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Department of Mining Engineering
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Mining in Kentucky

Faculty members in the Department of Mining Engineering are at the forefront of next-generation mining technology and applications. Through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alpha Foundation and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, researchers are making advances in rare earth element recovery, autonomous underground mining systems that improve safety and mitigate damage from underground coal mine explosions.

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93 Undergraduates

$24 Average hourly co-op/internship salary

Summer 2024

$121K Average salary 2-4 years after graduation

Glassdoor, 2024

$74K Average starting salary

NACE, 2023

Explore Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky

Undergraduate Program in Mining Engineering

The Department of Mining Engineering offers an ABET-accredited undergraduate program on the Lexington, Kentucky campus.

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Graduate Programs and Certificates

Two Master’s degrees, a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a graduate certificate are available from the Department of Mining Engineering.

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Mining Engineering Department News

Group Photo of award winners

2025 Pigman College of Engineering Faculty Awards

May 5, 2025

The annual Pigman College of Engineering Faculty Awards ceremony was held on May 1 at Malone's Prime and Events. Awards were given in the areas of research, service and graduate studies.

Mining students at NSSGA Student Design Competition

Mining faculty and students receive awards at MINEXCHANGE 2025 conference

May 5, 2025

In February, faculty and students from the University of Kentucky Department of Mining Engineering received several awards at the Society for Mining Engineering's annual MINEXCHANGE conference in Denver, Colorado. Jack Groppo, professor and director of undegraduate studies in the Department of Mining Engineering, was named the winner of the 2025 Frank F. Aplan Award, which recognizes contributions that further the understanding of the technology of coal and/or mineral engineering.

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Mining students form new National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association chapter

May 5, 2025

Recently, students in the Department of Mining Engineering formed a new student chapter of the National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association (NSSGA) at the University of Kentucky. The NSSGA represents the aggregates industry, which includes companies involved in producing stone, sand, and gravel.

Zach Adioutantis

Zach Agioutantis named 2025-26 University Research Professors

Alicia Gregory
 Apr 29, 2025

Zach Agioutantis, department chair and professor for the department of Mining Engineering, was named University Research Professors for the 2025-26 academic year.

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Moradi, Agioutantis, Roghanchi and Schafrik receive grant to enhance health and safety outcomes in mining

Apr 7, 2025

UK Pigman College of Engineering researchers in the Department of Mining Engineering Ali Moradi (PI), Zach Agioutantis (Co-I), Pedram Roghanchi (Co-I) and Steven Schafrik (Co-I) have received a $1,250,000 grant over five years from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for their project, "Strategic Health and Safety Optimization in Transition from Open Pit to Underground Mines." 

Sophomore undergraduate students Gable Rath and Cade Spurlock explain to Dr. Roghanchi how they used AI to help solve a sensor problem while designing an autonomous drone.

Roghanchi, Schafrik, Moradi, Agioutantis, Siddique and Wilson receive grant to implement courses on artificial intelligence in the mining industry.

Apr 7, 2025

UK Pigman College of Engineering researchers in the Department of Mining Engineering Pedram Roghanchi (PI), Zach Agioutantis (Co-I), Ali Moradi (Co-I) and Steven Schafrik (Co-I), Muhammad Abu Bakar Siddique (Co-I) in the Department of Computer Science and Sarah Wilson (Co-I) in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering have received a nearly $442,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for their project, "IGE Track 1: Integrating Artificial Intelligence Technologies into Mining Education." 

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Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

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Lexington, KY 40506-0503
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