LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2026) — Undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) will have a new opportunity this spring to work alongside faculty researchers while developing skills that will prepare them for graduate education and careers.
Applications are now open for Spring 2027 Faculty and Undergraduate Scholarship and Engagement (FUSE) research assistantships. The program connects undergraduate students with CoSW faculty mentors for a semester of hands-on research experience focused on applying classroom knowledge to real-world questions.
Open to students in the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BA/BSCJ) programs, FUSE is designed to make faculty-mentored research more accessible to undergraduate students studying both on campus and fully online.
“Research assistantships gives students an opportunity to move from learning about an issue to asking their own questions about it, examining evidence and considering how that evidence can shape practice, policy and communities,” said Heather L. McCauley, Sc.D., M.S., associate dean for research and associate professor in the CoSW. “FUSE gives our undergraduate students a chance to experience that process alongside faculty mentors while building skills and relationships that can continue to serve them well beyond their time at UK.”
FUSE reflects a broader period of significant research growth within the CoSW. In recent years, the College has expanded its research portfolio through new faculty-led laboratories and research initiatives, interdisciplinary partnerships and externally funded projects addressing complex social, behavioral and health challenges in Kentucky and beyond.
As that portfolio has grown, students have become increasingly integrated into the College’s research enterprise. Undergraduate and graduate students contribute to faculty scholarship through data collection and analysis, literature reviews, community-engaged research, dissemination and other aspects of the research process.
Programs such as FUSE create a more intentional pathway for undergraduate students to participate in that work while strengthening the next generation of researchers and practitioners.
“Students are not simply observing the research happening around them. They are increasingly contributing to it,” McCauley said. “Creating structured opportunities for students to participate in faculty scholarship strengthens their education, prepares them for graduate school, and expands the capacity and reach of the work happening across our College.”
Just as importantly, the program creates opportunities for sustained faculty mentorship.
“Serving as a FUSE faculty mentor gave me the opportunity to build a meaningful connection with my mentee and offer a more personal look at what the research process actually involves,” said Rebecca Bossetti, Ph.D., assistant professor. “It was rewarding to support their development while also strengthening my own approach to mentorship. That exchange is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
FUSE also connects participants with the broader undergraduate research community at UK. At the conclusion of the experience, students will have the opportunity to present their work at the university’s Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars.
Applications open today, Monday, Sept. 14, and must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 2.
Students interested in learning more about the program can attend a virtual FUSE information session from 3-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.
For questions about FUSE or undergraduate research opportunities in the College of Social Work, contact Heather McCauley at heather.mccauley@uky.edu.