Yu, professor in the F. Joseph Halcomb III, M.D. Department of Biomedical Engineering in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, is the recipient of the 2026 Albert D. and Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Prize, awarded for outstanding contributions to original research and scholarship.
Markey Research Day also features annual awards, including the Markey Women Strong Distinguished Research Award. Presented by the Markey Cancer Foundation, the $100,000 prize is split between two researchers whose groundbreaking work addresses the cancer burden among women. This year’s award was given to Denise Fabian, M.D., UK College of Medicine, and Ni Su, Ph.D., UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
Sophomore Mwajuma Alexandre is one of six University of Kentucky undergraduates selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship, a program that supports student-led projects that advance sustainable practices and community impact through research.
Four graduating students were selected by University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto to represent the Class of 2026 as speakers at UK’s May Commencement Ceremonies. These students reflect the breadth of the UK experience — leaders, scholars and innovators whose paths have been shaped by discovery, service and a strong sense of community. Mostafa Mubarak, a 2026 Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering graduate, delivered the first student address at the 9 a.m. Friday, May 8, ceremony.
Every year, the University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) selects a new cohort of Undergraduate Research Ambassadors — a group of outstanding students who serve as advocates for undergraduate research at UK. Junior Kaydee Straw was one of four students selected for the award this year.
On April 30, the Pigman College of Engineering gathered at the Manchester Fountain Hall to honor its 2026 Faculty Awards recipients for their outstanding contributions to the college and beyond. Awards were given in the areas of research, service and education. This year, in addition to individual research awards, the college added a new award category to honor the work of a research team. The winners in each area are listed below.
The University of Kentucky celebrated exceptional faculty and graduate teaching assistants with Outstanding Teaching Awards during the 2026 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony, April 30 on campus.
Over spring break, Pigman College of Engineering students enrolled in The Engineering Leadership Program took their classroom learning to new heights during a four-day trip to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The trip immersed students in the heart of the nation’s space industry, offering direct access to leaders in aerospace engineering and national security. Through panels, site visits and discussions with industry experts, students explored how leadership principles translate into critical, real-world environments.
Coal has long been the fuel at the heart of energy production in the Commonwealth. Kentuckians often grow up with stories of their grandfather’s days in the mines. But researchers at the University of Kentucky are finding ways to repurpose coal for energy storage — in the form of lithium-ion batteries.
On Friday, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved 17 University Research Professors for the 2026-27 academic year. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1976, the professorships program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research at UK.
