OUR marks a decade of support for Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship

The University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is celebrating 10 years of the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship.

Co-sponsored by OUR and the Student Sustainability Council (SSC), the fellowship program provides financial support and professional development to undergraduate students conducting sustainability-related research aligned with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

This opportunity is designed to support a student’s close collaboration with UK faculty and is intended to provide the student with an opportunity for intensive and self-directed research or creative work while advancing the university’s goals of sustainability.

“As we mark a decade of fostering and cultivating undergraduate researchers, we reflect on the transformative power of students dedicated to sustainability here on our campus,” said Chad Risko, Ph.D., OUR faculty director. “The impact of this work reverberates beyond UK to drive innovation, responsibility and a deep understanding of the critical importance of sustainability. We hope to see that passion for years to come.”

The Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship was launched in 2013 and has supported mentored research for 53 undergraduates. That work has included five publications, one patent and more than 75 presentations.

The SSC is excited to continue its support for the program and recently confirmed funding for five fellowships for summer 2024. To date, the SSC has contributed $168,000 to this program in support of sustainability-focused research initiatives at UK and in the Lexington community.

“Over the past 10 years, this program has become one of the premier opportunities for undergraduate students to gain experience with sustainability-focused topics,” said Shane Tedder, UK’s sustainability officer. “The financial support from the Student Sustainability Council has been instrumental, the leadership from the Office of Undergraduate Research has been exceptional and the opportunities this partnership has provided to our students have been transformational.”

Students who’ve completed the fellowship shared how the program has helped change the trajectory of their careers.

“This research experience really impacted me and helped bring out my passion for helping people as well as the environment,” said Clay Turner, part of the 2021 cohort, in his final report. “It is not an exaggeration to say this research experience was potentially life-altering.”

Two years later, Turner shared that his work now focuses on environmental justice — a focus throughout his fellowship — and how environmental decisions impact communities.

“Last spring, I taught my first college class, Principles of Environmental Law, because of my legal background,” said Turner. “I incorporated aspects of my research on environmental justice into the class.” 

Another fellow shared that the skills she learned during the fellowship helped advance her projects and career.

“The connection between human and environmental health has been of interest to me since the beginning of my college career,” said Brianna Damron, part of the 2017 cohort, in her final report. “I want people to recognize that taking care of the environment is essential for taking care of themselves.”

Damron believes the fellowship helped her stand out as she continued her education in nursing. Through the program, she learned the research process and was one step ahead of classmates in piloting a small study.

“I work closely with hospital leadership now, which is something I really began working on through my Summer Sustainability Research Fellowship project,” said Damron.

All undergraduate students are welcome to apply for the fellowship and can find requirements online here. Applicants must be returning students in the fall and advised by a UK faculty member.

In addition to research activities, students will have the opportunity to interact with the other fellows in their cohort during the summer research period, attend professional development workshops, and present their research at the Summer Research Symposium and Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars.

Five fellows will be awarded a $5,000 stipend from the Environmental Stewardship Fee for the Summer 2024 term.

The summer 2024 application window opens Jan. 15 and closes Feb. 15. Applicants will be notified of a decision by April 1.

Students can find how their faculty mentor’s research aligns with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals by looking up mentors on Scholars@UK.

For more information on the Office of Undergraduate Research, click here.