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$70M In grant Awards

To fund faculty and graduate student research endeavors, the college receives over $70 million annually in grant awards.

3.3GPA APPLICATION FEE WAIVED

Take the next step and apply. If your GPA is over 3.3, we waive the application fee! *Domestic students only

Diverse Areas of Research

Our research areas include artificial intelligence, energy, carbon capture, security, sustainable manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, transportation, advanced materials, rare earth materials, computational systems and health applications.

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Supportive Community

Immerse yourself in active research labs, present at conferences, publish scientific papers in respected journals and work with colleagues who are committed to advancing the commonwelth of Kentucky and beyond .

Collaborative Opportunities

The field of engineering is a team story. Many research opportunities are interdisciplinary in their approach to solution discovery. Work with the Director of Graduate Studies in your area of interest to find a graduate assistantship or fellowship.

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Lexington, Kentucky

"Top 5 Best Small Cities in the U.S."

Come home to Lexington, Kentucky. Lexington is known for its vibrant culture, eclectic festivals and creative restaurants. Learn more about the bourbon and horse capital of the world at VisitLex.

 

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Research Faculty

If you want to work with renowned faculty, immerse yourself in an active research lab, present at conferences and publish scientific papers in respected journals, you should consider a graduate degree program at the University of Kentucky. 

Over 30 of our faculty members have received CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation, and the college receives over $70 million annually in grant awards.

Research Centers, Institutes, and Consortia

The College hosts ten research units and is affiliated with numerous other University of Kentucky research centers and institutes.

Graduate Degrees and Programs

The University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering is the largest and highest-ranked engineering college in the state. With our small class sizes and wide-ranging opportunities for student involvement and leadership, we want to help you build your future in engineering.

Apply to the Graduate School

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Research News

Paterson earns 2 prestigious national awards for research, innovation

Alexandra F. Paterson’s research paves the way for more reliable and innovative technologies that could benefit health care, manufacturing and everyday life. For her work, she has earned two prestigious national awards for early-career faculty: the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award.

UK’s Alexandre Martin wins NASA medal for advancing space technology

Alexandre Martin, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal — one of the highest honors given to individuals outside the agency.

Hastings appointed associate dean for research and graduate studies

The University of Kentucky Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of J. Todd Hastings, Ph.D. as associate dean for research and graduate studies, effective July 1, 2025.

UK’s Brent Seales, global team secures Europe’s top research grant to digitally decode Herculaneum scrolls

Brent Seales, heritage science chair in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant as part of an international team seeking to unlock the secrets of the Herculaneum scrolls.

Best Student Demo Award for SPARK and PEIK Researchers at the IEEE IEMDC 2025 Conference

SPARK Lab researchers within the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering received a best student demo award at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Electric Machines and Drives (IEMDC), which was held in Houston, TX.