Graduate Student Education
In the Spring of 2006, the University of Kentucky established a Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CTS). The Department recognized that the research, educational, and training missions of the Department could serve the training mission of the University of Kentucky. After discussions, Departmental faculty decided to establish an academic home for the graduate educational programs in CTS and to develop an integrated clinical and translational research training program providing tiered levels of education and training (ie, Certificate in CTS, Masters of Science (MS) in Medical Science (CTS Pathway), PhD in CTS with a flexible curriculum that could be tailored to individual career trajectories of professionals who have already completed or are currently completing professional training in the health sciences. An entry-level platform, the Certificate in CTS was established to provide a common background and knowledge base to those interested in CTS, regardless of academic training or interest. Those who were committed to a career in CTS could build on this foundation and obtain advanced research training at the MS Link or PHD Link level. This vertically integrated program of interdisciplinary CTS research, education, and training offers a tailored curriculum and research mentoring that is effectively integrated with the well-established and effective health-related graduate training programs at the University of Kentucky.
In addition to the graduate program in CTS, the department offers pre-and post doctoral training fellowships in drug abuse behavior through a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Institutional National Research Service Award (T32). Postdoctoral fellows have a doctorate in a behavioral science discipline and will be preparing for a research role in the drug abuse field, or are health professionals seeking a behavioral science research orientation in drug abuse. Predoctoral trainees concentrate in behavioral aspects of drug abuse as part of their program for a doctorate in a behavioral science discipline.
The Department has also maintained a substantial role in graduate education across the University. Most faculty members have joint appointments with one or more social science disciplines on the central campus. In 2011, for example, Departmental faculty members served as chair, co-chair or member of dissertation committees for 85 graduate students. The Department serves as a central focus for multidisciplinary research training for advanced graduate students from programs such as Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Health and Social Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Nursing, Social Work, Educational Psychology, Gerontology, Communication, and Public Health. The Department also maintains a strong relationship with the PhD-granting social science programs in Arts and Sciences, Communications and Information Studies, and Nursing, as well as the Gerontology program in the College of Public Health. In some institutions, formal and informal barriers limit the performance of scholarly work that crosses college and particularly medical center boundaries. Because of the Department’s structure, the Department has historically provided a common pathway and nexus for interdisciplinary work in medical behavioral science.
Contact
For information about how to apply to the Department’s graduate programs, please first consult our Applications Page For further information about each of the following programs, contact the individuals below:
Clinical and Translational Science Pathway (General Inquiries)
Dr. Tom Kelly
Robert Strauss Professor
Department of Behavioral Science
Email: thkelly@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 323-5206
Doctoral Program in Clinical and Translational Science
Dr. Hannah Knudsen
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Behavioral Science
Email: hannah.knudsen@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 323-3947
Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science
Dr. Tom Kelly
Robert Strauss Professor
Department of Behavioral Science
Email: thkelly@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 323-5206
Master of Science in Medical Science- Clinical and Translational Science Pathway
Dr. Joe Springer
Professor
Department of Physiology
Email: jspring@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 323-1440
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) T32 Fellowship
Dr. Craig Rush
Professor
Department of Behavioral Science
Email: Craig.Rush@uky.edu
Phone: 859-323-6130