Funding Opportunities

Fellowships are for the recruitment of new graduate students holding a teaching or research assistantship in one of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s degree-granting graduate programs. Fellowships provide the following:

• TAs: Up to $7,500 total for two semesters toward stipend
• RAs: Up to $11,000 total for two semesters toward stipend, scholarship and student health insurance
• RA/TA: Up to $9,500 total for two semesters toward stipend, scholarship and student health insurance

Students who are being recruited to a graduate program must be nominated by their director of graduate studies. All master's and Ph.D. students in the college are eligible to apply.

Awardees may be nominated for a second year of funding. Please note that applications for a second year of funding do not require any supporting documentation. The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment does not provide scholarships for summer sessions.

Similar to the Research Activity Award program each fall, the focus of this funding is to enhance undergraduates’ experience and innovation in research. These awards will be made on a competitive basis to undergraduate students to gain research experience, complementing their coursework.

Students should be prepared to explain their project or activity, including its significance, objectives, research methods (if applicable) and its relevance to their academic/professional goals. Those applying for these funds must:

• Be in good academic standing
• Have a letter of support from their faculty research mentor
• Be participating in an undergraduate student research project or research seminars/symposia/workshops/etc.
• Have expenses associated with the aforementioned project or activity (e.g., lab supplies, travel to conduct research or present research findings, etc.)
• Enrollment in a 395 course, or similar research course, is encouraged but not required

The awards are available for up to $1,000.

Apply Now

Thanks to the Phil Richards Endowment Fund, the Research Office is offering graduate students a research opportunity similar to the longstanding faculty Research Activity Awards.

The focus of the RAA program is enhancing excellence and innovation in research. These awards will be made on a competitive basis to graduate students to enhance their research projects.

Applications are accepted from department DGSs, with chair endorsement, for Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment graduate students in good academic standing who have completed 18 hours of graduate work at UK, such as:

• Graduate student research projects
• Research seminars/symposia/workshops
• Travel to conduct research and gain experience with cutting-edge research tools and methods
• Travel to present research at a professional meeting

The awards are available for up to $1,000.

Note: The Richards awards will be unavailable in the 2025-26 school year.