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Research Centers and Consortia
The Center for Aluminum Technology
is a partnership involving the aluminum industries, the Kentucky Economic
Development Cabinet, the U.S. Department of Energy, and UK. The mission
of the center is to provide industry with trained personnel, new knowledge
and emerging technology know-how needed to be globally competitive in
the 21st century. The multidisciplinary research center trains undergraduate,
graduate and postgraduate students to provide leadership in aluminum
technology, develops programs in aluminum technology for non-degree
students in conjunction with community colleges and technical schools,
and provides research on the fabrication and use of aluminum. The center
enlists the skills of researchers from a variety of disciplines, including
materials engineering, chemical engineering, mathematics, chemistry,
electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Visit the Sloan
Center for a Sustainable Aluminum Industry
Dr. Subodh Das,
director (859)514-4989 Ext 101; contact
me
CeNSE(Center for Nanoscale
Science and Engineering), formerly known as CMMED (Center for Micro-Magnetic
and Electronic Devices) is a shared use facility to encourage the development
of device research at the nano-scale. Nearly $2 million has been invested
in the basic fabrication techniques of film deposition, lithographic
pattern definition, and material etching that will enable cutting edge
research in a variety of fields. For example, in addition to more conventional
silicon based transistor devices, simple metal/insulator circuit patterns
that incorporate the self-assembly chemistry of tailored receptors could
be used for biological sensors. Thus highly multi-disciplinary research
efforts are strongly encouraged. This facility is a resource for Kentucky
’s development of both innovative academic research and the realization
of emerging commercial ideas.
Dr. Vijay Singh,
Director (859)257-3243; contact
me
The UK Center for Manufacturing
(UKCM) is a nonacademic unit of the College of Engineering. It is a
technology transfer center which specializes in high-quality services
for manufacturers locally, nationally, and internationally. The center
provides a rich variety of programs in manufacturing education, research,
and technical assistance, drawing on the expertise of its own staff
and the wealth of resources available campus wide. Research at the center,
conducted by teams of faculty associates, postdoctoral researchers and
graduate students, is practical and industry driven. Corporate partners
are a key element in each project, insuring its relevance and usefulness
to manufacturing. Current research activities include experimental and
analytical work in machining, welding, soldering, brazing, nontraditional
manufacturing, polymer and electronics manufacturing processes, computer-aided
design analysis, lean manufacturing, painting technology, minimally
invasive surgery, metal forming and superplastic forming, and industrial
automation.
Dr. Bruce Walcott,
Director (859)257-6262 contact
 With
programs in research, education and industrial outreach, the Center
brings together researchers with expertise in computer
vision and image processing, data acquisition, graphics, human-computer
interaction, multimedia, and teleconferencing
and is dedicated to research and development of computer-generated immersive
environments, ambient environments, dynamic scene acquisition and preservation,
advanced telepresence and telecommunications, and visualization applications
in areas such as education and training, medicine, manufacturing,
security and daily life . Researchers
are building state-of-the-art visualization and display environments
for different applications. The research includes efficient 3D
data acquisition and analysis and computer vision and graphics problems
related to model acquisition and tracking of people and objects in order
to populate and preserve realistic three-dimensional scenes.
Dr. Brent Seales,
Director (859) 257-1257 contact
 UK
is the lead university in this research consortium that includes participants
from six universities – UK, University of Pittsburgh, University
of Utah, West Virginia University, Auburn University, and University
of Missouri. The primary goal of the CFFS research program is to develop
technology to produce clean transportation fuel from resources such
as coal and natural gas that are more plentiful domestically than petroleum.
C1 chemistry appears to be the most promising route to achieving this
goal. C1 chemistry refers to processes that convert feedstocks containing
one carbon atom per molecular unit into ultra clean liquid transportation
fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel) and hydrogen, which many
believe will be the transportation fuel of the future. The feedstocks
include synthesis gas, produced by gasifying coal or reforming natural
gas, methane, the principal component of natural gas, methanol, carbon
dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The CFFS also conducts a research program
on environmental problems associated with the use of fossil fuel, such
as emissions of fine airborne particulate matter and toxic trace metals
(mercury, arsenic, chromium, etc.). Funding is provided by the U.S.
Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and industry.
Dr. Gerald Huffman,
Director (859)257-4029; contact
me
The central campus Electron
Microscopy Center, located in the Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization
Center (ASTeCC), houses a suite of instruments for state-of-the-art
materials characterization. A variable-pressure scanning electron microscope
(SEM) is outfitted with a light-element energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer
(EDS) and a back- scattered diffraction camera for orientation imaging
microscopy (OIM). A field-emission SEM is available for ultra-high resolution
and low-voltage imaging. The facility offers two transmission electron
microscopes, one with a LaB6 gun and the other with a field-emission
gun; both TEMs are outfitted with light-element EDS detectors, and the
field-emission TEM has an electron energy-loss spectrometer and imaging
filter. A scanning probe microscope, which can be outfitted with heating,
cooling or liquid cell stages, is also available. Instrument users are
trained and assisted by facility staff.
Dr. Eric Grulke,
Director (859)257-6097; contact
me
Serving as the focal point in the state for interdisciplinary transportation
research, the center works closely with the Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet, the Federal Highway Administration, and various other private
and governmental agencies to develop innovative transportation technological
advances. An ongoing technology-transfer program provides services to
local governmental transportation agencies as well as the private sector
through training programs, workshops, conferences, technical publications,
and on-site consultation. The center's research capabilities span a
wide range of areas with a major & focus on applied research and
problem solving for the Transportation Cabinet. Their areas of
expertise closely follow the traditional civil engineering discipline,
including pavement, materials, structures, traffic/safety, geotech,
construction management, environmental analysis, intelligent transportation
systems, and policy and systems analysis. The center provides a myriad
of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to benefit
from hands-on experience addressing transportation issues.
Paul Toussaint,
Director (859) 257- 4513 ext 223; contact
me
 The
Painting Technology Consortium joins research and industrial resources
to develop a new generation of painting technology having a higher energy
efficiency and environmental friendliness than those currently used
on commercial products. The painting technology efforts cover five main
areas: Paint spraying and transfer efficiency; paint overspray capturing;
paint curing and drying; painted surface finish monitoring and control;
paint-related waste recycling and disposal; and smart paint material.
The Consortium has brought together a renowned team of researchers who
are conducting research into these six main areas. Current PTC
members include: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Manufacturing
North America, Trinity Industrial Corporation, National Surface Treatment
Center, and Honda of America Manufacturing.
Dr. Kozo Saito,
Director (859) 257-6336 ext 80639; contact
me
 The
Vibro-Acoustics Consortium is a group of companies that have an interest
in noise and vibration technology. The Consortium takes advantage of
the experimental and computational facilities in the College of Engineering
to conduct projects of mutual interest. A major focus is on the
use of state-of-the-art software for vibro-acoustic modeling and
simulation. In addition, the Consortium provides its members with
training on experimental methods and how to use software tools more
effectively.
Dr. Andrew Seybert,
Director (859)-257-6336 x 80645; contact
me
Affiliated Research Centers
 ASTeCC
is UK's incubator for multidisciplinary collaborations and start-up
ventures. This $17 million, 80,000-square-foot facility, completed in
1994 with funding from the Economic Development Administration and the
Small Business Administration, provides research space and state-of-the-art
equipment to both faculty groups and new businesses. More than 25 faculty
working on five focal areas—biopolymers, computational sciences,
materials sciences, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical engineering—have
their labs in the ASTeCC building. In addition to fostering multidisciplinary
research of intellectual and commercial value, ASTeCC provides rental
space to new business startups that have licensed technology developed
at UK. Nine new businesses currently lease space in ASTeCC; 14 businesses
have "graduated" from ASTeCC to UK's Coldstream Research Campus
and other locations in and around Lexington and beyond.
Len Heller, Vice President
for Commercialization and Economic Development (859) 218-6512
contact me
 CAER
is an energy technology research facility whose broad mission is to
conduct basic and applied research designed to generate information
on Kentucky energy resources; ascertain the associated environmental
impacts; and produce, test and evaluate new technologies. Current activities
include coal cleaning, catalysis, emissions control, separation technologies,
coal combustion byproducts research, and activated carbon research.
CAER's industrial support group works with industry to solve industrial
problems through utilization of the center's analytical services expertise
and facilities. The Center for Applied Energy Research each year sponsors
seminars
by distinguished experts on current scientific topics of interest to
the academic and research communities.
Dr. Rodney Andrews,
Director (859)257-0305; contact
me
The Graduate Center for Biomedical
Engineering provides multidisciplinary programs of education, research,
and service in the application of engineering principles to medicine
and biology. The center brings together engineers, life scientists,
and physicians to teach and conduct original research to solve a variety
of medical-related problems. Research areas include cardiopulmonary
mechanics and controls, neuromuscular function, musculoskeletal mechanics,
rehabilitation engineering, computational neuroscience, motor control,
orthopedic biomaterials, orthopedic biomechanics and electromagnetic
tissue stimulation. Center faculty and staff provide opportunities and
support for graduate students, medical residents, and selected undergraduates.
Graduates of the program enter careers in research institutes, academia,
hospitals, and industry.
Dr. David Puleo,
Director (859)257-2894; contact me
 KWRRI
stimulates and supports water research and education by identifying
current and emerging water issues for Kentucky and the nation. Institute
programs include the Environmental Systems Certificate curriculum, which
offers graduate students an understanding of the interactions of physical,
social, biological, economic and legal parameters of environmental issues.
Environmental Protection Scholarships support both undergraduate and
graduate students with full scholarships in exchange for employment
with the state upon graduation. KWRRI assists the state Cabinet for
Health Services with environmental oversight of federal facilities located
in Kentucky, and administers Water Resources Research Grants, which
stimulate research activities by supporting faculty members, research
staff and graduate students in a broad spectrum of research topics.
The institute's technology-transfer activities include short courses,
seminars and conferences, and distribution of research results.
Dr. Lindell Ormsbee,
Director (859) 257-1299 contact
me
 TFCE
facilitates and coordinates the extensive and diverse array of research,
commercialization, education, and service activities at the university
that address the environment. More than 150 faculty members from fifty
academic units across UK focus at least part of their professional effort
on the environment. Prominent areas of faculty expertise under this
heading include natural and human-impacted aquatic systems at scales
ranging from ponds and streams to watersheds; analysis and interpretation
of large, complex environmental data sets; mathematical models of pristine
and of polluted ecosystems; methodology, efficacy and evaluation in
environmental education; environmental toxicology and risk assessment;
environmental literature and journalism; effects on natural systems
and on human communities of chemicals spread by human activities; ecological
design and restoration; and the impacts of energy production on the
environment.
Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, Interim
Director (859)257-1299; contact
me
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