In an effort to contribute to the mission of enhancing diversity, the University of Kentucky established the fully funded Lyman T Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship to support postdoctoral fellows in graduate and professional areas. The fellowships are in the memory of UK’s first African-American graduate student, Lyman T. Johnson.

Fellowship recipients pursue an individualized research program under the mentorship of one or more UK professors and actively participate in departmental and professional research-related activities. Fellows play a lead role in designing, developing and implementing research programs that contribute to a department’s overall graduate education and research mandates.

Fully Funded University of Kentucky Postdoctoral Fellowship

The fully funded Lyman T Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Kentucky provides a $47,476 stipend plus benefits. In addition, the fellow receives $2,000 for support of research activities. Fellowships are available for up to two years. The initial appointment is for 12 months, but recipients may apply for a second year.

Eligibility for the University of Kentucky Postdoctoral Fellowship

Applicants must be eligible to compete for federally-funded postdoctoral grants. This includes the eligibility requirement that, by the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

Further, applicants must have completed the doctoral degree within the past two years or will complete the doctoral degree before the date of appointment. Applicants who do not have a prior or present postdoctoral appointment at the UK are preferable for the fellowship.

Applicants who received their PhD at the UK must be affiliated with a research group other than the one in which they did their prior research. The goal is to broaden the research experience and training for the fellowship recipient.

Selection criteria

The selection committee at the University of Kentucky considers a candidate eligible for the fully funded Lyman T Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship on the basis of the following criteria:

• Evidence of scholarship with competitive potential for a tenure-track faculty appointment at a research university
• Likewise, compatibility of specific research interests with those present in doctorate-granting units at the UK
• Quality of the fellowship proposal
• Strong support from mentor and references
• Also, a compelling argument that the appointment would contribute to increasing the diversity within the research or professional area

How to apply for the University of Kentucky Postdoctoral Fellowship

Applicants applying for the fully funded Lyman T Johnson Postdoctoral Fellowship should address how participation in this program would contribute to the compelling interest of diversity at the University of Kentucky as well as in their profession in their letter of application.

The application dossier should contain, a single PDF document that will be uploaded into the UK employment system:

• A cover letter that should address how participation in this program would contribute to the compelling interest of diversity at the University of Kentucky and in the profession. A discussion of career and training goals should also be included.
• Curriculum Vitae, including the references providing letters of recommendation.
• An original research proposal is written independently by the applicant in a way that non-experts can evaluate (1,500 words or less; figures, schemas, and references are not included in this total).

Additionally, the candidates should submit the items mentioned below.

• A letter from the potential UK mentor and the Mentor’s curriculum vitae (5-page limit) that includes current and pending funding.
• A letter from the potential UK departmental chair indicating endorsement and appropriate departmental resources such as space and computer support.
• Three reference letters.

Deadline

The University of Kentucky accepts the fellowship application until November 1, 2019. Applications arriving after the deadline are invalid.