Education
Opening the Lab Door to the Next Generation
Hands-on experiences that connect students and the community to real labs, real scientists, and real careers.
Inside the Lab
Our Commitment to Education
At LifeSciKY, education doesn’t happen only in the classroom. It happens inside the lab.
By opening our facility to students and connecting them with researchers, founders, and innovators, we give young people a firsthand look at how new ideas become experiments, startups, and life-changing technologies.
Through partnerships with schools, universities, and industry leaders, LifeSciKY is helping build a pipeline of future scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators who will shape Kentucky’s life sciences economy.
Three pillars of scientific impact
Strategic Priorities
Explore Science
Open the lab door and give students direct exposure to life sciences. Students work with real tools, see active research environments, and meet the scientists and founders turning ideas into discoveries.
Lab Access · Live Research Environments
Experiment & Learn
Build practical skills through experimentation, mentorship, and collaboration with researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators.
Mentorship · Hands-On Collaboration
Innovate the Future
Career Pathways · Entrepreneurship
Programs for every stage
Student Pipeline Programs
From middle school to college, LifeSciKY offers structured programming that grows with students across their academic journey.
Student Lab Experience
Middle School
• Active Program
Hands-on laboratory experiences introduce students to STEM and life sciences inside an active research lab. Students participate in guided experiments and learn how science is used to solve real-world challenges.
- Hands-on lab activities
- Exposure to real scientific tools
- Early STEM inspiration
LifeSciKY Student Summit
High School
• Launching November 6
The LifeSciKY Student Summit connects high school students with scientists, founders, and industry leaders through immersive learning experiences.
Students participate in:
- Career exploration panels
- Startup pitch competition
- Networking with innovators
- Exposure to life sciences careers
This event helps students connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities in science and innovation.
LifeSciKY Innovation Fellows
College
• Active Program
The LifeSciKY Innovation Fellows program provides college students with direct experience inside Kentucky’s life sciences innovation ecosystem.
Fellows work alongside startups, research institutions, and ecosystem partners while supporting projects related to commercialization, entrepreneurship, and industry development.
- Real-world startup experience
- Exposure to research commercialization
- Mentorship from industry leaders
Fellow Testimonials
Hear from our Innovation Fellows
Amelia Wares
“As the Executive Operations Fellow, LifeSciKY trusted me with real responsibility early in my career. I worked with founders, scientists, and policymakers while helping develop programs, events, and branding for the incubator. It was an incredible opportunity to learn how meaningful innovation communities are built.”
Executive Operations Fellow
Alexandru David
“LifeSciKY gave me the chance to contribute to a statewide initiative from the ground up while working alongside founders, scientists, and other high-impact leaders. Being part of that process was incredibly rewarding, and it showed me what it takes to build something meaningful.”
Innovation Fellow
Community Education
The same spirit of discovery
Kentucky’s legacy of bourbon innovation is rooted in science — from the chemistry of distillation to the precision of aging barrels. That same spirit of discovery drives LifeSciKY as we help elevate Kentucky as a hub for life sciences innovation.
Science on the Rocks
• Community event series • Hosted across Kentucky
Community Event Series
Science on the Rocks
LifeSciKY’s community event series that brings together scientists, founders, and community members to explore the ideas shaping the future of health and biotechnology. Hosted across Kentucky, these events feature conversations with innovators translating scientific discoveries into real-world technologies and companies.
- Founder and scientist talks
- Networking across the life sciences community
- Conversations about discovery, entrepreneurship, and innovation