The College of Education is proud to connect undergraduate students with research opportunities. Learn more about the opportunities currently available on ForagerOne.
Undergraduate Student Research
Get Involved in Undergraduate Research!
Step 1: Set up your ForagerOne Account
Create a profile withing UK's student research system. ForagerOne has profiles for both students and faculty where you can search to see opportunities.
Step 2: Check out Work-Study Positions
The College of Education has a dedicated ED-WRAP (Work-Study Research Assistant Program) for undergraduates looking to work in research positions while they are in school.
Step 3: Apply for Undergraduate Research Awards
The college offers annual awards for undergraduate researchers. Applications open in September and are a great way to get directly involved with researchers and boost your resume!
Meet Our Undergraduate Research Ambassador
Mani Shahzad
KHP Undergraduate Student
I am a junior from Louisville, KY, majoring in Kinesiology. After tearing my ACL and going through recovery, my goal is to become a doctor to help others navigate similar challenges.
What research program are you currently working on?
I am currently an undergraduate researcher at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center here on campus. My mentor is Dr. Gensel, and my work focuses on understanding cholesterol changes during recovery after spinal cord injury.
Why did you get involved in research, and how has it benefited you?
I initially became interested in research because I wanted to help find the answers, not just read them. By researching, I have had the opportunity to make connections with experts and present what I learned at symposiums and conferences. This has transformed my undergraduate experience by instilling persistence, creativity, and communication skills that I would not get from a textbook.
Student Researcher Spotlight
Emily Speaker
Hi everyone! My name is Emily Speaker, and I am a senior majoring in Kinesiology – Exercise Science with a minor in Health Promotion on the pre-PA track.
Last school year, I had the opportunity to present my research at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) Conference, where I examined inter-rater reliability. Specifically, I compared the findings of my results of the Modified Functional Balance Test (mFBT) completed by firefighter participants under an auditory load with another colleague’s findings. This year, I am excited to again serve as first author as I conduct a new research project investigating the impact of palm cooling on physiological outcomes during firefighter recovery.
Being part of Dr. Abel’s First Responder Research Lab (FRRL) has been an invaluable experience. It has strengthened my critical thinking, public speaking, and collaboration skills while deepening my understanding of exercise physiology concepts such as VO₂ max, isometric contractions, RPE, USG, RER, and lactate threshold. My time in the lab has not only enhanced my classroom learning but also prepared me for my future career as a Physician Assistant, where having strong research literacy and staying informed on the latest evidence are essential to providing the best patient care.
I am incredibly grateful to be part of the FRRL and would like to thank Dr. Abel for the opportunity to learn and grow over the past three years. A special thanks also goes to Jamal and Sarah, our amazing graduate students, for making research both educational and enjoyable. Lastly, thank you to the College of Education Office of Undergraduate Research for supporting my work and funding my research trips!
Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) offers numerous resources and events to get involved in research throughout the year. The Office coordinates support for University of Kentucky undergraduates in all majors and class levels. OUR offers awards and activities to support undergraduate research across the university to enhance student experiences and career readiness.
OUR Undergraduate Research Awards
The College of Education is excited to promote undergraduate research, from student opportunities to work-study related positions across departments. Research opportunities can elevate your educational experience and have lifelong impacts on your career. Apply for an Undergraduate Research Award or get engaged as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, pending the availability of funds.
The guiding principle of these awards is that the funding is to follow the undergraduate researcher – i.e., the awards are solely to support the undergraduate researcher’s activities. During their time at UK, individual undergraduate researchers receive no more than one academic-year research award, one travel award, and one summer research award (or some combination thereof), unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise. For the latter, please contact OUR to discuss the situation.
College of Education award recipients are featured in campus communications and are encouraged to participate in the UK Office of Undergraduate Research Showcase in the spring, along with other events throughout the year. More information, events, and opportunities can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Research website online.
Have a question? Please reach out to collegeofed@uky.edu.
2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase
April 29, 2026, Historic Memorial Coliseum
Join us in celebrating UK's undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. The Showcase is a moment when we step back from our academic routines to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and encourage them along the path of intellectual achievement, as well as celebrate the inspiration and creativity of our young scholars and the dedication of their mentors.
UK Work-Study Research Assistant Program (WRAP)
The UK Work-Study Research Assistant Program (WRAP) provides work opportunities for federal work-study (FWS) eligible students to develop research skills and explore their academic interests. These transferable skills help enhance creative scholarship experiences and can change the course of a student’s academic and professional career.
The College of Education has started an ED-WRAP Program to help coordinate undergraduate research college position postings.
Check out available positions by searching the keyword ‘WRAP’ online.
The College of Education Office of Research can help navigate the position posting process and answer questions. Please reach out to shana.moore@uky.edu.
More Information about the UK WRAP and FWS Programs can be found online.
