Weekly News and Events | March 3, 2025

Heads Up! Don’t forget to set your clocks forward on Sunday, March 9, as Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM. Most clocks will automatically adjust, but just in case, prepare to lose an hour of sleep. Want to know more about why we "spring forward"? Visit The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Join Us for a Social Hour with Faculty and Undergraduate Students!

We invite you to connect with students at our upcoming Biology Faculty and Students Social Hour on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 1:30-2:30 pm in JSB 143 (Biology Learning Center). This informal gathering will feature snacks, coffee, and hot chocolate – the perfect opportunity to relax and chat with students outside the classroom. These events are always a hit with the students, and they really appreciate the chance to interact with faculty in a casual setting. Please RSVP so we can plan for an approximate headcount. If you forget to RSVP, don’t worry—feel free to stop by!

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Time: 1:30-2:30 pm

Location: JSB 143 (Biology Learning Center)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Encourage Your Research Students to Apply for These Research Awards and Fellowships!

Please encourage your research students to apply for the following awards and fellowships, which offer fantastic opportunities for hands-on research experience and funding:

Ribble Research Award:

For Biology majors currently conducting research (BIO 395, 397, 398) in a Biology faculty lab. The award provides $1,000 per semester for two semesters of research. The application deadline is March 14, 2025. Please note, students who have previously received this award are not eligible to apply.

Summer Research Fellowships:

Give your students the chance to gain valuable research experience while getting paid for it!

• Biology Summer Research Fellowship:
• $5,000 for 10 weeks of research. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025. This fellowship is available only for Biology majors.
• Funkhouser Summer Internship:
• $6,000 for 10 weeks of research. The deadline to apply is March 28, 2025. 30% of the research must be conducted at EREC.

These awards are great opportunities for students to enhance their research skills and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects. Please encourage them to apply!

Campus and Lexington Area Events

Congratulations to Eben Aryee (Seifert Lab) and Sejuti Naurin (Famulski Lab) for passing their Qualifying Exams in February!

Important Dates for Graduate Students spring 2025:

• April 1: Last day to apply for a May or August 2025 graduate degree in myUK
• April 10: Last day candidates for a May 2025 degree can submit a request to schedule a final examination through the GRADUATE SCHOOL.
• April 24 Last day candidates for a May 2025 degree can sit for a final examination. All scheduling requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposed examination date. Degree Forms 
• May 2: Last day candidates for a May 2025 degree can submit their thesis/dissertation for format review to the Graduate School via UKnowledge.
• May 9 Last day for May 2025 degree candidates to submit final revised/dissertation (ETD) to the Graduate School for students who first submitted May 2^nd.
• May 9-10: Commencement

Fellowship and Funding Opportunities: 

Graduate School Fellowship Competition for Spring 2025

The Graduate School’s fellowship competition is now open for funding opportunities for the Fall 2025 and/or Spring 2026 semesters.

• Matthews/Singletary/Wethington Fellowships (First-Year Students Only) 
• Application Deadline: March 30, 2025 
• Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day Fellowship (First-Year Students Only) 
• Application Deadline: March 30, 2025

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

This spring the BGSA will meet 3;30-4:30pm in THM 108 on the following dates:

• March 28
• April 25

Resources for Students

College of A&S Concur Open Lab Schedule:

• Friday, March 7th, POT 245, 10 AM - 11 AM
• Tuesday, March 11th, CP 303, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
• Friday, March 14th, JSB 361 M, 10 AM - 11 AM 

Center for the Enhancement of Leaning and Teaching (CELT) Events

Open Educational Resources Faculty Panel

• March 5, 2025 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Virtual/Zoom

Join UK Libraries and CELT for a panel discussion with UK faculty about their experiences writing Open Educational Resources (OER). Panelists, all recipients of the OER Grant Program, will share insights into their projects and offer advice for those interested in authoring OER.

TEK Faculty Fellows Q&A

• March 6 | 2-3 p.m. | WTY Library Room B-108cT

The TEK office will host a Q&A session for prospective applicants to hear from previous TEK Faculty Fellows, discuss ideas, and explore potential collaborations. For questions, contact TEK Director, Jennifer Osterhage, at jennifer.osterhage@uky.edu.

View schedule of upcoming CELT Events here.

Research Events: Spring 2025 Lunch and Learn Series

"Collaborative Innovations in Pandemic Preparedness: The Role of Multidisciplinary Research in Center-Level Success"

• March 12, 2025

Presenters: Scott Berry (Pigman College of Engineering) and Sahar Alameh (College of Education)

All Lunch and Learn workshops are held via Zoom on Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Upcoming conferences and symposiums: 

Cold Spring Harbor - Single Cell & Spatial Transcriptomics Analysis

Dates: June 26 - July 14, 2025

• Application Deadline: March 15, 2025
• Arrival: June 26th by 6pm EST
• Departure: July 14th around 12pm EST

Course Details:

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) course is an intensive, full-day program that often includes evening and weekend sessions. Students are expected to attend all sessions and reside on campus for the duration of the course.

Application Link: CSHL Course Application

Job Opportunities Submission

If you come across an email regarding a job opportunity that could be of interest to members of the Biology Community, please forward it to Jacqueline Burke at Jacqueline.burke@email.com for inclusion in the job section of our weekly newsletter.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Voucher Program

The UK HR Health and Wellness Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offers a subscription-style share of local farm produce. The UK HR Health and Wellness CSA Voucher program provides UK employees and retirees on a health plan with $100 or $200 vouchers for a CSA share. Enjoy weekly deliveries of fresh, local vegetables (and sometimes fruits), get to know your farmers, and access seasonal tips and recipes. Claim your voucher by April 11 at 4 p.m. Visit the UK Dashboard for more info!

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

LGBTQ+ Resources is the University of Kentucky's central hub for accessing information, groups, and services related to diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Housed in the Office for Student Success, they are a campus-wide office that works to make sure that our community is a welcoming, safe, and supportive place for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 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.