Research Jobs in Kentucky
Research jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Lexington, Louisville, and Bowling Green, where universities, healthcare systems, and manufacturing firms drive steady demand for research professionals at every level from entry-level research assistant to senior investigator. The University of Kentucky, Norton Healthcare, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky are among the most established employers with active and recurring research hiring. The most in-demand specialties in the state are clinical research, agricultural and life sciences research, and applied engineering research. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 36+ Research jobs
INTRODUCTION
The Loria Lab at the University of Kentucky is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the neurogenic mechanisms linking early-life adversity and prenatal exposures to lifelong cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Our research program focuses on how developmental programming alters the brain–cardiovascular/metabolic axis. The laboratory integrates cardiovascular physiology, neuroscience, adipose biology, myography, radiotelemetry, and metabolic phenotyping to define mechanisms that connect early-life exposures with adult disease.
The successful candidate will lead projects examining how developmental exposures—including early-life stress and prenatal opioid exposure—program neural circuits and peripheral signals that contribute to hypertension and cardiometabolic dysfunction.
POTENTIAL RESEARCH DIRECTIONS INCLUDE:
- Neurogenic hypertension and sympathetic activation following developmental stress or prenatal opioid exposure.
- The role of adipose afferent signaling and adipose–brain communication in obesity-associated and developmentally programmed hypertension.
- Sex-specific neurogenic mechanisms, including interactions among gonadal hormones, adipose signaling, autonomic circuits, and cardiovascular and renal function.
- Neurocircuitry underlying the intersection between cardiovascular dysfunction and opioid vulnerability, including reward and stress-related pathways.
The laboratory's overall approach combines molecular and systems-level physiology, metabolic phenotyping, and in vivo pharmacology to move from mechanistic discovery toward therapeutic strategies.
The Loria Lab is committed to developing independent scientists rather than simply training technical specialists. Postdoctoral fellows will receive individualized mentorship while being encouraged to develop their own scientific questions, establish technical expertise, publish their work, present at national meetings, develop collaborations, and compete for independent funding. The lab has a strong record of trainees progressing to postdoctoral training in top notch institutions. The Loria Lab provides an interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of neuroscience, cardiovascular physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, developmental programming, and substance-use research. Our long-term goal is to uncover how early-life experiences and prenatal exposures shape cardiometabolic disease across the lifespan and to use these mechanistic insights to develop targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
We are particularly interested in candidates with a PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, cardiovascular physiology, pharmacology, physiology, biomedical sciences, or a related field. Neuroscience training is required. Experience with one or more of the following is desirable: radiotelemetry, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry/RNAscope, chemogenetics to perform in mostly in rats but also in mice.
Recently graduate students or post docs less than a year in that current position are particularly encouraged to apply with the goal to build a successful transition to independence.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: From $60,789.40 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
WORK LOCATION
Work Location: In person
INTRODUCTION
The Loria Lab at the University of Kentucky is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the neurogenic mechanisms linking early-life adversity and prenatal exposures to lifelong cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Our research program focuses on how developmental programming alters the brain–cardiovascular/metabolic axis. The laboratory integrates cardiovascular physiology, neuroscience, adipose biology, myography, radiotelemetry, and metabolic phenotyping to define mechanisms that connect early-life exposures with adult disease.
The successful candidate will lead projects examining how developmental exposures—including early-life stress and prenatal opioid exposure—program neural circuits and peripheral signals that contribute to hypertension and cardiometabolic dysfunction.
POTENTIAL RESEARCH DIRECTIONS INCLUDE:
- Neurogenic hypertension and sympathetic activation following developmental stress or prenatal opioid exposure.
- The role of adipose afferent signaling and adipose–brain communication in obesity-associated and developmentally programmed hypertension.
- Sex-specific neurogenic mechanisms, including interactions among gonadal hormones, adipose signaling, autonomic circuits, and cardiovascular and renal function.
- Neurocircuitry underlying the intersection between cardiovascular dysfunction and opioid vulnerability, including reward and stress-related pathways.
The laboratory's overall approach combines molecular and systems-level physiology, metabolic phenotyping, and in vivo pharmacology to move from mechanistic discovery toward therapeutic strategies.
The Loria Lab is committed to developing independent scientists rather than simply training technical specialists. Postdoctoral fellows will receive individualized mentorship while being encouraged to develop their own scientific questions, establish technical expertise, publish their work, present at national meetings, develop collaborations, and compete for independent funding. The lab has a strong record of trainees progressing to postdoctoral training in top notch institutions. The Loria Lab provides an interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of neuroscience, cardiovascular physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, developmental programming, and substance-use research. Our long-term goal is to uncover how early-life experiences and prenatal exposures shape cardiometabolic disease across the lifespan and to use these mechanistic insights to develop targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
We are particularly interested in candidates with a PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, cardiovascular physiology, pharmacology, physiology, biomedical sciences, or a related field. Neuroscience training is required. Experience with one or more of the following is desirable: radiotelemetry, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry/RNAscope, chemogenetics to perform in mostly in rats but also in mice.
Recently graduate students or post docs less than a year in that current position are particularly encouraged to apply with the goal to build a successful transition to independence.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: From $60,789.40 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
WORK LOCATION
Work Location: In person
See All 36 Research Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research JobsResearch Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Kentucky13
- University of Louisville6
- DOW2
- Trusted Medical2
- Baptist Health System KY & IN2
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research jobs across Kentucky.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific, social science, or technical field
- Experience with research design, data collection, and statistical analysis methods
- Proficiency in data analysis software such as SAS, SPSS, R, or Python
- Familiarity with IRB protocols and ethical standards for human subjects research
- Strong written communication skills for preparing reports, grants, and publications
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a collaborative setting
Research Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research in Kentucky?
Most research positions in Kentucky require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, psychology, public health, or engineering, with graduate degrees preferred for independent or principal investigator roles. Clinical research coordinators working with human subjects must comply with federal IRB requirements and often hold certifications such as the CCRP or CCRC. Kentucky does not issue a general state research license, but positions at regulated institutions like hospitals or pharmaceutical firms may require additional credentialing specific to that setting.
Which companies hire researchs in Kentucky?
Kentucky research roles are posted by University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and DOW and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Kentucky's mix of flagship universities, regional hospital networks, and advanced manufacturing employers means research openings appear across academic, healthcare, and industrial settings throughout the state.
Which Kentucky cities have the most research jobs?
Lexington, Louisville, and Erlanger have the most research openings in Kentucky right now. Lexington leads because of the University of Kentucky's extensive research programs and UK HealthCare, while Louisville's large hospital networks and life sciences sector generate consistent clinical and applied research demand, and Bowling Green benefits from manufacturing and applied engineering research tied to employers like Toyota.
Are there remote research jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the type of research. About 75% of research openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that lab-based, clinical, and field research roles are almost always on-site. The positions most likely to allow remote or hybrid arrangements are those focused on data analysis, literature review, survey research, or grant writing rather than hands-on specimen or participant work.
How can I get hired as a research in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a paid research assistant or lab technician role, which large Kentucky employers like the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville actively post for candidates with a relevant bachelor's degree and no prior professional experience. Volunteering or interning through a university department, applying to clinical research coordinator trainee programs at hospital networks like Norton Healthcare or Baptist Health, and earning an entry-level certification such as the CCRP all meaningfully improve your chances of landing a first role in the state.
Where can I find and apply to research jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to research jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current Kentucky openings across industries and experience levels. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit your qualifications and location preferences.
See All 36 Research Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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