve on 90 committees, boards, and professional societies. The Survey is the official repository in Kentucky for oil and gas well records, drill cutting and core samples, and ground-water data.
KGS maintains a state-of-the-art relational database. Geoscience data are available for use by researchers, students, and the public. The Survey's laboratory facilities are used to analyze the chemical and physical characteristics of water, rock, coal, oil, natural gas, and other natural resources. Although laboratory services are provided primarily to KGS researchers, they are also available to other researchers who study the environment and natural resources of Kentucky.
Numerous researchers at KGS serve as adjunct faculty in the Department of Geological Sciences and the Department of Agricultural Engineering, teach courses, and serve on advisory committees of graduate students at UK. Many graduate students are employed in KGS research programs.
Areas of expertise at KGS include coal mining geology, coal-resource assessment, coal quality and petrography, stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Eastern and Western Kentucky Coal Fields, application of geographic information systems (GIS) to coal-field geology; industrial and metallic minerals; digital geologic mapping, geophysics, and geologic hazards; hydrogeology of agricultural lands, hydrogeology of coal fields, hydrogeology of karst terrains, hydrogeology of urban and industrial areas; and basin hydrology, water supply, and waste management. KGS is a national leader in digital geologic mapping. The Survey is also an authorized ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.) ArcView GIS instruction center.
The Kentucky Transportation Center serves as the focal point in the state for interdisciplinary research in transportation. In addition to its Transportation Research Program, the Center operates a Technology Transfer Program and provides technical assistance and training to road and street departments throughout the Commonwealth. The Center works closely with various governmental agencies and conducts research supported by a variety of sources including private industry.
The Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute (KWRRI) stimulates and supports water resources research and education by identifying current and emerging water resources issues for Kentucky and the nation. Faculty at all the universities and colleges in Kentucky are encouraged to participate in the Institute's programs.
Programs of the Institute include the Environmental System Certificate, which offers a multi-disciplinary perspective of environmental issues; the Environmental Protection Scholarship Program, which supports both undergraduate and graduate students with full scholarships in exchange for employment with the state upon graduation; and the Federal Facilities Oversight Unit, which assists the state Division of Waste Management with environmental oversight of federal facilities located in Kentucky. The Water Resources Research Institute supports faculty members, research staff and graduate students in a broad spectrum of research topics. The Institute's technology transfer program includes short courses, seminars and conferences, and the distribution of research results.
The Department of Statistics operates two consulting laboratories: the Statistics Consulting Laboratory for the main campus and the Biostatistics Consulting Unit for the Medical Center campus. These laboratories provide advice to faculty and graduate students on proper study designs for projects involving quantitative data as well as on appropriate strategies for analyzing the data emanating from such projects. Laboratory services cover the entire range of applied statistical methodology including biostatistics, epidemiology and survey sampling. Statistical programming support for projects is also available on a fee for services rendered basis. The staff occasionally offers short courses on specialized topics.
The Survey Research Center designs, coordinates, and conducts survey research activities for the University, non-profit organizations and public agencies and assists faculty and students with survey research projects. The Center's services range from research design, questionnaire development, and sampling through data analysis and report writing.
The Center conducts national, statewide, and local telephone and mail surveys, face-to-face interviews, and focus groups, using the latest technologies and methods such as CATI, CAPI, and CASI. It conducts the biannual Kentucky Survey, which probes the opinions and attitudes of Kentuckians about a variety of social, economic, and political issues, and the Kentucky Health Survey, which addresses a wide range of health issues. Data from these surveys and other Center projects are available for faculty and graduate student research.
This Institute conducts research in two distinct fields, namely the investigation of animal physiology related to the use of tobacco products, and the application of biotechnology to develop new crops based on the tobacco plant. In the animal sciences field, THRI grants support projects that investigate the action of tobacco smoke constituents on processes in the lung, the action of nicotine on the central nervous system, and many other mechanisms relating to the interaction of tobacco products with animal physiology. The Institute also provides an unique service to tobacco researchers worldwide through its production of research reference cigarettes, construction of equipment for smoke-exposure studies, and provision of analytical services. Biotechnology research aimed at the development of new crops based on tobacco is supported both through competitive grants and by an in-house program. There is a strong emphasis on collaborations with research groups in academia and industry. The in-house group undertakes research into the types of products best suited to production via crop agriculture, the development of advanced systems for production of novel substances in the tobacco plant, and the development of new tobacco plants making novel products such as antibiotics, insecticides, enzymes etc. This research is designed to facilitate the eventual development of entirely new crop opportunities for the Kentucky tobacco grower. The Institute welcomes proposals for research support in both the animal health and the tobacco biotechnology fields.
The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) is a consortium of 41 universities in 13 southeastern states and the District of Columbia established in 1980 to serve as an entity through which colleges, universities, and other organizations may cooperate with one another and with government and other organizations in acquiring, developing, and using laboratories, machines, and other research facilities and in furthering knowledge in the physical, biological, and other natural sciences and engineering. The University of Kentucky is a founding member of SURA. SURA's current research efforts are focused in nuclear physics, information technology, and materials science. SURA manages the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) for the Department of Energy for research in nuclear science. The SURA/TJNAF Graduate Fellowship Program offers awards to graduate students at SURA institutions who plan to pursue TJNAF-related research.
Since 1946, students and faculty of the University of Kentucky have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a consortium of colleges and universities and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members. Contact the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, University of Kentucky, (859) 257-1663 for more information.
