Assistant or Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Regular Title Series

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kentucky invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor of Exercise Science in the Regular Title Series. The 9‑month, tenure‑eligible position requires teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, with a typical 2‑2 load, and active scholarship in exercise science.

The candidate will mentor master’s and doctoral students, pursue extramural funding, contribute to program development, and provide service to the department and university.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, or related field before start date.
• Commitment to teaching excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Strong scholarly record with publications or potential for extramural funding.
• Experience mentoring student research and career development.
• Ability to work collegially with faculty, staff, and students.

Responsibilities

• Teach 2 courses each semester (fall and spring) such as Strength and Conditioning, Physiology of Exercise, and related courses.
• Support undergraduate Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning majors/minors.
• Develop and maintain an active interdisciplinary research program with human subjects and publications.

Skills

Teaching

Research

Mentoring

Grant Writing

Curriculum Development

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Service

Student Advising

Education

PhD in Exercise Science or related field

Job description

Assistant or Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Regular Title Series

Job Title Assistant or Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Regular Title Series

Requisition Number

Requisition Number FE05011

Working Title

Department Name

Work Location

Work Location Lexington, KY

Type of Position

Type of Position Faculty

Position Time Status

Position Time Status Full-Time

Required Education

PhD or equivalent in field of Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, or a related field.

Required Related Experience

n/a

Required License/Registration/Certification

CSCS preferred

Job Summary

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor position in Exercise Science. The position is Regular Title Series, tenure-eligible. This is a 9-month appointment, effective August 16, 2027.

The selected candidate will be expected to be actively committed to our departmental vision and mission by pursuing excellence in teaching, research and scholarship, and service. Successful candidates will be expected to teach graduate and undergraduate exercise science courses, with faculty in this position typically expected to teach a 2-2 course load.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Teach 2 courses each semester (fall and spring), such as undergraduate courses in Strength and Conditioning for Sports, Physiology of Exercise, Introduction to Exercise Testing and Prescription, Practicum in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Laboratory Methods in Exercise Science, or other exercise science/exercise physiology courses as assigned.
• Provide support for the undergraduate Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning major and minor programs;
• Develop and maintain an active, interdisciplinary research agenda involving human subjects, showcasing a strong record of academic scholarship and potential for extramural support, as demonstrated by an independent research trajectory, peer-reviewed research publications, presentations, and/or grant support;
• Advise and mentor master’s and doctoral students in the exercise science program;
• Seek and be competitive for extramural research funding; and
• Provide service to the department, college, university, and profession.

• a detailed cover letter noting academic credentials and professional experience related to the responsibilities for this position — upload under Cover Letter;
• a statement on teaching that includes reflections on the candidate’s teaching experiences, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and copies of evaluations of the candidate’s teaching, if available — upload under Specific Request 1;
• a statement on research describing the candidate’s research interests and areas of expertise, dissemination of research, and current/potential funding agencies — upload under Specific Request 2;
• writing samples– up to three representative publications (first or corresponding author preferred) — upload under Writing Sample;
• names and contact information for three professional references – upload under References. References will be contacted to upload a letter once finalists have been selected.

Review of applications will be conducted on a rolling basis. Preference will be given to applicants who have submitted their applications by October 16, 2026.

Questions regarding the position or application materials may be directed to the search committee chair Dr. Lance Bollinger ( [e-mail] ).

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’ 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: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• An earned doctorate in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, or a related field before the employment start date;
• A commitment to, and record of, successful college or university teaching excellence in areas related to exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, or a related field;
• A strong record of academic scholarship as demonstrated by peer-reviewed research publications, a record of successful grant funding, or the ability to actively pursue extramural research funding;
• A commitment to and experience mentoring student research and career development;
• Potential for, or history of, active service participation and/or leadership roles in campus, community, and professional organizations; and
• The ability to work collegially and effectively with faculty, staff, and students.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

• Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching and student mentorship in relevant disciplinary areas, including experience with applied, laboratory-based, and experiential learning environments.
• Evidence of success in curriculum and course development at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration and the ability to engage effectively with colleagues across academic and professional disciplines.
• Established record of scholarly productivity commensurate with career stage.
• Demonstrated potential to secure extramural funding and sustain an independent research program.
• Postdoctoral research experience is preferred.

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 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.

Posting Specific Questions

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