The University of Kentucky’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering is recruiting for a full-time, 12-month, tenure-eligible Extension Title Series with an open rank in agricultural health and safety. This position has an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024, with a distribution of effort of approximately, with a distribution of effort of approximately 50% extension, 20% teaching, and 30% research. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an integrated, nationally recognized teaching, research, and outreach program in agricultural health and safety. The successful candidate will be expected to be involved with the leadership of the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention (SCAHIP) https://www.uky.edu/scahip/.
 

The successful candidate is expected to:

• develop a nationally recognized program as evidenced by peer-reviewed scholarly work;
• attract external funding to support outreach and applied research, including funding of graduate students;
• demonstrate commitment and ability to work with teams of faculty on interdisciplinary problems;
• create a proactive, high-impact extension program that supplies clientele with relevant, state-of-the-art informational content;
• recruit and direct MS and PhD graduate students;
• contribute to the multi-functional land-grant mission of the department through outreach and engagement efforts with community stakeholders.

Qualifications include:

• a Ph.D. in an appropriate field with an emphasis on agricultural health and safety;
• the ability to conduct high-level independent research and oversee graduate student research;
• ability to conceive and implement training and information programs for both technical and non-technical audiences; and
• demonstration of outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

The Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention (SCAHIP) founded in 1992 is located at the University of Kentucky (UK), a land-grant campus that houses the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Arts and Sciences among others all on one campus. Our unique situation allows us to focus on multidisciplinary collaboration from agriculture, public health, epidemiology, biology, engineering, education, forestry, communications, nursing, medicine, and Cooperative Extension within UK as well as across universities in the Southeast including Auburn, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, West Virginia University. Our theme, “Multidisciplinary partnerships to improve agricultural safety and health in the Southeast”, place emphasis on serving vulnerable farm populations while addressing persistent and emerging agricultural/forestry and fishing safety concerns unique to 10 southeastern states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, and Virginia.

The position will remain open until filled, with a review date of applications beginning February 15, 2024. Required documents include: letter of application which includes statements of extension, research, instruction, approach, experience, and vision, along with a curriculum vitae, unofficial college/terminal degree transcripts, and a list of four professional references.

Questions should be directed to: Dr. Michael Montross, Chair; Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department; 128 Barnhart Building; University of Kentucky; Lexington KY 40546-0276; 859-218-4319 or montross@uky.edu.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is negotiable and is commensurate with training and experience. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with diverse 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: www.uky.edu/HR/benefits.
 

Faculty and staff of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE) are committed to creating an inclusive environment of mutual respect where students are encouraged to achieve their highest potential, regardless of, but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, ability, and socioeconomic status. The goal is to work together as a diverse group of engaged students, faculty, and staff to ensure all feel welcome, safe, accepted, and included. The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity university. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and all interested and qualified people. The EEO Coordinator is Tim West, S-105 Agricultural Science North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091.
 

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. We create a welcoming and inclusive environment that allows our faculty, staff, and students to reach their highest potential. We recognize people with diverse backgrounds and experiences are essential to decision making, problem solving, and innovation each and every day.
 

The University of Kentucky is a university with over 22,000 undergraduate and 10,000 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 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. The University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment respectfully acknowledges that the University of Kentucky sits on the traditional territory of the Osage, Shawnee, Cherokee, Adena, and Hopewell peoples.