University Research Professors

The University Research Professorships, established by the UK Board of Trustees in 1976 to recognize outstanding research achievement, carry an award of $40,000 to enable professors to devote full time to their research or continue to teach and use the award to support research activities. Funds for these annual awards are provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research.

The 2011-2012 University Research Professors are:

Karyn Esser, Department of Physiology
Brandon Look, Department of Philosophy
Gregory Smith, Department of Psychology
Youling Xiong, Department of Animal and Food Science

View University Research Professors for past recipients. 

Nominations are made by UK faculty members and screened by a faculty committee appointed by the Vice President for Research. The President, in turn, makes the final selections and submits the names to the Board of Trustees for approval.

Nominations and dossiers for 2012-13 are due December 1, 2011.

Criteria for being selected include that the appointee be a scholar or creative artist with a distinguished record of achievement in his or her field. The appointee is also required to have a proposed plan for research or creative activity to be carried out during the year of the award.

Even though more than one faculty from the same department may be nominated, no more than one per department will be chosen for this award each year.