Weekly News and Events | April 28, 2025

TA Observations and Evaluations – Spring 2025

*Please take note of the following important deadlines for TA assessments:

• End-of-Semester Evaluation Form
• Due: May 16
• The Online TA Evaluation Form is available here.

• Class Observation/Feedback Form
• Due: were due April 14
• The Online TA Class Observation Form is available here.

Upcoming Events

• 🎓 May 2, 2025 – 4th Year Talks (Graduate Students)
• 🥂 May 9, 2025 – Graduation Reception (All Graduates & TA Award Recipients)
• 🎓 May 9, 2025 – Commencement at 2:00 PM
• 🕛 May 12, 2025 – Final Grades Due at NOON
• 🧬 May 17, 2025 – BioBonanza 2025!

Campus Updates for Summer 2025

As summer break approaches, many University of Kentucky students are preparing to head home, while others will remain on campus. To support those staying, several campus facilities will be adjusting their hours of operation.

Faculty Candidate Seminar Schedule

Please join us for the last LTS Faculty Candidate Seminar today at 2pm.

Dr. Shadan Hadi, Bluegrass Community & Technical College

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, April 29

🕞 Time: 3:30–4:30 PM

📌 Location: Room 107, Thomas Hunt Morgan Building

We encourage all faculty, staff, and students to attend and participate!

🔬 Biology Research Talk 🧪

👩‍🔬 Speaker: Dr. Robyn Allen, Postdoctoral Scholar (Seifert Lab)

📅 Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

🕑 Time: 2:00 PM

📍 Location: 116 THM (Thomas Hunt Morgan Building)

Join us to hear Dr. Allen share her latest research from the Seifert Lab!

Campus and Lexington Area Events

Congratulations to the following students for passing their Milestone Exams last week!

• Maya Owens (Famulski Lab) - received her MS in Biology
• Sarah Stasel, (Cassone Lab) - passed her Qualifying Exam

Qualifying Exams and Summer Degrees

Please remember the following important deadlines and procedures:

Qualifying and Final Exams: Be sure to submit your exam request at least two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. Additionally, don’t forget to reserve a room for your exam. You can contact biology@uky.edu to arrange this.

📌 Graduate School Dates & Deadlines

May

• 📄 May 2 – Last day May 2025 degree candidates can submit their thesis/dissertation for format review via UKnowledge.
• ✅ May 9 – Final day to submit revised thesis/dissertation (ETD) to the Graduate School (for those who submitted on May 2).
• 🎓 May 9–10 – Commencement

June

• 🗓️ June 20 – Notification of Intent (NOTIF) deadline for doctoral candidates pursuing an August degree.
• 📅 July 15 – Final Examination Scheduling Deadline for August graduate degree candidates.
• 🧪 July 29 – Final Examination Deadline – Last day August graduate degree candidates may take their final exam.

Fellowship and Funding Opportunities: 

Application Links:

• Full fellowship descriptions: Fellowship Descriptions
• Application portal: Apply Here

External Funding: Explore and apply for current external funding Opportunities here.

Kuehne Fellowship: The main purpose of the Biology Department's Kuehne Fund is to provide support for the field work of a graduate student in biology.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for awards up to $1,000.

Please contact Dr. Jessica Santollo, Biology DGS, if you have any questions.

BGSA News

The Departments of Biology and Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics are hosting BioBonanza: From Atoms to Ecosystems, a one-day science festival at the University of Kentucky on May 17th, 10 AM - 4 PM in the Jacobs Science Building (JSB).

They need volunteers to help ensure the event runs smoothly!

To sign up, visit the Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet below, where you can choose your role, provide contact info, dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, and t-shirt size for a FREE T-SHIRT! Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet

The BGSA Elections - Remember to Vote!

BGSA Meeting

The last BGSA Meeting of the semester will meet May 12th 4-5pm in 108 THM.

2025 Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars



Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 30, from 1:00–5:00 PM in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom.

The annual Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars is a celebration of academic excellence at the University of Kentucky, where undergraduate students present, perform, or demonstrate their faculty-mentored research and creative work.

Open to faculty, staff, students, and the public, this event highlights the innovation and talent of UK’s undergraduate community.

Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT)

📝 Start-to-Finish Assignment Design

April 30, 2025 | 2:00–4:00 PM

Topics: Assessment, Assignment Design

How much instruction is too much? How much feedback is enough? This hands-on workshop explores how to design clear, effective assignments that support student success without overwhelming you—or them. Click Here to Register

🏆 Outstanding Teaching Award Ceremony

May 1, 2025 | 1:00–3:00 PM

Join us as we celebrate the winners and finalists of the 2025 Outstanding Teaching Awards. Additional honors and prizes from the Graduate School will also be presented.

CELT Symposium on AI in Teaching

May 2, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 3:15 PM

The CELT Symposium on AI in Teaching marks the culmination of the 2024–25 Teaching Innovation Institute. Participants will present their interventions and actionable findings from a year of hands-on experimentation with generative AI.

The event features a keynote by Dr. Trey Conatser, followed by three concurrent presentation sessions highlighting practical takeaways for teaching and research.

🍽️ Lunch provided

📍 Open to all at UK | Free registration

Picture-Perfect Spots Around Campus 📸

Looking for the ideal backdrop to capture your graduation moment or just a great photo on campus? Here are some of the most popular and picturesque locations at the University of Kentucky:

• 📍 The steps of Memorial Hall
• 📍 The UK sign with William T. Young Library in the background
• 📍 The garden at Maxwell Place
• 📍 The large UK logo in front of the Gatton Student Center
• 📍 The Bowman Wildcat statue on Avenue of Champions the Wildcat statue
• 📍 The tree-lined paths near University Flats
• 📍 The signage at Alumni Commons

Whether you’re celebrating graduation or just want to commemorate your time at UK, these spots make for memorable photos!

Sip, recycle, repeat: UK Recycling to tackle coffee cup waste on campus

UK Recycling, in partnership with UK Dining, is launching a coffee cup recycling campaign to boost sustainability on campus. Coffee cups at UK Dining locations will feature stickers and banners to remind the campus community that the cups are recyclable in any blue recycling bin.

Big Blue Pantry The Food Pantry is an emergency relief program that is designed to meet the short-term food security needs of all current UK students. Email: bigbluepantry@uky.edu

Resources for Students List

LGBTQ+ Resources at UK LGBTQ+ Resources connects students, faculty, staff, and alumni with information, groups, and services Email: LGBTQ@uky.edu

The CaTS team is providing free Professional Headshots for all Arts and Sciences faculty and Staff. Walk-in sessions on the first Wednesday of each month from 11 AM - 1 PM in POT 918 (student work room). You can also book a 15-minute appointment on select Thursday's with Sophie Morgan for as-needed headshots.

Feedback and Weekly Newsletter Submissions

The weekly newsletter, along with future updates, will be posted on the Biology website under the Departmental Newsletter and Weekly News tab. Any edits or updates will be reflected on this page.

If you notice anything that needs editing or if you have information to share in the next newsletter, please email Jacqueline Burke at jacqueline.burke@uky.edu.