The Halcomb Family Fellowship in Medicine and Engineering seeks to advance health care and improve patient outcomes by providing stipend support to graduate students in research-based doctoral programs as they pursue projects with clear clinical applications and receive meaningful interdisciplinary training from experts in engineering and medical disciplines. The fellowship seeks to incentivize students to engage in activities that contribute to the development of patient-centered clinical solutions. Example of activities aligned with the purpose include, but are not limited to:
Advancing clinical solutions
by using ongoing or prior research results to address patient-centered problems or by integrating clinical constraints directly into the design and development process.
Adapting existing technologies
such as sensors, analytical tools, or monitoring platforms—for potential application in clinical diagnostics, patient monitoring, exposure assessment, or infection control to improve patient care.
Addressing implementation barriers
that influence the successful translation of technical innovations into clinical practice, including workflow integration, risk assessment, and compliance considerations.
The Halcomb Family Fellowship in Medicine and Engineering derives from a generous gift from Halcomb Family and Kentucky’s Research Challenge Trust Fund (RCTF). The fellowship consists of an annual stipend of $30,000 (12-month duration) with the option of renewal for a second year based on progress in research and training. Tuition, student health fees and other research and educational costs are not included as part of this fellowship. The fellowship is administered by the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
Notification Date (anticipated): June 1, 2026
Award Period: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Applicants must be a current doctoral graduate student in either the College of Medicine or in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and shall have active mentors affiliated with both colleges. Mentors are not required to have faculty appointments, i.e., an applicant with a mentor in industry would be eligible. Additionally, applicants whose mentors are clinicians with active partnerships and/or collaborations with industry are also encouraged to apply.
Application questions can be addressed to the Director of Engineering Research Endowments (Kelly G. Pennell, PhD, PE) at engr.researchendow@uky.edu, or the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering Dean’s Office (Robyn Morefield) at robyn.morefield@uky.edu.
The application includes five components, which must be submitted as a single pdf file.
Applications will be reviewed by the Halcomb Family Fellowship in Medicine and Engineering Advisory Panel--composed of distinguished experts in both medicine and engineering and appointed by the Dean of the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. The review process will occur in two stages, an initial evaluation of written application materials, followed by brief virtual interviews with selected finalists. Finalist interviews are anticipated to take place the first part of May 2026. Three main criteria will be used to evaluate the written application.
Criterion 1: Applicant’s Potential to Serve Patients and Advance Healthcare
To what extent do the applicant’s demonstrated leadership abilities and future career aspirations, as well as the activities described in this fellowship application, provide a foundation for a career that meaningfully serves patients and advances healthcare?
Criterion 2: Importance of the Research and Potential for Clinical Application
Is the proposed research necessary, and what is its anticipated value for clinical practice? What new knowledge or insights are expected to result from the project?
Criterion 3: Expertise and Resources
Does the proposed application adequately provide opportunities for meaningful cross‑disciplinary collaboration? Are the expertise and resources described in the application sufficient to complete the project and to also advance the applicant’s professional and personal development?
