Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky with Visa Sponsorship
Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs at University of Kentucky span departments from medicine and engineering to the arts and social sciences. The university has an established process for supporting international faculty through visa sponsorship, making it a realistic target for qualified academics seeking long-term academic careers in the U.S.
Find Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of KentuckyOverview
Showing 5 of 122+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky
See all 122+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky.
Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Assistant or Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Regular Title Series
Requisition Number: FE05069
Working Title: Legume Breeder
Department Name: 81060:PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Type of Position: Faculty
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Tenure Track Status: Tenure Track
Required Education
Applicants must have an earned doctorate in plant breeding, plant biology, genetics, agronomy, or related areas.
Required Related Experience
Post-doctoral or faculty experience in modern and classical plant breeding, as well as in aspects of genome-scale plant biology, is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required, and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program.
Required License/Registration/Certification
N/A
Job Summary
Responsibilities: This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 85% research, 10% instruction, and 5% service responsibilities. The annual distribution of effort will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.
Research: This faculty member will use genomic approaches, coupled with field and greenhouse research, to develop novel germplasm and genomic resources and/or databases for under-resourced legume forage and cover crops relevant to pasture, hayfields, and cropping systems of Kentucky. This person will also have complementary innovative multi-disciplinary research on topics such as the plant-animal health interface, novel grassland/forage management approaches, breeding for climate resilience, and the integration of the improved germplasm into sustainable production systems. Collaboration with the USDA-ARS-Forage Animal Production Research Unit is expected, particularly in the arena of breeding for legume isoflavone optimization and use in forage systems. The incumbent will pursue cutting edge research on breeding for crop mixtures, or crop systems as a whole versus the plant in isolation. This may involve advanced statistical approaches and/or machine learning or AI. The successful applicant will contribute to graduate student education by advising students and serving on graduate committees.
Instruction: The successful applicant will contribute to the instructional mission of the department by teaching classes that support multiple undergraduate degree programs (e.g., Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology or Agricultural Ecosystem Science) and/or the Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences graduate degree program.
Service: As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional society, and/or society at large is expected.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have an earned doctorate in plant breeding, plant biology, genetics, agronomy, or related areas. Post-doctoral or faculty experience in modern and classical plant breeding, as well as in aspects of genome-scale plant biology, is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program. Applicants for appointment at the Associate Professor level should demonstrate a record of accomplishment appropriate for that rank.
RANK AND SALARY: The rank of this position is at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Salary is negotiable and is commensurate with training and experience. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with various rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.
THE ENVIRONMENT: The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE) is fulfilling the land-grant promise of educational excellence, civic leadership, transformational research, and shared knowledge serving the common good. We serve the people of the Commonwealth and across the world through education, outreach, service, and research by finding solutions to improve lives today and create a sustainable future. We integrate teaching, research, and extension in our work. We recruit, retain, and graduate students who are competent, responsible, and workforce ready. For more than 130 years, M-G CAFE has provided research results to the community. From traditional labs and research farms to high-tech diagnostic and research centers, we offer science-based, practical solutions that affect the everyday lives of Kentuckians and people around the world. Our Cooperative Extension programs are engaged in Kentucky’s 120 counties, identifying and addressing needs not only in agriculture and natural resources, but also 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, as well as community & economic development.
The University of Kentucky is an institution with over 27,500 undergraduate and 9,500 graduate students. UK is Kentucky’s flagship university and a land grant institution. We have a university commitment to improve the lives of Kentuckians and beyond and that is why environmental stewardship and sustainability are core parts of our institution’s legacy. We are recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University by The League of American Bicyclists, and are recognized as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) Silver Rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
The university is geographically near downtown Lexington, which offers the vibrancy of an urban location while being in close proximity to working landscapes and recognized wilderness areas. It is a thriving community of 320,000+ with a strong commitment to quality of life, education, and the arts. Lexington is in the Bluegrass Region, an internationally acclaimed cultural landscape and agricultural region.
QUESTIONS AND/OR NOMINATIONS TO:
Dr. Hongyan Zhu
Chair, Search Committee
301B Plant Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington KY 40546-0312
Phone: 859-257-3647
Email: hongyan.zhu1@uky.edu
APPLICATION: Completed applications should include the following: a cover letter, CV, with full legal name as it appears on passport or driver’s license and ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID), if available, and statements of research and teaching interests and experiences. In addition, names and contact information of three individuals from whom letters may be requested should be included in the application packet. Applications should be submitted by December 14, 2026, for full consideration, while the position will remain open until filled. Please use the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process to apply. In your uploaded document(s), please begin with a cover letter that outlines your approach to the position’s responsibilities, your qualifications, and your vision for innovative and impactful research programs that address existing and emerging issues, followed by the name, address, email, and phone number for three references, and conclude with career curriculum vita and relevant statements.
To apply for this position click on the quicklink: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/651927
or copy and paste the URL into your browser
Click Apply for this Posting
Follow the instructions on how to create an account.
Complete the Employment Application and upload the required documents.
If you need assistance with the electronic application process, contact HR/ Employment, phone (859) 257-9555, press 2, or email ukjobs@email.uky.edu.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience
Deadline to Apply
Open Until Filled Yes
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Assistant or Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Regular Title Series
Requisition Number: FE05069
Working Title: Legume Breeder
Department Name: 81060:PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Type of Position: Faculty
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Tenure Track Status: Tenure Track
Required Education
Applicants must have an earned doctorate in plant breeding, plant biology, genetics, agronomy, or related areas.
Required Related Experience
Post-doctoral or faculty experience in modern and classical plant breeding, as well as in aspects of genome-scale plant biology, is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required, and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program.
Required License/Registration/Certification
N/A
Job Summary
Responsibilities: This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 85% research, 10% instruction, and 5% service responsibilities. The annual distribution of effort will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.
Research: This faculty member will use genomic approaches, coupled with field and greenhouse research, to develop novel germplasm and genomic resources and/or databases for under-resourced legume forage and cover crops relevant to pasture, hayfields, and cropping systems of Kentucky. This person will also have complementary innovative multi-disciplinary research on topics such as the plant-animal health interface, novel grassland/forage management approaches, breeding for climate resilience, and the integration of the improved germplasm into sustainable production systems. Collaboration with the USDA-ARS-Forage Animal Production Research Unit is expected, particularly in the arena of breeding for legume isoflavone optimization and use in forage systems. The incumbent will pursue cutting edge research on breeding for crop mixtures, or crop systems as a whole versus the plant in isolation. This may involve advanced statistical approaches and/or machine learning or AI. The successful applicant will contribute to graduate student education by advising students and serving on graduate committees.
Instruction: The successful applicant will contribute to the instructional mission of the department by teaching classes that support multiple undergraduate degree programs (e.g., Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology or Agricultural Ecosystem Science) and/or the Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences graduate degree program.
Service: As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional society, and/or society at large is expected.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have an earned doctorate in plant breeding, plant biology, genetics, agronomy, or related areas. Post-doctoral or faculty experience in modern and classical plant breeding, as well as in aspects of genome-scale plant biology, is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program. Applicants for appointment at the Associate Professor level should demonstrate a record of accomplishment appropriate for that rank.
RANK AND SALARY: The rank of this position is at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Salary is negotiable and is commensurate with training and experience. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with various rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.
THE ENVIRONMENT: The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE) is fulfilling the land-grant promise of educational excellence, civic leadership, transformational research, and shared knowledge serving the common good. We serve the people of the Commonwealth and across the world through education, outreach, service, and research by finding solutions to improve lives today and create a sustainable future. We integrate teaching, research, and extension in our work. We recruit, retain, and graduate students who are competent, responsible, and workforce ready. For more than 130 years, M-G CAFE has provided research results to the community. From traditional labs and research farms to high-tech diagnostic and research centers, we offer science-based, practical solutions that affect the everyday lives of Kentuckians and people around the world. Our Cooperative Extension programs are engaged in Kentucky’s 120 counties, identifying and addressing needs not only in agriculture and natural resources, but also 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, as well as community & economic development.
The University of Kentucky is an institution with over 27,500 undergraduate and 9,500 graduate students. UK is Kentucky’s flagship university and a land grant institution. We have a university commitment to improve the lives of Kentuckians and beyond and that is why environmental stewardship and sustainability are core parts of our institution’s legacy. We are recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University by The League of American Bicyclists, and are recognized as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) Silver Rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
The university is geographically near downtown Lexington, which offers the vibrancy of an urban location while being in close proximity to working landscapes and recognized wilderness areas. It is a thriving community of 320,000+ with a strong commitment to quality of life, education, and the arts. Lexington is in the Bluegrass Region, an internationally acclaimed cultural landscape and agricultural region.
QUESTIONS AND/OR NOMINATIONS TO:
Dr. Hongyan Zhu
Chair, Search Committee
301B Plant Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington KY 40546-0312
Phone: 859-257-3647
Email: hongyan.zhu1@uky.edu
APPLICATION: Completed applications should include the following: a cover letter, CV, with full legal name as it appears on passport or driver’s license and ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID), if available, and statements of research and teaching interests and experiences. In addition, names and contact information of three individuals from whom letters may be requested should be included in the application packet. Applications should be submitted by December 14, 2026, for full consideration, while the position will remain open until filled. Please use the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process to apply. In your uploaded document(s), please begin with a cover letter that outlines your approach to the position’s responsibilities, your qualifications, and your vision for innovative and impactful research programs that address existing and emerging issues, followed by the name, address, email, and phone number for three references, and conclude with career curriculum vita and relevant statements.
To apply for this position click on the quicklink: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/651927
or copy and paste the URL into your browser
Click Apply for this Posting
Follow the instructions on how to create an account.
Complete the Employment Application and upload the required documents.
If you need assistance with the electronic application process, contact HR/ Employment, phone (859) 257-9555, press 2, or email ukjobs@email.uky.edu.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience
Deadline to Apply
Open Until Filled Yes
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
See all 122+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs at University of Kentucky
Align Your Credentials to U.S. Academic Standards
If your terminal degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluator before applying. University of Kentucky hiring committees expect documentation showing your degree is equivalent to a U.S. doctoral degree in your field.
Target Departments With Active Search Committees
Faculty searches at University of Kentucky are department-driven. Identify open lines by monitoring the UK Human Resources jobs portal and disciplinary listservs. Applying to an active search is the only realistic path to a sponsored offer at a research university.
Understand How J-1 and H-1B Differ for Faculty
University of Kentucky commonly uses J-1 for visiting or exchange faculty and H-1B for tenure-track positions. If you hold a J-1 with a two-year home residency requirement, discuss a waiver strategy with the university's international office before accepting any offer.
Request PERM Sponsorship at the Offer Stage
Tenure-track Assistant Professor offers are the clearest entry point for PERM-based Green Card sponsorship. Raise your long-term immigration goals during offer negotiation, not after onboarding. DOL requires PERM recruitment documentation to begin well before the petition is filed.
Use Migrate Mate to Find Sponsoring Academic Employers
Search for Assistant or Associate Professor roles at institutions with confirmed sponsorship histories using Migrate Mate. Filtering by visa type lets you focus your applications on universities that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor H-1B or Green Card petitions for faculty.
Plan Around the Academic Hiring Calendar
Most faculty searches at University of Kentucky close in the fall for positions starting the following August. H-1B petitions for cap-exempt institutions like UK can be filed year-round, but your offer letter and LCA certification from DOL need to be in place before USCIS filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Kentucky sponsor H-1B visas for Assistant Or Associate Professors?
Yes. University of Kentucky is a cap-exempt institution, which means it can file H-1B visa petitions with USCIS at any time of year without being subject to the annual lottery. This is a meaningful advantage for international faculty candidates. Sponsorship is typically initiated after a formal offer is extended through a completed faculty search process.
Which visa types are commonly used for Assistant Or Associate Professor roles at University of Kentucky?
H-1B is the standard visa for tenure-track and tenured faculty positions. J-1 visa is commonly used for visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and shorter-term academic appointments. TN visa may apply for Canadian or Mexican nationals in qualifying academic disciplines. For permanent positions, University of Kentucky may support EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card sponsorship through the PERM labor certification process with DOL.
What qualifications are expected for Assistant Or Associate Professor roles at University of Kentucky?
A terminal degree in your field is required, which for most disciplines means a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral credential. Associate Professor positions typically require a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research, external funding, and teaching experience. Your degree must be from an accredited institution, and international degrees should be accompanied by a NACES-approved credential evaluation for the application.
How do I apply for Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs at University of Kentucky?
Applications are submitted through the University of Kentucky's HR portal. Each faculty search has its own requirements, but most positions ask for a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, and teaching statement. You can also browse open Assistant or Associate Professor positions at universities with active visa sponsorship records using Migrate Mate, which filters roles by visa type and sponsorship history.
How do I plan my immigration timeline for a faculty position at University of Kentucky?
Most faculty offers are finalized in the spring for an August start. The Labor Condition Application must be certified by DOL before USCIS can accept the H-1B petition. Allow at least two to three months for LCA processing and petition preparation. If you're currently on F-1 OPT, confirm your OPT expiration date with the international office early, as H-1B cap-exemption does not eliminate the need for timely filing.