Kennedy Lamb 2025 CURE Research Fellow

Senior, Human Health Sciences major

Research Mentor: Jessica Santollo - College of Arts and Sciences, Biology

Supported by the Diabetes and Obesity Research Priority Area

Project Title: "Understanding effects of the Estrous Cycle and GLP-1 receptor agonism on food motivated behaviors in female rats."

How will this summer research fellowship support your research efforts?

“The CURE Summer Research Fellowship will support my research efforts by allowing me to conduct a study on how rodent estrous cycles affects food motivation during GLP-1 RA treatment before and after a high fat diet. This opportunity to expand research in a sex specific manner is critical to increasing efforts of research for women. This research fellowship grants me the opportunity to make a difference in a field that I am passionate about." 

Why is research important?

“Research matters because it helps us make sense of the world around us. It’s how we ask better questions, find clearer answers, and turn curiosity into action. What makes research truly meaningful, though, is that it gives us the chance to help people—whether that’s through improving health, solving community problems, or making everyday life a little better for someone else."

What advice would you give to other UK students thinking about doing research?

“I would encourage students to explore the different types of research that UK offers and choose a field that they are passionate about. When most people think of research, they envision a wet lab, but UK offers many different research experiences. If you are interested in a specific topic, there is probably a research opportunity at UK for that topic."