Science Communication Fellows

UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) holds a call for nominations for a new cohort of  Fellows in Science Communication in the spring of each year.

Benefits of Participating in the Program

  • Improve your ability to communicate your science to a variety of audiences including colleagues from different fields, lay audiences, and the media.

  • Enhance your research, instruction, and/or service opportunities for promotion and tenure and/or career advancement or professional development by gaining access to and networking with community partners in the Appalachian region and UK-CARES faculty.

  • Connect with UK-CARES faculty and community partners, leading to potential opportunities for funding through the UK-CARES Pilot Program.

Program Details

This free, seven-session and coaching program is designed to provide skills training for communicating science to a broader audience, leading to an enhanced capability for outreach and success in research, teaching, and service. Faculty at both UK and at other Kentucky colleges, universities, vocational/trade schools, or middle or high schools with interest in environmental health science and education in Appalachia are eligible to apply. Faculty from private and public schools are also welcome to apply.

Beginning in the fall each year, selected Fellows will be provided with a total of seven, free workshops (90 minutes each) held on-campus and virtually by nationally known trainers in science communication. These will include a total of two in-person and five virtual webinar skills training workshops (no more than one per month) conducted in real time by Beverly Delidow, PhD, Marshall University, over an eight-month period. 

Participants will develop their own goals for the training and will be expected to attend all meetings and complete assignments for individual feedback. Individual coaching sessions are optional.

Each fellows cohort is limited to approximately ten science communication members or educators per year.

Cohorts

Cohort I (2018-2019)

  • Dawn Brewer, PhD, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky
  • Jean Edward, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky
  • Mina Hanna, MD, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Kevin Pearson, PhD, College of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky
  • Jamie Sturgill, PhD, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Jeannette Sutton, PhD, College of Communication and Information, University of Kentucky
  • Vincent Venditto, PhD, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky
  • Lovoria Williams, PhD, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky
  • Craig Wilmhoff, MBio, Perry County School District
  • Kameyo Johnson, MS, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pikeville

Cohort II (2019-2020)

Cohort III (2020-2021)

  • Makenzie Barr, PhD, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Kentucky
  • Diana Byrne, PhD, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky
  • Jody Clasey, PhD, College of Education, University of Kentucky
  • Clint Pinion, PhD, College of Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University (Previous Appointment)
  • Chad Risko, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky
  • Karen Roper, PhD, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Alice Turkington, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky
  • Lisa Turner, PhD, RN, PHCN-BC, Nursing Department, Berea College
  • Tom Vierheller, PhD, Biology Department, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
  • Amy Wolfe, PhD, Geohealth and Environmental Geochemistry, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey

Cohort IV (2021-2022)

  • Mehdi Khosravi, MD, FCCP, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Lindsay Cormier, PhD, Department of Biology, Eastern Kentucky University
  • Nathan Vanderford, PhD, MBA, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Adebola Adegboyega, PhD, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky
  • Aubrey Jones, PhD, College of Medicine/College of Social Work, University of Kentucky
  • Ketrell McWhorter, PhD, MBA, ACE-CPT, ACE-FNS, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky
  • Sahar Alameh, PhD, College of Education, University of Kentucky
  • Courtney Walker, PhD, College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, University of Kentucky
  • Christal Badour, PhD, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
  • Robert (Lou) Hirsch, PhD, College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, University of Kentucky
  • Stacy Stanifer, PhD, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky

Nominations and Applications

We invite you to nominate an interested member from any UK unit or any other educational institution (university, community and technical college, or high school, public or private) serving the Big Sandy, Kentucky River, or Cumberland Valley area of southeastern Kentucky. Applicants with interest in environmental health science are preferred. Interested applicants may self-nominate or to ask a mentor or administrator to make the nomination. First round nominations were due no later than June 2, 2023.

Nominations were reviewed and selected nominees were notified by June 16, 2023. Selected nominees were invited to complete a full application due on or before July 14, 2023.  Applicants were asked to upload a three to five minute video describing their research, experience, or interest in science. Fellows selected for the fourth cohort were notified on or before July 21, 2023.

Program Flyer

Click here to download a copy of the Science Communication Fellows program flyer.

Contact

For questions, please contact Kelly Kennoy via email kelly.kennoy@uky.edu or 859-323-4587.