University Research Postdoctoral Fellowship

Job Title
University Research Postdoctoral Fellowship


Requisition Number
DU04316


Department Name
40100:VP of Research


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Salary Range
$61,008/Annually


Type of Position
Other


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Required Education

Completion of doctoral degree within the past two years or will complete the doctoral degree before the date of appointment.



Required Related Experience

NA



Required License/Registration/Certification

NA



Physical Requirements

Preference will be given to applicants who do not have a prior or present postdoctoral appointment at UK. Applicants who received their PhD at UK must be affiliated with a research group other than the one in which they did their prior research. The goal is to broaden the research experience and training for the fellowship recipient.



Shift

Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (40 hours/week)



Job Summary

Since 1990, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) has supported two postdoctoral fellowship programs with the primary goal of creating a pipeline of qualified candidates with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and plans for research that will extend the reach of the ideals of community and belonging in their field of study. By preparing these candidates to achieve academic success in their field of study at UK and beyond, these programs support the stipend, plus benefits, for the fellows along with funds for their research career development. The postdoctoral fellowship is focused on research advancement and achievements in coordination with a faculty mentor(s), enhanced by their engagement in the Postdoctoral Enrichment Program (PEP). Because a major goal of these fellowships is to prepare the fellows to be competitive for faculty positions, the OVPR provides a special enhancement program associated with these awards. Fellowship recipients will pursue an individualized research program under the mentorship of one or more UK professors and actively participate in departmental and professional research related activities through PEP. These activities include monthly research professional development opportunities, personal navigation, social and professional networking opportunities, connections to affinity groups and activities to communities of belonging, all designed to enhance the fellow’s competitiveness for a future faculty position.

The University Research Postdoctoral Fellowship for training individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences who have plans to pursue research that will extend the reach of the ideals of community and belonging in their respective field.

Applicants must be eligible to compete for federally-funded postdoctoral grants. This includes the eligibility requirement that, by the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. They also must have completed the doctoral degree within the past two years, or longer with justification, or will complete the doctoral degree before the date of appointment. Preference will be given to applicants who do not have a prior or present postdoctoral appointment at UK. Applicants who received their terminal degree at UK should be affiliated with a research group other than the one in which they did their prior research to expand their research experience.

The University has a commitment to responsible research in all disciplines. All UK faculty, staff, and students participating in research and scholarly activity, whether externally or internally funded are required to complete the mandated Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training on an annual basis. The Office of the Vice President for Research expects that recipients of this postdoctoral fellowship will complete this training and maintain annual compliance. More information about RCR training is available here: https://www.research.uky.edu/responsible-conduct-research. If you have questions about this training requirement, please email rcr@uky.edu

Selection criteria include:

• Evidence of scholarship with competitive potential for a tenure-track faculty appointment at a research university
• Quality of the fellowship proposal and the fit with the research interests of the candidate’s chosen mentor(s)
• Strong support from mentor(s), department chair and references
• We suggest faculty who propose to serve as postdoctoral fellowship mentors are at the associate or full professor rank. If a proposed mentor is an assistant professor, please propose a co-mentorship arrangement with a more senior faculty member. In the event of such a co-mentorship arrangement, we strongly suggest that the junior and senior mentors serve in different units/departments to ensure independence and autonomy. Please include a description on the affiliations and specific roles of both mentors and how independence and autonomy will be respected.
• Compelling description of applicant’s own background and experiences in context of their field of study, as well as how participation in the program will promote the ideals of community and belonging in their field of study at the University of Kentucky and beyond.

The application dossier should contain the following documents in the order list, saved as a single PDF to be uploaded. The maximum allowable document size is 9 MB.

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae, including the names of references providing letters of recommendation.
• A description of short-term and long-term career goals that have been discussed with your UK research mentor(s).
• An original proposal describing the research planned, written independently by the applicant in a way that non-experts can evaluate (1,500 words or less; figures and references are not included in this total).

Additionally, the items below are required to be submitted. Please ask each of the following individuals to email their letters/materials to: vprgrants@uky.edu with the applicant’s name in the subject line by the stated deadline.

• A letter from the potential UK mentor(s) that endorses the candidate, acknowledges the candidate’s career plans and commits to ensuring the fellow participates in the career development activities associated with this program.
• The mentor’s curriculum vitae (5-page limit) that includes current and pending funding.
• A letter from the potential UK department chair that commits departmental resources, such as space and computer support, and describes any additional departmental-level career development activities available to the fellow.
• Three reference letters.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Deadline to Apply
11/06/2024


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