Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship $5,000 stipend

The CURE Fellowship welcomes applications from UK undergraduate students of any major that are: 

• registered as full-time students

• have completed at least 1 semester (preferably 2+) of research with a faculty mentor

• are in good academic standing

• will return to UK for the Fall 2026 semester as a full-time registered undergraduate.

Confirmed UK faculty or staff research mentor for the duration of the CURE Fellowship. The research mentor will provide a letter i) confirming their intent to mentor the CURE Fellow and ii) that they are able to support the proposed CURE Fellow research activities. If the CURE fellow intends to work remotely during the summer, the letter should provide details about how progress will be monitored.

You can upload your letter of support HERE. Due by 11:55 p.m. ET on March 5, 2026.

It is necessary to submit an application if you are applying for the CURE Fellowship. 

Application Deadline: March 1, 2026 by 11:55 PM EST

For questions regarding the application process, please email jesibowman@uky.edu 

Connect with a Mentor + Application Process

1. Review the Research Priority Areas (RPA) to find a broad area of interest to you.

2. Identify potential mentors within the RPA. Links to each RPA are included in the participating RPA list above. To apply to work with a specific mentor, please contact that mentor directly.   If you are currently working with a mentor, confirm if they are connected with a participating RPA.

3. A brief proposal is required for application to the CURE Fellowship program. Once connected with a faculty or staff research mentor, you will need to craft a 300 - 1,000-word proposal that provides a brief description of the summer research project. View proposal format and guidelines here.  

4. Faculty or Staff Research Mentor's Letter of Support.  Upload letter of support HERE. Due by 11:55 p.m. ET on March 5, 2026.

• Complete a minimum of 300 hours of mentored research during the summer term (e.g., 30 hours per week over 10 weeks)

• Schedule is flexible and determined by the mentor and student. 

• Complete a Pre- and Post-Experience Survey

• Midsummer Check-in Photos (July 2026)

• Final Report at the end of the Summer 2026 term (August 2026)

• Participation in the OUR Summer Research Fellows Symposium (August 2026)

• Present research at the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars (April 2027)

• Work with UK Public Relations and VPR Communications to spotlight summer research work and experience

CURE Fellowship applicants will have a declared major or pertinent background in a field of relevance as identified by the RPA.

Marlee Harris, Cancer RPA, Eunus Ali Lab

Mariam Yaacoub, Cancer RPA, Jessica Blackburn Lab

Jasmine Juarez, Cardiovascular Health RPA, Martha Biddle Lab

Susma Sah, Cardiovascular Health RPA, Kenneth Campbell Lab

Anthony Hana, Neuroscience RPA, Robin Cooper Lab

Toby Morris, Neuroscience RPA, Salvatore Cherra Lab

Brayden Warren, Neuroscience RPA, Bjoern Bauer Lab

Joseph Estelita III, SURPA, Peggy Keller Lab

Kayla Lathouris, SURPA, Christal Badour Lab

Christine Rivet, SURPA, Martha Tillson Lab

Kailen Lucas Teodorescu, SURPA, Peggy Keller Lab
 

Jimmie Locker, Cancer RPA, Young-Sam Lee Lab

Emma Anderson, Cardiovascular Health RPA, Ila Mishra Lab

Susma Sah, Cardiovascular Health RPA, Kenneth Campbell Lab

Kennedy Lamb, Diabetes & Obesity RPA, Jessica Santollo Lab

Alexandria Rumenser, Diabetes & Obesity RPA, Simon Fisher Lab

Alexander Blevins, Energy Research RPA, Philip Lee Lab

Omar Abou El-Ezz, Neuroscience RPA, Adam Bachstetter Lab

Lauren Moore, Neuroscience RPA, Joshua Morganti Lab

Emalie Mullane, Neuroscience RPA, Jessica Santollo Lab

Diana Gomez Gallo, SURPA, Anel Jaramillo Lab

Sophie Imler, SURPA, Peggy Keller Lab

Katherine Ragiel, SURPA, Kristin Ashford Lab

Shriya Shah, SURPA, Pavel Ortinski Lab

Austin Trotter, SURPA, Martha Tillson Lab

Bernardo Alves Rodrigues, UNITE RPA, Muhammad A.B. Siddique Lab

Jackson Skeeters, UNITE RPA, Jennifer Meakins Lab

Jameson Allen-Mosby, Cancer RPA, Young-Sam Lee Lab

Nolan Marcum, Cancer RPA, Luksana Chaiswing Lab

Hannah Laney, Cardiovascular RPA, Kenneth Campbell Lab

Preet Patel, Cardiovascular RPA, Hisashi Sawada Lab

James Hao, Diabetes & Obesity RPA, Ming Gong Lab

Mariana Escobedo de la Peña, Energy RPA, Loka Ashwood Lab

Eduarda Frizzo Pereira, Equity (UNITE) RPA, Anthony Bardo Lab

Gabriel Portugal, Equity (UNITE) RPA, Aanya Chugh Lab

Carter Pryor, Materials Science RPA, Kenneth Graham Lab

Aidan Berry, Neuroscience RPA, Clare Rittschoff Lab

Murphy Byrd, Neuroscience RPA, Ann Stowe Lab

McKenna Green, Neuroscience RPA, Linda Van Eldik Lab

Cole Flaherty, SURPA, Cassandra Gipson-Reichard Lab

Geoffrey Smith, SURPA, Ilhem Messaoudi Powers Lab

Breanna Pane, Cancer RPA, Eddy Yang Lab

Harrison Yang, Cancer RPA, Fanny Chapelin Lab

Elizabeth Elliott, Cardiovascular RPA, Robin Cooper Lab

Abraham Alhamdani, Cardiovascular RPA, Tammy Stephenson Lab

Leena Haider, UNited in True racial Equality (UNITE) RPA, Kirby Mayer Lab

Mariana Mesa Castillo, UNited in True racial Equality (UNITE) RPA, Leen Katrib Lab

Kacie Peters, UNited in True racial Equality (UNITE) RPA, Christia Brown Lab

Daniela Rodriguez Soto, UNited in True racial Equality (UNITE) RPA, Kimberly Parker Lab

Khamil Allen Thomas, Energy RPA, Chad Risko Lab

Kyle Dahlgren, Neuroscience RPA, Thomas Adams Lab

Hannah Miller, Neuroscience RPA, Brad Hubbard Lab

Neo Nathoo, Neuroscience RPA, Patrick Sullivan Lab

Elizabeth Rice, Neuroscience RPA, Luke Bradley Lab

Avanti Sawardekar, Neuroscience RPA, Salvatore Cherra Lab

Joseph Elsoueidi, SUPRA, Jill Turner Lab

Rachel Gressick, SUPRA, Carrie Oser Lab

Jocelyn Martin, SUPRA, Michael Bardo Lab

Caden Maynard, SUPRA, Peggy Keller Lab

Safiyah Sadek, SUPRA, Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt Lab

Rebecca Ahn, Cancer RPA, Jill Kolesar Lab

Berina Halilovic, Cancer RPA, John D’Orazio Lab

Alana Kassis, Cardiovascular RPA, Analia Loria Lab

Madison Hayes, Diabetes & Obesity RPA, Makenzie Barr Lab

Olivia Baron, Diversity and Inclusion (UNITE) RPA, Eric Weber Lab

Valeria Calderon Triana, Diversity and Inclusion (UNITE) RPA, Joseph Burger Lab

Daniela Rodriguez Soto, Diversity and Inclusion (UNITE) RPA, Joseph Burger Lab

Jackson Butcher, Energy RPA, Simone Silvestri Lab

Jenna Rector, Energy RPA, Doo Young Kim Lab

Abdallah Sher, Neuroscience RPA, Clare Rittschof Lab

Meredith Williams, Neuroscience RPA, Matthew Gentry Lab

Joshua Hales, SUPRA, Michael Bardo Lab

Lidia Olyha, SUPRA, Michael Bardo Lab

Zachary Siegel, SUPRA, Christal Badour Lab

Slane Steen, SUPRA, Joshua Beckmann Lab

Emily Sumrall, SUPRA, Jonathan Golding Lab