The Department of Physical Therapy (PT), College of Health Sciences (CHS) at the University of Kentucky is currently accepting applications for a full-time 11-month appointment, tenure-eligible faculty member at rank determined by qualifications in the Regular Title Series, to begin employment at the Lexington campus by July 1, 2025.
Primary duties of this position include advancing a personal research agenda that enhances the Department and College, teaching in the content areas related to their expertise, building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external constituents, and mentoring students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The distribution of effort for this position will be approximately 30-45% instruction, 30-60% scholarship/research, and 10-15% service. Faculty may also assume an active role in the CHS Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program, a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional Ph.D. program with faculty and students from disciplines such as Athletic Training & Clinical Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology.
Required Qualifications:1. Terminal academic doctoral degree (i.e., PhD or similar terminal degree) in relevant field
2. Current physical therapy license in Kentucky or eligibility
3. Expertise in content areas related to musculoskeletal disorders, assessment, or intervention
Preferred Qualifications:1. Record of scholarly work including original research with the strong potential for extramural funding
2. Board Certified Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
3. Teaching experience with potential for course management and design
About the Physical Therapy ProgramThe Physical Therapy program at UK has been educating physical therapists since 1967. Our program is conducted at the Lexington, Kentucky campus and at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, Kentucky. The Department strives to develop practitioners who are knowledgeable, ethical, independent, adaptable, reflective, and service oriented. For more information, please visit https://chs.uky.edu/physical-therapy. The qualified candidate will join an outstanding academic faculty devoted to teaching, research, clinical practice, and service. Our faculty is comprised of numerous physical therapists with post professional doctoral training who are involved in clinical, bench, and educational research, and clinical faculty involved in delivery of patient care services. Our research portfolio is diverse and places a high value on translational and interdisciplinary science.
The qualified candidate will have access to several significant resources including the College’s state-of-the-art teaching and clinical facilities, widespread UK Healthcare facilities, and other partners within the academic medical center, a newly approved Health Education Building (HEB), our College of Health Sciences Research Centers & Institutes, the UK’s Center for Clinical Translational Sciences (CCTS), the College of Health Sciences BioMotion Lab, the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network (KARRN), the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Barnstable Brown Diabetes & Obesity Research Center, Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Kentucky Neuroscience Institute, and our UK Human Development Institute. Our Office of Research and Scholarship provides remarkable resources to scholars in all areas.
Applicants must value the University of Kentucky’s mission and share its commitment to creating and sustaining a community of belonging for everyone, the education of the whole person, and the building of a just society. The University of Kentucky and the College of Health Sciences are committed to ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff operate in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome.
Candidates should apply online with a curriculum vita and a letter of interest outlining how your research agenda will enhance or synergize with those of the college and leverage partnerships within the institution or UK Healthcare, and other specific requests listed on the employment website. In your letter of interest, please also describe your past or current scholarship, teaching, and mentorship.
Questions should be directed to the search committee chair, Nathan Johnson PT, PhD, DPT, College of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, Wethington Building, 900 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, or email at
nathan.johnson@uky.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Upon offer of employment, successful applicants must undergo a national background check and pre-employment drug screen as required by University of Kentucky Human Resources. Visit the University's website and see for yourself what makes UK the perfect place to work, which includes a comprehensive benefits package (www.uky.edu/HR/benefits).
