Postdoctoral Fellowships

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): The two fellowship programs are:

• The Lyman T. Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship is named in honor of the first Black graduate student to enroll at the University of Kentucky in 1949, after a successful legal challenge. He embodied a courage in pursuit of scholarship and development that continues to inspire all who work and study at UK. Applicants must describe how their pursuit of postdoctoral training reflects the challenges and values of the fellowship’s namesake. You can find a more in-depth biography about Lyman T. Johnson and his legacy here: https://oid.uky.edu/legacy-lyman-t-johnson. 
• 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.

Research enrichment through PEP (Postdoctoral Enrichment Program): 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.

Eligibility: For both of these programs, 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.
• Have completed the doctoral degree or the equivalent terminal degree within the past two years, or longer with justification, or will complete the 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.

Selection criteria. For both of these programs, applicants must demonstrate:

• 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 strongly 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.

Stipend and benefits:

The fellowship provides a $61,008 stipend plus benefits. In addition, the fellow receives $2,000 for support of research and professional development activities. Fellowships are available for up to two years, with the initial appointment lasting for 12 months. With evidence of sufficient progress, but recipients may be considered for a second year.

Application process and components:

The application dossier should contain, in a single PDF document that will be uploaded into the UK employment system:

• Cover letter that addresses how participation in this program would contribute to the compelling interest of diversity and inclusive excellence at the University of Kentucky and in the discipline.
• Curriculum Vitae, including the names of  three 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 fewer; 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. If the proposed mentor is a junior rank (assistant professor), we strongly suggest co-mentorship with a more senior faculty member.
• 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.

Submit your application for the Lyman T. Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship here. Deadline Nov 6, 2024.

Submit your application for the University Research Postdoctoral Fellowship here. Deadline Nov 6, 2024.

If you have questions, please contact us at vprgrants@uky.edu.