Undergraduate Research Opportunities
PGY Scholars Program
The Physiology Scholars Program offers undergraduates a unique, immersive experience in biomedical research. The competitive program allows students to engage in research in fields ranging from neurological, cardiovascular, muscular, and pulmonary diseases in the College of Medicine鈥檚 Department of Physiology to discover what a career in biomedical sciences entails and the opportunities it provides.
Students who wish to apply for appointment as a Physiology Scholar should submit a resume, an unofficial transcript, a one-page statement of interest in research and appointment as a Physiology Scholar, and a brief letter of confirmation by the supporting Physiology faculty member. The fall 2025 deadline is September 30th.
| Scholar's Name | Mentor | Year Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Nikitha Dharanipragada | Robert Helsley | 2024 |
| Ava Kruse | A. Catalina Velez-Ortega | 2024 |
| Sarisha Lohano | Jonathan Satin | 2024 |
| Ryan Brennan | Kathryn Saatman | 2024 |
| Abbey Dragich | Gregory Frolenkov | 2018 |
| Esias Bedingar | Donna Wilcock | 2017 |
| Taylor Robinson | 2016 | |
| Tori Buckley | Ken Campbell | 2015 |
| Reza Katanbaf | Alan Daugherty | 2015 |
| Mary Freeman | Gregory Frolenkov | 2014 |
| Jensen Goh | Sasha Rabchevsky | 2013 |
| Kyeong Ran Jang | John Gensel | 2013 |
| Hannah Minard-Esgaio | Ken Campbell | 2013 |
| Jessica Meuth | John McCarthy | 2013 |
| Kaitlyn Braun | Donna Wilcock | 2013 |
| Alicia Kaseta | Sasha Rabchevsky | 2013 |
| Erica Weekman | Donna Wilcock | 2011 |
| Manasi Malik | Steve Estus | 2011 |
| Adam Duff | Karyn Esser | 2011 |
| Laura Novikoff | Bret Smith | 2011 |
| Shaniya Maimaiti | Bret Smith | 2011 |
| Priyanka Patel | Mike Reid | 2010 |
| Matthew Ward | Paco Andrade | 2010 |
PGY 394: Independent Research in Physiology
To join a lab as an undergraduate researcher, you will need to reach out to the professor directly, and you will likely want to participate in PGY 394 (Independent Research in Physiology and Neuroscience). This 1-3 credit hour course allows the participant to gain knowledge of the research environment while accruing college credit for their efforts. More information regarding this course can be found in the .
PGY 504: Independent Work in Physiology
A study of some advanced problems in physiology under the direct supervision of the instructor. Discussion period, one hour; laboratory, four hours. This 2-4 credit hour course may be repeated to a maximum of eight credits. More information regarding this course can be found in the PGY 504 Work Contract.
More Questions?
Information regarding undergraduate research opportunities at the University of Kentucky overall is available here.