Assistant Professor Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Assistant professor roles in Kentucky are concentrated at research universities like the University of Kentucky in Lexington and the University of Louisville, plus regional institutions such as Western Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University. Many of these positions involve H-1B visa sponsorship for international candidates, particularly in STEM, business, and health sciences departments.
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Job Title: Assistant or Associate Professor of Biology
Requisition Number: FE05009
Department Name: 8E000:College of Arts & Sciences
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Type of Position: Faculty
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Tenure Track Status: Tenure Track
Required Education
A PhD in Biology, Neuroscience, or a related field is required at time of appointment.
Required Related Experience
N/A
Required License/Registration/Certification
N/A
Job Summary
The Department of Biology at the University of Kentucky invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, with expertise in the field of Cell and Molecular Neuroscience. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research incorporates induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cells, organ-on-chip, and/or cerebral organoid models to study mechanisms of neurodevelopment, neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders, neuronal function, neural circuit development, or related areas of neuroscience. We encourage applications from candidates using iPSC/organoid models in conjunction with complementary experimental approaches such as genome editing, imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, and electrophysiology, as well as computational approaches. Consideration will also be given to strong research programs using invertebrate model systems focused on the topic areas listed above.
The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of an ability to obtain extramural grant support, communicate their research, and effectively teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Responsibilities for the successful candidate will include:
- establishment of an independent research program that is supported by awards from extramural agencies;
- contribution to the teaching mission of the undergraduate program, which will include the development and teaching of a course on Developmental Neurobiology;
- teaching and mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows;
- service to the department, university, and profession.
We will offer a competitive start-up package and laboratory space for this faculty position.
The Department of Biology is highly collaborative with research strengths in neuroscience, regenerative and developmental biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and circadian rhythms and biological timing. Our faculty and trainees use a diverse array of biological model systems and mathematical and computational tools. Our faculty also collaborate with life science faculty in the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Agriculture, Public Health, and Arts and Sciences, as well as the Markey Cancer Center, the Sanders Brown Center on Aging, and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science.
The anticipated Distribution of Effort will be 30% teaching, 60% research, and 10% departmental service. This position will be a 9-month appointment with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2027.
Applicants must include the following:
1) letter of application (upload as Cover Letter)
2) CV
3) research statement (upload as Specific Request 1)
4) teaching statement (upload as Specific Request 2)
5) In addition, please provide the names and contact information for three references when prompted in the academic profile. This information may be utilized to solicit recommendation letters from your references within the employment system.
Questions about this search should be addressed to Ann Morris, Professor and Chair, Department of Biology, University of Kentucky ann.morris@uky.edu.
Application review will begin on 10/15/2026.
Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with many 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’ medical coverage and in addition, offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
N/A
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience
N/A
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 or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulations concerning smoking.
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.
Assistant Professor Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Assistant Professor Jobs in KentuckyAssistant Professor Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which employers in Kentucky sponsor visas for assistant professor roles?
The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are the most active sponsors for assistant professor positions in Kentucky, with established international faculty hiring pipelines in fields like engineering, medicine, public health, and social sciences. Western Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Northern Kentucky University also sponsor international hires, particularly for hard-to-fill STEM and business faculty positions.
Which visa types are most common for assistant professor jobs in Kentucky?
The H-1B is the most common visa for assistant professors in Kentucky, as faculty roles at accredited universities typically qualify as specialty occupations. Many institutions also use the J-1 visa exchange visitor visa for postdoctoral fellows transitioning into faculty roles, though J-1 holders may face a two-year home residency requirement. O-1 visas apply for candidates with extraordinary academic achievement. Tenure-track positions often lead to employer-sponsored green card petitions through the EB-1A or EB-2 NIW categories.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most assistant professor sponsorship jobs?
Lexington and Louisville account for the large majority of assistant professor sponsorship jobs in Kentucky, driven by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville respectively. Bowling Green has a smaller but consistent volume through Western Kentucky University. Richmond and Highland Heights see periodic openings via Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, particularly when departments expand or replace departing faculty.
How to find assistant professor visa sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters assistant professor positions in Kentucky specifically to those where employers have a documented history of visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to roles where international candidates are unlikely to be considered. You can search by institution type, academic field, and location across Kentucky. Migrate Mate is particularly useful for identifying openings at mid-sized regional universities that may not appear prominently on general faculty job aggregators.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for assistant professors seeking visa sponsorship?
Kentucky universities filing H-1B petitions for assistant professors must meet Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements for the relevant academic field and institution type, which vary between research universities and regional teaching colleges. Public universities in Kentucky are cap-exempt employers, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without being subject to the annual lottery. This is a meaningful advantage for international candidates, since cap-exempt status removes the timing uncertainty that affects many other employer types.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored assistant professor jobs in Kentucky?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.