My name is Jerri Alley. I grew up in Ashland, Kentucky. I live in Harrisonburg, Virginia now.

What is your connection to the Department of Biology? 

I was a biology major at UK. I graduated with a BS in Biology in 1992. 

What was your overall experience with the department? UK? 

I loved every aspect of my experience in the department of Biology! I felt very supported by faculty and staff.  My undergrad years were just before the William T. Young library was built, when the Biology Library was still on the third floor of the Thomas Hunt Morgan building. I worked in the library for 3 years during undergrad, and it was a great opportunity to get to know all the professors in the department. I also worked in Dr. Brian Rymond’s lab, which was a

By Francis Von Mann

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2025) – Palak Patel’s grandmother had tuberculosis in her ankle. It took 17 doctors to figure that out. Watching her family navigate a medical system that wasn’t built for them, Patel knew she had found her calling: becoming a Kentucky physician who serves the thousands of immigrant families who deserve better health care. 

Now a senior biology major in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College, Patel has spent four years building a foundation for her future. Through undergraduate research, academic mentorship and leadership experiences, she has built the confidence and skills necessary for medical school.

A First-Generation Student’s Defining Moment

Patel grew up in Hopkinsville. Her parents and grandparents came

By Charla Hamilton 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2025) — When Sara Khandani arrived in Kentucky at the age of 10, she faced an unfamiliar world. She had left behind her homeland of Iran, spoke limited English and was suddenly navigating a place that felt entirely foreign. Despite these challenges, she excelled academically, driven by a deep-seated determination and the values instilled in her by her family.

Khandani’s father was a physician in Iran, dedicated to treating patients of all ages. Sometimes patient care extended beyond

By Erin Wickey 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2024) — Julie Pendergast, Ph.D., and a team of researchers are exploring how disruptions to our body’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep affect health.

“Overwhelming evidence suggests that irregular circadian and sleep patterns, such as inconsistent bedtimes, wake times and eating schedules, are linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, metabolic disorders, cancer and reduced longevity,” said Pendergast, associate professor in the University of Kentucky's Department of Biology

By Jennifer T. Allen 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2025) — Plamedi Nsensele feels called to help others navigating their new life in the United States. 

“As an international student at the University of Kentucky, I see it as a blessing to pursue my education without the fear of needing help,” said Nsensele, a neuroscience and biology major from The Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Now, through the Step-Up Program, I’ve had the opportunity to work with immigrants from the same country as me, but with different circumstances.” 

Step-Up is an innovative service-learning program supporting high school students from immigrant and refugee families. The program helps them integrate into the United States. The program was recently awarded a Provost Impact Award for the 2024-25 academic year.

By Lindsay Travis 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 27, 2025) — Research conducted by an international team led by biologists at the University of Kentucky has found that the ability to regenerate complex tissue may be more widespread in mammals than previously thought — an important step toward figuring out why many most mammals, and humans in particular, have poor regenerative ability.  

Vertebrate regeneration is most commonly found in reptiles, amphibians and fish. In mammals it’s usually a limited ability:  deer regrowing antlers in the late spring or mice regrowing lost digit tips.

This latest study builds upon previous work using spiny mice by Ashley W. Seifert, Ph.D., a professor in the

By Beckman Foundation 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 24, 2025) — Growing up in Lexington, Kaitlyn Brock’s earliest exposure to research came from her stepmom, who was a student at the University of Kentucky participating in biology research. Now Brock and one of her four younger siblings attend UK. 

In 2022, the University of Kentucky was named a Beckman Scholars Program awardee. As one of just 14 institutions to receive the award, UK received funding support six scholar-mentor pairs over a three-year period. The Beckman Scholars Program provides

 1. Tell us a little about yourself.
    a. When do you graduate? 
    b. What motivated you to come to UK’s department of biology?
    c. Where are you from?

Hi, my name is Cleverson de Sousa Lima (you can call me Clev), and my research interest is in adaptations to extreme environments. I am a biologist, graduated from the Universidade Cidade de Sao Paulo, in Brazil, and I moved to the US to get my PhD in animal physiology. I first started at the Department of Entomology here at UK, and as my project progressed, I developed an interest in other disciplines that could bring different points of view to the questions that I am interested in, such

By Jaqueline Burke:

For 33 years, Professor Jim Krupa has been much more than an educator—he has been a master storyteller, weaving the grand narrative of life's evolution for undergraduate students. As he steps away from the lectern, we celebrate a career that has illuminated the complex web of evolution, sparked curiosity, and inspired wonder in the hearts of young learners.

Much like Charles Darwin, whose transformative ideas reshaped our understanding of life's diversity, Professor Krupa has inspired undergraduate students to see the world through the lens of evolutionary biology. His lectures were never dry recitations of facts, but captivating journeys through time, painting vivid pictures of ancient landscapes and the creatures that once roamed them.

In the spirit of Aldo Leopold, Professor Krupa

By Zoey Schwartz 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research recently announced the 22 undergraduate winners of the 60th annual Oswald Research and Creativity Awards. Chad Risko, faculty director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, and research ambassadors celebrated the winners and presented the awards.

Established in 1964 by then-UK President John Oswald, the Oswald Research and Creativity Competition aims to promote undergraduate research and creative endeavors across all academic disciplines.

The competition spans categories, including biological sciences, design (architecture,

By Lindsay Travis

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2024) — A new research project is investigating how coral reefs heal from damage and withstand environmental threats, particularly those associated with climate change.

A three-year, $1.3 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation is funding the multicampus collaboration, with U.C. Santa Barbara leading the effort.

“Our primary goal is to develop a comprehensive model that links coral

By Hayden Gooding 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2024) — Elizabeth King and Ethan Morgan were crowned 2024 University of Kentucky Homecoming queen and king during the halftime ceremonies at the UK vs. Vanderbilt Homecoming football game at Kroger Field Saturday night.

King, from Georgetown, Kentucky, is a junior pursuing dual degrees in finance and flute performance. She is a Gatton College of Business and Economics ambassador, a mentor for the college’s Women in Finance Initiative, principal flutist for the UK Wind Symphony, member

By Jesi Jones-Bowman 

LEXINGTON, Ky (Oct. 10, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research has selected 15 undergraduates for the 2024-25 Undergraduate Research Ambassador program.

The program’s mission is to increase awareness and create opportunities for students to  engage in research. Ambassadors must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and be involved in mentored research. This year’s ambassadors represent four colleges, nine disciplines and 10 research areas.

The student leaders’ goal is to make undergraduate research more accessible. Ambassadors promote undergraduate research involvement through

By Blair Hoover Conner and Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2024) — It’s University of Kentucky Homecoming week — a time when the UK community comes together to celebrate and honor its alumni. This week, UKNow is shining a spotlight on just a few of the thousands of alumni who embody the university’s mission to advance Kentucky. 

Colby Hall, a 2015 graduate of the UK

By Makenna Deaton 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2024) — Joseph Takahashi, Ph.D., the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience, investigator emeritus in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and chair of the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will deliver the annual Thomas Hunt Morgan Lectures at the University of Kentucky.

The first lecture, “Circadian Clocks and Their Impact on Metabolism, Aging, and Longevity,” will be 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Thomas Hunt Morgan Biological Science Building in room 116.

The second lecture, “The Time of Your Life: How Circadian Clocks Promote Healthy Aging and Longevity,” will be 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Thomas Hunt Morgan

Please go to our Biology Graduate Recruitment Website for more information about applying for Fall 2025

By Joe Bandy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Alumni Association announced the selection of 32 students who will serve as Alumni Ambassadors for the 2024-25 academic year. As official student hosts of the UK, Alumni Ambassadors promote the university at numerous events in partnership between the Office of the President, Office of Philanthropy and the UK Alumni Association.

Alumni Ambassadors represent the best and brightest of UK students, demonstrating high achievement in their collegiate careers and a dedication to the advancement of the university. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and represent diverse backgrounds, cultures and areas of campus involvement.

Thank you for your interest in our 2024 Annual Biology Alumni Weekend.

Click here to view event details and RSVP! 

From left to right, Dr. Ashley Seifert (faculty), Dr. David Weisrock (faculty and current Chair), Dean Ana Franco-Watkins, and Dr. Michael Scott (Zoology, '83)

If you’re interested in giving to the Department of Biology, please click here.