Dr. Warren Alilain 2026 Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year

Dr. Warren Alilain is a Professor of Spinal Cord and Brain Injury in Neuroscience at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Warren attended the University of California San Diego for his Bachelor of Science and received his PhD at Wayne State University. His education also includes a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. He then moved to Lexington, where he conducts research at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center. 

Dr. Warren Alilain’s research focuses on Neuroscience, Medicine, and Pharmaceutical Science, primarily spinal cord injury. In the past year, he has mentored six students. Dr. Alilain said that the best thing about being an undergraduate research mentor is “helping and being a part of their education and career journey.” 

“Warren has had a transformative impact on my undergraduate research experience and overall career trajectory,” recalled Mohit Patel, one of his mentees. “Through his mentorship, I developed a strong understanding of the field, while also gaining confidence and the opportunity to actively contribute to it. He created an environment where asking questions and making mistakes were part of the learning process, which allowed me to grow quickly and comfortably.” 

While Dr. Alilain did not have an undergraduate research experience that inspired his own education and career, the qualities he looks for in mentees are a willingness to work hard, learn, and sometimes fail and make mistakes. Making mistakes is how one learns. 

“He [Dr. Alilain] takes time out of his day once a week to help us learn and gives us a chance to show our learning, not just lecturing us, so that we can improve,” said Jack Prendergast, another mentee in the Alilain Lab. “On top of teaching us neuroscience, he is pushing us to present our work and making sure that the undergraduates receive credit for the work we complete.” 

Thank you, Dr. Warren Alilain, for your continued support of undergraduate research at the University of Kentucky. We are pleased to recognize your commitment and dedication as one of the 2026 Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentors of the Year. 

Learn more about Dr. Warren Alilain and his research: https://scholars.uky.edu/en/persons/warren-alilain/