Five University of Kentucky students have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship program, a high-impact learning experience that contributes to the students’ academic growth as well as sustainability-focused research initiatives at UK and in the community.

As a learning institution, UK engages in sustainable practices by collaborating with faculty, staff and students across all colleges and departments. The Sustainability Research Fellowship is a collaborative program coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and sponsored by the UK Student Sustainability Council (SSC) and UK Sustainability. The fellowship’s goal is to support and promote sustainability-related undergraduate research endeavors. The program launched in 2014 and has since supported 48 undergraduates.

“Sustainability research is crucial to our university's efforts in finding new opportunities to both leverage and conserve existing resources. Sustainability research also provides students with a way to make a real impact on the campus and share their findings with the larger community,” said Kyle Heffernan, a sophomore product design major working with Pooya Mohaghegh, Ph.D. in the College of Design’s Department of Product Design.

Students selected as Sustainability Research Fellows received a $5,000 stipend to support their research endeavors during the Summer 2023 term. Fellows engage in a research project under the guidance of a mentor.

“University of Kentucky's Sustainability Summer Research Fellowships provide a unique platform for students to explore the vital intersections of sustainability research and design. By cultivating an understanding of environmental, social and economic implications, our students can thoughtfully integrate sustainability principles into their work and achieve a better balance between human needs and preservation,” explained Lindsey Fay, associate professor in the College of Design’s Department of Interiors. “The benefits of these summer research fellowships extend far beyond the initial scope of work, empowering students to become active contributors to their diverse fields by promoting innovative and eco-conscious design solutions.”

Students will present their research at the Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 28, 2023, Sustainability Showcase on Oct. 4, 2023, and the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars in April 2024.

The 2023 Sustainability Research Fellows:

• Anna Ackerman, Lewis Honors College freshman and forestry major; Mentor: Sybil Gotsch, Ph.D., College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Project: “Determining the Impact of Valley Fog on Forest Function in Central Appalachia.”
• Nick Gunn III, junior dietetics major; Mentor: Dawn Brewer, Ph.D., College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Project: “Growing Gardeners.”
• Kyle Heffernan, sophomore product design major; Mentor: Pooya Mohaghegh, Ph.D., College of Design. Project: “Receptacles for Reusable Material in the College of Design.”
• Muhammad Indra, junior environmental and sustainability studies major; Mentor: Betsy Beymer-Farris, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences. Project: “Sustainability Solutions to the Plastic Pile-Up in Bali, Indonesia.”
• Audrey Wirasakti, Lewis Honors College freshman and food science and agricultural economics major; Mentor: Tammy Stephenson, Ph.D., College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Project: “Measuring the Economic and Nutritional Value of Food Waste Recovery at Campus Kitchen University of Kentucky.”