Research Alumni Career Panel

Artin is an MD-PhD student in the PhD phase of his training, specializing in neurobiology. As an undergraduate, Artin conducted research under Dr. Ortinski investigating the underlying mechanisms of Cocaine Use Disorder and how neural circuits shape cognition, behavior, and addiction. During this time, Artin received multiple competitive fellowships, research grants, and awards, along with co-authoring peer-reviewed publications and presenting at local and national research conferences. Leveraging his gained expertise in neuroscience techniques and under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel McGehee, his research interests have since expanded to better understand how the descending pain pathway modulates acute and chronic pain states. Artin hopes to become a physician-scientist to make translational discoveries in the lab that can challenge the standard of care at the bedside. 

Bridget Bolt is a UK graduate with a BS in Agriculture and Biomedical Technology and an MSc in Integrated Plant and Soil Science. During her time, she conducted independent research on grapevine genome editing, contributed to grant writing and manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals, was elected Service Chair for the American Society of Horticulture GRAD student group, and served as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador for three years and Graduate advisor. Bridget now works at SFDigital LLC as the Director of Operations, where she brings her experience across research, commercialization strategy, consumer insights, product development, and market execution to bridge the gap between strategic intent and real-world results. 

Maddie is a University of Kentucky double graduate. As a first-generation student, she graduated with Honors in December 2018 and started Physician Assistant school 2 weeks later. Maddie believes hard work and dedication are the recipe for success. She is very candid about her journey to her dreams, having worked multiple jobs during her undergraduate journey, including being a CNA for 5 years.

She graduated from the UK Physician Assistant Studies program in 2021, becoming PANCE certified. Maddie completed an 18-month Internal Medicine and Critical Care Fellowship at Trinity Muskegon Hospital where she now works in urgent care. She has been a practicing Certified Physician Assistant for 5 years. She has done everything from changing bed sheets with a fragile patient immobile in bed to tasks like external ventricular drain placement.

Rollie G. Mills, Ph.D., is a chemical engineer, researcher, inventor, and entrepreneur specializing in water treatment, membrane science, environmental systems, and technology development. Earning his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky, he focuses his research on advanced filtration technologies and environmental contaminants. Rollie is a former National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and NIEHS Superfund Research Program trainee. His work has been published in multiple peer-reviewed publications and three U.S. patents. Today, he is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Cornerstone Consulting LLC, translating scientific research and emerging technologies into practical solutions and commercial opportunities. He is also the Co-Founder of Funky Rooster Coffee and the acting Director of Innovate Appalachia.

Kendra Stenzel, Ph.D., leads Innovation Talent Development, focusing on grooming future leaders in innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. She guides researchers on aligning their research to benefit target populations. Previously, as a Commercialization Manager for Medical Devices, she assisted UK innovators in crafting business models and commercialization strategies. Kendra has also been the XOR Program Manager for XLeratorNetwork and Project Manager for KYNETIC, where she aided in securing proof-of-concept funding and understanding the commercialization journey. Her career is dedicated to empowering others by offering educational and experiential training, ensuring they maximize the impact of their intellectual property. Kendra's expertise lies in bridging the gap between research and market application, facilitating the translation of innovative ideas into impactful solutions.