Career Development Program

The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) Career Development Program is coordinated in a partnership with the administrative core and led by Kevin Pearson, PhD. The mission of the career development program is to promote collaboration among basic, clinical, and population scientists; support early-stage investigators in developing professional skills; and to attract mid-level investigators and scientists in other fields through opportunities to focus on environmentally-induced diseases. Dr. Pearson is also the Assistant Dean for Research Engagement in the College of Medicine and co-director of UK's Research Scholars Program designed to ensure faculty success in research.

Goals

Promote career development of early-stage investigators.
Provide opportunities for mid-level investigators to focus on environmental health-related research.
Foster collaborations among investigators working in basic, clinical, and population science fields.
Develop scientific enrichment activities for all UK-CARES investigators.

Call for Applications

Closed March 28, 2025

UK-CARES is accepting applications from full-time early-stage investigators (ESI), as well as established investigators transitioning to environmental health related research areas, at the University of Kentucky (UK) for the career development program. If you would like to receive notifications of future calls for applications, please click here to join our mailing list.

Career Development Awards are limited to full-time faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor (all title series are eligible including regular, research, clinical and special) at UK, and are intended to support early career investigators as they build their capacity to design and implement innovative, studies in environmental health sciences that will lead to NIEHS pilot and extramural funding. Established investigators who are transitioning to a new environmental health-related research area are also eligible to apply. Post-doctoral trainees are not eligible for this award.

The Career Development Awards are up to $30,000 in total direct costs, plus 53% (rate at the time of the award) for Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A) for one year and will be made on a competitive basis to support activities designed to grow the faculty member’s EHS program of research. It is anticipated that funds will be available for 1-2 awards depending on the number of meritorious applications and needs of the specific project.