Assistant Professor

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Requisition Number
FE04836

Working Title

Department Name
81050:BIOSYSTEMS & AGR ENGINEERING

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Type of Position
Faculty

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track

Required Education

A Ph.D. in biosystems/agricultural engineering or a closely-related field with an emphasis in hydrology, water quality monitoring, and/or nature-based water treatment designs. In addition, the candidate should have some experience in AI, machine learning, and/or managing large data sets related to water resources and/or ecological engineering design.

Required Related Experience

- The ability to oversee graduate students and demonstration of outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrate commitment and ability to work with teams on interdisciplinary problems.
- Create a proactive, high-impact research program that supplies clientele with new methods to analyze hydrologic and water quality impacts in agricultural and urban settings.
- Teach one undergraduate and one graduate course per year; recruit and direct MS and PhD graduate students.
- Contribute to the multi-functional land-grant mission of the department.

Required License/Registration/Certification

A P.E. or demonstrate the ability to qualify for a P.E. in Kentucky

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering is recruiting for a full-time, 12-month, tenure-eligible Assistant Professor in the Regular Title Series related to hydroinformatics. This position has an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027, with a distribution of effort of approximately 70% research, 25% instruction, and 5% service. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an integrated, nationally recognized program on topics such as:
· Integrating water resource and agricultural related datasets to develop and enhance process-based and AI models to analyze and predict the impact of agricultural and implementation of best management practices to address hydrologic and water quality challenges.
· Develop novel and/or utilize existing models to aid in the design and implementation of practices that would reduce the impact of extreme rainfall events.
· Complement ongoing work with researchers and stakeholders to efficiently acquire, process, and model water quality and hydrologic data from a wide array of sources.

The successful candidate is expected to:

· demonstrate commitment and ability to work with teams on interdisciplinary problems;

· create a proactive, high-impact research program that supplies clientele with new methods to analyze hydrologic and water quality impacts in agricultural and urban settings;

· teach one undergraduate and one graduate course per year;
· recruit and direct MS and PhD graduate students; and
· contribute to the multi-functional land-grant mission of the department.

Qualifications include:

· a Ph.D. in biosystems/agricultural engineering or a closely-related field with an emphasis in hydrology, water quality monitoring, and/or nature-based water treatment designs. In addition, the candidate should have some experience in AI, machine learning, and/or managing large data sets related to water resources and/or ecological engineering design;

·a P.E. or demonstrate the ability to qualify for a P.E. in Kentucky;
· the ability to oversee graduate students; and
· demonstration of outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

The Environment:

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MGCAFE) 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, MGCAFE 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 an institution with over 23,000 undergraduate and 9,500 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 levelBicycle 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.

Salary and Benefits:

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive 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.

Questions and/or Nominations to:

Mike Montross

Chair, Search Committee

128 Barnhart Building

1398 Nicholasville Rd

University of Kentucky

Lexington KY 40546-0276

Phone: 859-218-4319

Email: michael.montross@uky.edu

Web: www.uky.edu/bae

Application:


Applications should be submitted by June 1, 2026, for full consideration while the position will remain open until filled. The anticipated interview period is August to September, with an anticipated start date is July 1, 2027. Please apply using the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process. In your uploaded document please begin with a letter of interest that outlines your approach to the position’s qualifications and responsibilities and your vision for innovative and impactful programs that address existing and emerging issues across the communities we serve. Follow this with the names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of three references, and conclude with career curriculum vita.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

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.