3rd Annual Call for Proposals Lighthouse Beacon Foundation (LBF) Endowment, FY 2027

The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation (LBF) Endowment Support advances research growth in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering by enhancing the college’s overall reputation nationally and internationally, collaboration within and beyond the college, and competitiveness towards attracting new research investments. Endowment Support Requests are intended to mutually reinforce the relationship between individual researchers and the college.

The LBF Endowment derives from a generous gift from Stanley and Karen Pigman and Kentucky’s Research Challenge Trust Fund (RCTF). There are no preferences for and no restrictions against support for any research theme except that allocated funds shall conform with RCTF requirements and enhance research in the College.

Applicants must be researchers (e.g., faculty, staff, post-docs, and/or graduate students) in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and request must align with one of the following types (1 through 6). Awarded funds will be allocated to align with University of Kentucky Administrative Regulation 8:4, and to comply with RCTF requirements by allocating 70% of funds towards faculty and research scholar support (1 through 3), and 30% for other purposes (4 through 6).

1. Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Eminent Scholars:  Five-year term-limited funding of up to $50,000 per year to support sustained superior performance of senior faculty researchers
2. Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Scholars: Five-year term-limited funding of up to $25,000 per year to support promising mid-level and junior faculty researchers.
3. Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellows: Funding up to $20,000 per year to support promising post-doctoral researchers through research-enabling endeavors.
4. Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Graduate Fellows: Funding up to $10,000 per year to support promising graduate students through research-enabling endeavors. 
5. Mission support for RCTF-compliant cost-sharing: Funding for externally funded programs targeted at high-consequence, high-impact research likely to result in socioeconomic benefits including job creation, higher standards of living, and expansion of the knowledge-based economy.
6. Research infrastructure: Funding for equipment, materials and supplies and other research related expenses as permitted by university policy.

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 shall be submitted as a single pdf file. Existing LBF Faculty Scholar and LBF Eminent Scholars can expect favorable consideration for renewal, if prior performance has been strong. Renewal funding decisions will include a review of FY 2026 LBF final annual reports, in addition to submitted applications. In no case will funding for LBF Faculty Scholar and/or Eminent Scholars (initial plus renewal funding) exceed a period of five years.

* Required for Graduate Student/Post-doc Fellow Applications (only).

• Research Narrative: Describe the overall goal of the proposed work, convey the expected outcomes and anticipated impact. Narratives must be written by the person who is requesting support.  For example, research narratives for post-doctoral/graduate student fellows must written by the post-doc or graduate student themselves. Length: No more than 2 pages (excluding references). Formatting style: NSF or NIH guidelines.
  • Required sections:
    • Research Need and Significance
    • Expected Contributions and Impact
    • Long-term Institutional Return
    • Annual Budget (12 month)
• Progress and Outcomes Summary: Describe how the funding has catalyzed research that aligns with LBF Endowment’s purpose and is advancing towards sustained and measurable impact within the Stanley and Karen College of Engineering. Length: No more than 1 page (excluding references). Formatting style: NSF or NIH guidelines 
  • Required sections:
    • Research Significance with LBF Endowment Purpose - Demonstrate alignment with the endowment’s purpose, clearly describing how the past work advances the endowment’s purpose.
    • Past Progress and Major Outcomes Summary - Summarize prior project outcomes, including measurable results, demonstrated impacts, publications, developed tools or methods, partnerships formed, and any follow‑on activities. 
    • Sustained Impact - Discuss how the renewal activities build on prior accomplishments, advance the LBF Endowment’s purpose, and build sustained momentum beyond the current funding cycle.
• Curriculum Vitae: NSF or NIH style preferred. Length: No more than 5 pages. 
• Advisor Letter: The letter should discuss the LBF Graduate student/Post-doc academic and research abilities, as well as defining personal and professional qualities of the applicant. Only required for LBF Graduate Student/Post-doc Fellow Applications. Length: No more than 1 page.
• Supporting Documents: Optional, discretion is requested.  Example of possible supporting documentation includes evidence of cost-sharing.

Applications will be reviewed by the LBF Faculty Advisory Committee--composed of distinguished research-active faculty appointed by the Dean of the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.

Application Evaluation Criteria:

• Research Need and Significance: Does the proposed work address a strategic need for expanded research capacity within the College, present a forward‑looking vision for research growth, align with areas of emerging priority, and position the College for future opportunities or competitive advantage?
• Contribution and impact: How will the proposed work advance the College’s research enterprise by enhancing institutional reputation, generating high‑quality scholarly contributions, fostering interdisciplinary or expertise‑driven collaboration, and increasing the overall competitiveness for securing research funding?
• Sound financial investment: What is the project’s potential to leverage existing or external funding to amplify the requested support, maximize institutional return, and strengthen long‑term research resources within the College?

General funding preferences will also inform the committee’s review of application.

Preferred:

• Forward-looking requests aimed at building existing strengths into adjacent research areas that align with the interests of the college, university, and Commonwealth.
  • Recruitment of a high-caliber faculty member, post-doc, or graduate student with a clear, long-term sustained impact in the college. 
  • New cross-disciplinary research endeavor that will catalyze new collaborations.
  • Requests that help build or expand research capabilities. Matching funds from partners outside of the college would normally be expected if research capabilities expanded outside the college.

NOT Preferred:

• LBF Eminent Scholar and Scholar requests that appear to be honorific, focus on past research accomplishments, and/or include salary supplements.
• LBF Post-docs and Graduate Fellows, requests to replace standard stipends.
• Requests that supplement mature research efforts and do not demonstrate a change in trajectory, and/or perpetually recurring support without a mechanism for sustainable funding.
• Requests for funding will be incurred outside of the college and where the acknowledgement and recognition will be outside the college.

Recipients are expected to be responsive the Director of Engineering Research Endowments (Kelly G. Pennell, PhD, PE) at engr.researchendow@uky.edu, and the Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration (Mary McBeath) at mcbeath@uky.edu to assess progress and outcomes associated with endowment funding support.