Director of the Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program

Job Title
Director of the Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program


Requisition Number
FE04642


Working Title

Department Name
81010:College of Ag, Food and Environment


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Type of Position
Faculty


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track


Required Education

Ph.D. (or equivalent terminal degree) in an appropriate discipline (e.g., experimental animal sciences, biology, biomedicine, social sciences, or related fields). Academic achievements and professional recognition commensurate with the rank of Professor at the University of Kentucky.



Required Related Experience

Demonstrated record of high-impact, peer-reviewed publications.



Required License/Registration/Certification

N/A



Job Summary

The University of Kentucky (UK) invites applications for the inaugural Director of the Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program, an innovative and interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to advancing the understanding of the human–companion animal bond. This unique program explores the psychological, physiological, and societal dimensions of human interactions with dogs, cats, horses, and other animals, and their mutual influence on health and well-being.



Position Overview



The Director will serve as a visionary leader to establish and grow this new program into a nationally distinctive hub of research, instruction, and outreach. The successful candidate will champion interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing on the University’s robust expertise across multiple academic units and UK HealthCare. Working closely with stakeholders, the Director will foster impactful partnerships with domestic animal industries, veterinary communities, and Kentucky’s healthcare entities.



This position offers the rare opportunity to shape a new academic frontier—developing synergistic programs that integrate research, teaching, and extension to advance both human and companion animal health and well-being.



Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Vision: Develop and implement a strategic roadmap for the Higgins-Neyland Companion Animal Program in consultation with a university-wide advisory committee.
• Research & Scholarship: Establish a nationally recognized research portfolio on the human–companion animal bond, with strong potential for external funding and scholarly impact.
• Instruction & Mentorship: Create innovative academic programming that integrates the study of the human–companion animal bond into UK’s curricula while mentoring the next generation of scholars.
• Engagement & Outreach: Partner with domestic animal industries, veterinary communities, and healthcare organizations to translate research into meaningful outcomes for society.
• Administration: Oversee the operation of the program, reporting to the Associate Dean for Research (Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment) for administrative matters, while maintaining an academic appointment in the relevant home department.

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.



Application



· A letter of interest summarizing your qualifications, area of expertise, career goals, and vision for development of an extramurally funded program that would advance the human-companion animal bond.

· Current curriculum vitae containing names and contact information (emails and phone numbers) of at least three professional references who can address in their professional judgement (a) your performance in advancing your scholarly field, (b) the significance of the venues in which you have been published and grants you have been involved with, © your instructional accomplishments, and (d) the professional service performed. Please indicate your relationship to the reference.

· Academic Transcripts (unofficial for application – official required for appointment)

· Applications should be submitted by November 3, 2025, for full consideration while the position will remain open until filled. The anticipated start date is as soon as January 1, 2026, or as negotiated.

· All questions related to the position and expectations may be directed to Mary Beth Bracken, at marybeth.bracken@uky.edu.



Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Proven ability to develop and sustain interdisciplinary collaborations across diverse academic and professional contexts.



Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collegial and collaborative leadership style. Commitment to advancing research, teaching, and outreach that aligns with the vision of the Higgins-Neyland Program and the legacy of The Bill Gatton Foundation.



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.