20 students awarded CURE Fellowships

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is honored to announce that 20 undergraduates have been selected for the 2023 Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship program.

Sponsored by OUR and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the CURE Fellowship program empowers undergraduates to become leaders for their respective communities by providing opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills through research within six of UK’s Research Priority Areas: cancer, cardiovascular health, diversity and inclusion, energy, neuroscience and substance use disorder.

“As an undergraduate student with plans to further my education through graduate studies, participating in opportunities that strengthen my research skills and interdisciplinary thinking is key. The time and space the CURE Fellowship provides will allow me to immerse myself in scholarly architectural research for the first time beyond core curricular requirements,” said Mariana Mesa Castillo, a junior architecture major who is working with mentor Leen Katrib in the College of Design’s School of Architecture. “Collaborating with Professor Katrib will provide me with much-needed exposure into the intersection of race and architecture — an area of research that is notably missing from the current curricular structure at the School of Architecture.”

Students selected as CURE Fellows received a $5,000 stipend to support their research endeavors during the Summer 2023 term. Fellows will engage in a research project under the guidance of a mentor associated with one of the participating RPAs. Students will interact with the other fellows in their cohort during the summer research period and present their research at the Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 31, 2023.

UK's 2023 recipients of the CURE Fellowship are:

Cancer Research Priority Area

• Breanna Pane, junior biochemistry and neuroscience major; Mentor: Eddy Yang, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Radiation
• Harrison Yang, junior biology major; Mentor: Fanny Chapelin, Ph.D., in the College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering

Cardiovascular Research Priority Area

• Elizabeth Elliott, sophomore Honors chemistry major; Mentor: Robin Cooper, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biology
• Abraham Alhamdani, junior Honors neuroscience major; Mentor: Tammy Stephenson, Ph.D. in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition

UNited in True racial Equality (UNITE) Research Priority Area

• Leena Haider, junior Honors biology major; Mentor: Kirby Mayer, Ph.D., in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Physical Therapy
• Mariana Mesa Castillo, junior architecture major; Mentor: Leen Katrib, in the College of Design’s School of Architecture
• Kacie Peters, junior Honors psychology major; Mentor: Christia Brown, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology
• Daniela Rodriguez Soto, sophomore management and marketing major; Mentor: Kimberly Parker, Ph.D., in the College of Communication and Information’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication

Energy Research Priority Area

• Khamil Allen Thomas, freshman computer engineering major; Mentor: Chad Risko, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Chemistry

Neuroscience Research Priority Area

• Kyle Dahlgren, sophomore psychology major; Mentor: Thomas Adams, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology
• Hannah Miller, sophomore Honors biology major; Mentor: Brad Hubbard, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Physiology
• Neo Nathoo, sophomore neuroscience major; Mentor: Patrick Sullivan, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center
• Elizabeth Rice, sophomore agricultural and medical biotechnology major; Mentor: Luke Bradley, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience
• Avanti Sawardekar, sophomore Honors biomedical engineering major; Mentor: Salvatore Cherra, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Neuroscience

Substance Use Research Priority Area (SUPRA)

• Joseph Elsoueidi, sophomore biology major; Mentor: Jill Turner, Ph.D., in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Rachel Gressick, junior public health major; Mentor: Carrie Oser, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Sociology
• Jocelyn Martin, junior Honors neuroscience and psychology major; Mentor: Michael Bardo, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology
• Caden Maynard, senior psychology major; Mentor: Peggy Keller, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology
• Safiyah Sadek, junior neuroscience major; Mentor: Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt, Ph.D., in the College of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

One recipient chose to remain anonymous.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $501 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.