Career Development Program

The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) Career Development Program is a strategic partnership with our Administrative Core. The mission of the career development program is to promote collaboration among basic, clinical, and population scientists; support early-stage investigators in developing professional skills; and attract mid-level investigators and scientists in other fields through opportunities to focus on environmentally induced diseases.

Goals

Support Early-Stage Investigators in mastering the professional skills necessary for independent research and career development.
Attract Mid-Level Investigators from diverse fields to focus their expertise on environmental health-related research.
Promote Collaboration among investigators working in basic, clinical, and population science fields.
Develop scientific enrichment activities for all UK-CARES investigators.

Program Leadership & Mentorship

The Career Development Program is co-led by Kevin Pearson, PhD and Cetewayo Rashid, PhD. Dr. Kevin Pearson, the Program Leader and Assistant Dean for Research Engagement in the UK College of Medicine, serves as an "Academic Coach" to provide a safe, well-informed advising system outside of an awardee's home department. He meets regularly with current participants to assess research progress and mentoring interactions while identifying potential roadblocks to their success, additionally acting as a "Sponsor" to ensure Awardees gain visibility for career-advancing opportunities through nominations and network development. Joining the leadership team as Co-Leader is Dr. Cetewayo Rashid, an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences. As a former Career Development Awardee who recently secured an NIEHS-funded R01, Dr. Rashid serves as a "Near-Peer Mentor," offering firsthand relatable guidance to current investigators.

Career Development Opportunities

Call for Applications

CLOSED

UK-CARES is accepting applications from full-time early-stage investigators (ESI), as well as established investigators transitioning to environmental health related research areas, at the University of Kentucky (UK) for the career development program. If you would like to receive notifications of future calls for applications, please join our mailing list.

Career Development Awards are limited to full-time faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor (all title series are eligible including regular, research, clinical and special) at UK and are intended to support early career investigators as they build their capacity to design and implement innovative, studies in environmental health sciences that will lead to NIEHS pilot and extramural funding. Established investigators who are transitioning to a new environmental health-related research area are also eligible to apply. Post-doctoral trainees are not eligible for this award.

The Career Development Awards are up to $25,000 in total direct costs, plus 53% (rate at the time of the award) for Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A) for one year and will be made on a competitive basis to support activities designed to grow the faculty member’s EHS program of research. It is anticipated that funds will be available for 1-2 awards depending on the number of meritorious applications and needs of the specific project.

View PDF - 2026

R-Group

R Group is a Zoom-based seminar series in which Center members present environmental health sciences-related grant concepts to cross-disciplinary colleagues for feedback during the development of external grant applications. As investigators present their proposed aims and approaches, participants provide constructive feedback on key elements, including significance, innovation, approach, and opportunities for further research development.

All Center members are encouraged to participate in these interactive monthly meetings, with core and program leaders actively engaged to promote research synergy and identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, translation, and development into future project applications. Through this process, the Center identifies and advances promising research ideas, strengthens collaborations—including community-academic partnerships—fosters new cross-disciplinary opportunities, and promotes the translation of research discoveries.

Sign me up for the UK-CARES R-Group!