Applicants must have earned a doctorate in a relevant life science discipline (e.g., biotechnology, genetics, plant/animal sciences, entomology, or related fields).

Preferred qualifications include demonstrated excellence in undergraduate instruction; experience mentoring undergraduates (especially pre-health); strong written and oral communication; and the ability to design, deliver, and assess laboratory-based courses. Experience with curriculum development in genetics with laboratory, biotechnology, plant breeding, forensic entomology, and/or applications of AI in life sciences is desirable. Evidence of strong organizational skills and the ability to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments is essential.

N/A

Responsibilities: This is a 12-month, non-tenure eligible Lecturer appointment with approximately 80% instruction, 15% career and professional development mentoring, and 5% service responsibilities. The successful candidate will employ high-quality, high-impact pedagogical approaches leading to demonstrated outcomes in teaching, professional mentoring (with a focus on pre-med pathways), and student retention. Distribution of effort is reviewed and determined each year. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026 or January 1, 2027.

Instruction: The lecturer will provide core and specialized instruction for the Agricultural & Medical Biotechnology (AMBT) program and supporting programs (Agricultural Ecosystem Sciences/Entomology) depending on the applicant’s specialty. Key teaching assignments include:

• ABT 101: Introduction to Biotechnology (1 Cr, Fall)

• ABT 180: AI in Life Sciences (3 Cr, online asynchronous)

• ABT 301: Writing and Presentation in the Life Sciences (2 Cr, Fall and Spring)

• ABT 360: Genetics (3 Cr, Fall and Spring)

• ABT 361: Genetics Lab (1 Cr, Fall and Spring; two lab sections each)

• AFE 100: Agriculture and Food Systems (3 Cr, Fall; one section)

And depending on the applicant’s specialty, either

• AES 3—: Plant Biotechnology or Modern Breeding (3 Cr, Spring) OR

• ENT 3—: Forensic Entomology (3 Cr, Spring) with a genomic and AI focus

Career & Professional Development Mentoring: Serve as a primary Career and Professional Development mentor with specialization for pre-med students, guiding health-related research engagement at UK and as the AMBT leadership member, supporting recruitment, outreach materials, and student success initiatives across AMBT.

Service: As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional societies, and the public is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have earned a doctorate in a relevant life science discipline (e.g., biotechnology, genetics, plant/animal sciences, entomology, or related fields). Preferred qualifications include demonstrated excellence in undergraduate instruction; experience mentoring undergraduates (especially pre-health); strong written and oral communication; and the ability to design, deliver, and assess laboratory-based courses. Experience with curriculum development in genetics with laboratory, biotechnology, plant breeding, forensic entomology, and/or applications of AI in life sciences is desirable. Evidence of strong organizational skills and the ability to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments is essential.

Rank and Salary: The rank of this position is at the Lecturer or Senior Lecturer level. Salary is negotiable and is commensurate with training and experience. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with rewards, focusing on 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. Further information about benefits provided to faculty by the University of Kentucky is posted on the following website https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

THE ENVIRONMENT: The AMBT program is an interdepartmental undergraduate program supported by the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE) with instructional contributions from Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Horticulture, and Veterinary Science. The program emphasizes hands-on independent research, individualized coursework, and extensive mentoring.

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 a university with approximately 23,000 undergraduate and 7,000 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 300,000+ 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.

Dr. Tomo Kawashima

Search Committee Chair & AMBT Director

321 Plant Science Building

1405 Veterans Dr.

Lexington KY 40546

Phone: 859-257-2715
Email: tomo.k@uky.edu

APPLICATION: Completed applications should include the following: a cover letter, CV, and a statement of teaching interests and experience (upload as Specific Request 1). The statement should also include a brief description of a tentative teaching plan for ABT 180: AI in Life Sciences (e.g., topics to be covered and/or learning outcomes). This is an introductory-level course, offered online in an asynchronous format and open to all students. In addition, names and contact information of three individuals from whom letters may be requested should be included.

Applications received by May 21, 2026, will receive full consideration; the position will remain open until filled. Please use the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process to apply. In your uploaded document, please begin with a cover letter outlining your approach to the position’s responsibilities, your qualifications, and your vision for innovative and impactful undergraduate educational experiences; followed by the contact information for three references; and conclude with a CV and teaching statement.

If you need assistance with the electronic application process, contact HR/ Employment, phone (859) 257-9555, press 2, or email ukjobs@email.uky.edu.

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 regulation 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.