Jessica Santollo Research Faculty Mentor of the Month
April Research Faculty Mentor of the Month
Dr. Jessica Santollo is an associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology at the University of Kentucky. She started her undergraduate education journey at Rutgers University before heading to Florida State University to earn her Masters in Biological Psychology. Santollo would then also graduate in 2010 from FSU with a PhD in Neuroscience.
In the past academic year, Dr. Santollo has mentored four undergraduate students. Over the last seven years at UK, she has mentored 22 undergraduate students total within her research lab. She says the best part of being a research mentor is, “Working with the wonderful UKY undergraduates and watching them grow professionally and personally.”
Dr. Santollo’s research interests center around many areas like neuroendocrinology, estrogen receptor signaling, and motivated behavior. She credits her own undergraduate research experiences for leading her to becoming a scientist today. “I look for students who are intellectually curious,” said Dr. Santollo about what qualities she looks for in undergraduate researchers to join her lab.
“I appreciate how approachable Dr. Santollo is and that she really desires for me to understand what I am doing in lab,” shared one of her mentees. “She has not only provided me incredible learning opportunities in the lab, but she has also made improving my scientific literacy a priority through my participation.” Dr. Santollo not only encourages her mentees to engage in her lab, but also to seek out other opportunities like summer undergraduate research fellowships and applying for scholarships. She shared her own advice to undergraduates thinking about getting involved in research, “You should definitely give it a try! I had no idea I would love research, let alone make it my career, until after I got into the lab as an undergraduate.”
In 2023, she was nominated for Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor by one of her mentees due to demonstrating an outstanding commitment to mentor and providing exceptional undergraduate research experiences, while also supporting those same experiences.
Thank you Dr. Santollo for your continued support of undergraduate research at the University of Kentucky. We are pleased to recognize your commitment and dedication as the Research Faculty Mentor of the Month.
Learn more about Dr. Santollo: https://bio.as.uky.edu/users/jsa269