WKU Office of Research and Creative Activity

04/11/2026

04/07/2026

You’re Invited: WKU Student Scholar Showcase – This Saturday!
wku.edu/showcase

On Saturday, April 11, Western Kentucky University will host its 56th annual Student Scholar Showcase, featuring 254 undergraduate and graduate research, creative, and scholarly projects from students across all colleges.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Downing Student Union

Read the full story with links to the Showcase program and full student abstracts: https://bit.ly/3OhHxBg

All presentations are free and open to the public. We hope to see many of you there!

WKU will host its 56th Annual Student Scholar Showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in the Downing Student Union. The event will feature 254 undergraduate and graduate research and creative projects, including 157 posters and 97 oral presentations.

03/27/2026

WKU faculty, register today for “Creating Space for Research: Faculty Perspectives on Organizing Competing Priorities," a CITL event.

With so many demands on your time, such as teaching, advising, research, service, and administrative responsibilities, having an effective organizational strategy can make all the difference. I want to be sure you know about the “Creating Space for Research: Faculty Perspectives on Organizing Competing Priorities” that will take place Thursday, April 2 from 1:00-1:30 on Zoom.

Ellen Casale, Stacy Leggett and Kandy Smith will share their strategy for organizing and managing their research projects along with everything else they do. There is no one-size-fits-all organizational strategy, and what works for one might not work for another. Their goal isn't to prescribe a "right way" but to spark ideas and share practical strategies you might adapt for your own needs.

Even if you already have an organizational system you like, attending can spark new ideas and reveal techniques you hadn't considered. Sometimes the best improvements come from seeing familiar challenges through someone else's lens.

Facilitated by: Ellen Casale, Stacy Leggett, and Kandy Smith With the numerous demands on faculty time, such as teachin...

03/11/2026

Faculty, staff, and students may join KAS for free!

Click on the link below to register and become a free member by choosing "become a member" then selecting either “Student at Enhanced Institution” or “Professional at Enhanced Institution”.

Be sure to register using your topper email!

https://www.memberleap.com/members/newmem/registration.php?orgcode=KYAS

02/25/2026

GREAT NEWS, WKU STUDENTS!

We've extended the student abstract submission deadline for the 56th Annual Student Scholar Showcase to Monday, March 9!

Thanks to the early-semester weather closure, we're giving you an extra week to finish and submit your amazing research or creative projects. Faculty mentor approvals are still due by March 13, so talk to your mentor ASAP!

Present on April 11 and show off your work to the WKU community!

Submit here: www.wku.edu/showcase/index.php

Welcome page for the Student Scholar Showcase

02/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Smith on receiving the 2025-2026 Kentucky INBRE Student Development Research Award (SDRA)!

This KY INBRE funding will support Dr. Smith’s ongoing project, "The otoprotective role of melanin in the teleost inner ear," which explores how melanin may protect hearing from noise-induced damage using black and white koi fish as a comparative model. Dr. Smith will mentor pre-med undergraduate Lily Newton, providing her with valuable hands-on biomedical research experience to prepare her for medical school.

The WKU Office of Research and Creative Activity is proud to recognize faculty like Dr. Smith who advance undergraduate research and mentorship at Western Kentucky University.

The KY INBRE Student Development Research Award supports Dr. Smith’s mentorship of pre-med WKU undergraduate student Lily Newton and his research on the otoprotective role of melanin in the inner ear.

02/11/2026

All WKU students can submit an abstract of their research or creative work for the Student Scholar Showcase to be held on April 11 at DSU. Submission Deadline is March 2!
www.wku.edu/showcase

02/02/2026

Come to the KCV Roadshow Open House at WKU!

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
1:00 – 4:00 PM (drop in anytime)
Downing Student Union (DSU), Room 3020

Join us for a relaxed opportunity to connect with the Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) team and statewide partners. Discover how KCV trains, develops, and funds innovation and entrepreneurship — advancing faculty/staff projects, connecting students to opportunities, and growing Kentucky's innovation economy.

01/21/2026

All WKU students can submit an abstract of their research or creative work for the 56th annual Student Scholar Showcase to be held on April 11, 2026, at DSU!

The Student Scholar Showcase portal is open for all WKU students to submit an abstract to present on April 11th. Faculty, staff, alumni, and community members may volunteer for the event.

12/05/2025

We encourage all eligible WKU faculty to appy! https://www.wku.edu/sponsoredprograms/internal-funding.php

11/24/2025

Learn more about how WKU is empowering the next generation of education professionals!

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences $1,249,671 to launch Project THRIVE.