The College of Health Sciences is home to a thriving research enterprise where our undergraduates have the opportunity to make their own contributions and learn from some of the sharpest minds in science and health care. For the past eight years, the undergraduate research program has grown from students simply volunteering their time to earning the first ever undergraduate research certificate at the University of Kentucky.

“The undergraduate research program started back in 2011 as an initiative to recognize our undergrads who were volunteering in faculty labs,” said Richard Andreatta, PhD, FASHA, director of the program and associate professor in communication sciences and disorders. “In 2015, the college initiated what we call the certificate in undergraduate research in human health sciences—a formal program where students now have transcript recognition of their work.”

The certificate in undergraduate research is geared toward motivated students who want to take their work to the next level. In the program, they are mentored specifically by faculty members and participate in research experiences for extended periods of time. Courses are also added to a students’ schedule that complement their activities in the lab.

“Part of our expectation of students who go through our certificate program is that they truly become a working and valued member of the lab,” Andreatta said. “It’s an exciting program because they are learning skills that are applicable in both hard science and clinical settings.”

“Most students here at CHS are in some way practicing in a clinical area. Through research training, the exact skills one learns as a scientist become those you need and will use as a clinician,” Andreatta continued. “Having the opportunity to hone these skills early on is a tremendous advantage. We appreciate that not all students will become researchers, but they are learning the educational value of how to think critically and be much more analytical in their approach.”

Andreatta explained research is, in a sense, a microcosm of life. It helps those involved to appreciate interactions and learn how to work together to find solutions. These interdisciplinary and strategic skills are vital in today’s health care environment.

“The faculty really appreciate watching students grow from novices to being comfortable with navigating a research environment,” Andreatta said. “These students are contributing in very positive ways to the work of their sponsoring lab while gaining needed hands-on instruction.”

For interested students, CHS offers a multitude of opportunities. “Every discipline in our college is covered in some way,” Andreatta said. “We can also tap into avenues outside of CHS. Again, the experience doesn’t have to solely come for our college. We have a number of students who are participating in labs in the Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Public Health and Pharmacy.”

Amina Nouri, a junior human health sciences major and student ambassador, is participating in the program and conducting research alongside the UK College of Dentistry’s Dr. Octavio Gonzalez. Her focus is specifically on improving outcomes for patients with periodontal disease.

“The undergraduate research program has exposed me to the realities of health care,” she said. “Once you shadow, you get excited about helping people. I learned there is so much more to dentistry than just clinical treatment. You have to understand how bacteria work and immerse yourself in research to see what others have done. This gives you a better idea about different diseases and how to target and control them.”

Andreatta advises students like Nouri to jump wholeheartedly into research. “I think many undergraduate students may hear the world ‘research’ and become intimidated,” he said. “Research is a challenge but one all of our students can rise to meet. The endgame isn’t only to create research, it’s all about learning how to think differently and apply that mindset to your personal and professional goals.”