Job Description

School of Information Science

College of Communication and Information

Assistant Professors (Regular Title)

The College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky invites applications for two assistant professor positions. This is a nine-month, tenure-track (regular title series) position reporting directly to the School Director. Tenure-eligible means candidates must first meet the prescribed criteria per  Administrative Regulation 2:2-1and statements of evidence to be granted tenure. The anticipated start date is August 16th, 2026.

We seek qualified faculty members to contribute to advancements in teaching, research, and service within the field of library and information science. Successful candidates will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, engaging with colleagues, students, and community partners to impact the discipline. We are especially interested in individuals who bring fresh perspectives and demonstrate potential for leadership in scholarship and professional practice in areas such as community engagement and outreach, instruction and information literacy, archives and digital stewardship, as well as health and social information services.

Qualifications and Responsibilities:

Candidates will be expected to teach a 2-2 teaching load at the graduate level with opportunities to teach across the School’s programs. This position is expected to have a distribution of effort of 50% research, 45% teaching, and 5% service. Faculty are expected to teach, advise students, maintain a personal research program, participate in professional activities, and serve on university committees. Opportunities exist to work with doctoral students in the College’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.

About the School:

The University of Kentucky’s School of Information Science, an interdisciplinary community of scholars and professionals, brings together communication, information, instruction, and technology. Students learn to leverage knowledge and skills to become critical and informed members of varied communities. We model and foster ethical and human-centered approaches to problem solving, innovative research, information access and synthesis, and responsible leadership.

The School of Information Science offers two online master’s degrees (library science and information communication technology), an undergraduate major in information communication technology (including an online degree completion component), and an online minor in information studies. Additionally, the School of Information Science includes the Instructional Communication and Research group, which teaches university core courses in multi-modal communication to incoming students. The School boasts an impressive cadre of internationally recognized faculty who are recipients of multiple prestigious awards and fellowships.

About the College:  The  College of Communication and Information is composed of two schools (School of Information Science and School of Journalism and Media), two departments (Department of Communication and Department of Integrated Strategic Communication), and interdisciplinary master’s and PhD programs. More than 100 full-time faculty lead nearly 2,300 undergraduate majors and 400 graduate students while also teaching in the university’s core curriculum and serving students pursuing minors and certificates in the college. The college also houses University of Kentucky’s independent student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel, and the championship winning Intercollegiate Debate Team.

About the University:

Located in the vibrant city of Lexington, the University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant institution that plays a critical leadership role in promoting wide access to education, economic development, and human well-being. The campus is home to 35,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty members, and nearly 14,000 staff members. The university is one of just eight in the country with a major academic health center and a full spectrum of academic colleges and professional schools on one contiguous campus. As such, the University of Kentucky is an incubator for interdisciplinary research. These collaborations allow researchers to address the rapidly changing needs of a global society.

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: 

About Lexington:

Featured on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best places to live in 2022, the City of Lexington is a great place to not only live but also work and study. With a population of roughly 320,000, Lexington offers both the warmth and lower cost of living of a small city and the amenities you would enjoy in a larger city, including the arts, cultural events, and a thriving dining scene. 

Application materials should include a letter of application that briefly summarizes background, qualifications, and interest in the position; a curriculum vita; a brief research statement reviewing focus, expertise, accomplishments, and goals (attach as Specific Request 1); a brief teaching statement including philosophy of teaching and evidence of teaching excellence (attach as Specific Request 2); and contact information for three references when prompted in the application.

Multiple positions available. Application review will begin November 3, 2025, and continue until positions are filled. Questions regarding the position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Maria Cahill at  maria.cahill@uky.edu .

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