ACADEMIC RESOURCES
Research at the University of Kentucky
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
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.
Research and Teaching Assistantships
Most departments have support for teaching and research assistants. The
stipends vary by department. Information concerning assistantships may
be obtained from the various departments.
Graduate and Professional Student
Association
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.
Teaching and Learning Center
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.
Visiting Scholars and Advanced Study
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
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.
Computing Services
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.
Multidisciplinary Graduate Programs
Graduate Center for Biomedical
Engineering
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
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.
Graduate Program in Gerontology
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.
Graduate Center for Nutritional
Sciences
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.
Martin School of Public Policy and
Administration
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.
Graduate Center for Toxicology
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.
Research Centers, Institutes and Support
Units
Appalachian Center
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.
Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
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.
Center for Business and Economic Research
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.
Markey Cancer Center
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.
Center for Computational
Sciences
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.
Gluck Equine Research Center
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.
Center of Membrane Sciences
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.
Center for Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
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.
Center for Robotics and Manufacturing
Systems
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.
Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute
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).
Kentucky Geological Survey
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.
Kentucky Transportation 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.
Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute
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.
Statistics Consulting
Laboratories
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.
Survey Research Center
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.
Tobacco and Health Research Institute
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.
Inter-University Affiliations
Southeastern Universities Research Association
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.
Research Program at Oak Ridge Associated
Universities
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.
