Director for the Office of Postdoctoral Research, Innovation, Scholarship, and Mentorship

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky (UK) Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) seeks a Director of Postdoctoral and Graduate Research Training.

Anchored in the Office of Postdoctoral Research, Innovation, Scholarship, and Mentorship (PRISM), the Director will:

• design and lead University-wide activities that advance the research training of postdoctoral and graduate student researchers
• lead PRISM and develop programming to enhance the postdoctoral experiences
• support the development, submission, and administration of federal research training grants spanning pre- and postdoctoral trainees
• lead research-centered career and professional development programming
• promote the achievements of postdoctoral and graduate student researchers and their mentors
• foster a collaborative research trainee community across the University
• collaborate and coordinate with the Graduate School and other units across the University to advance the research training and research-centered career outcomes of postdoctoral and graduate student researchers, complementing the educational and degree-program missions of those partner units

The goal of this work is to prepare postdoctoral and graduate student researchers for impactful research-centered careers in academia, industry, government, and beyond.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Design and lead University-wide activities that advance the research training of postdoctoral and graduate student researchers
• Develop and implement programming to enhance the postdoctoral experiences
• Support the development, submission, and administration of federal research training grants
• Lead research-centered career and professional development programming
• Promote the achievements of postdoctoral and graduate student researchers and their mentors
• Foster a collaborative research trainee community across the University
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Graduate School and other units across the University

Supervisory Responsibilities

Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

• Ph.D.

Deadline to Apply

07/22/2026

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.