Director Center Drug and Alcohol Research

Job Title

Director of the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research

FE04767

7H000:

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Lexington, KY

Faculty

Full-Time

Non-Tenure Track

PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent in Behavioral Sciences, Public Health, Social Sciences, Communication, Health Services Research, Bioinformatics, Health Sciences, or other related fields, and be eligible for appointment at an Associate or Full Professor rank.

• Strong record of extramural funding and peer-reviewed publications in drug and alcohol research
• Demonstrated leadership in administrative positions
• Demonstrated commitment to mentorship and career development
• Recognized involvement in academic and professional societies at a national level

Determined based on Department Apartment

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine seeks a visionary director with a proven track record of scholarly achievement, particularly in advancing research related to the use of drugs and/or alcohol to lead its dynamic Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR). Exceptional accomplishments as a researcher and academic are necessary, as the director’s duties will include continuing their own research program, supervising trainees, and maintaining service activities.

We are seeking a senior (associate or full professor) research and leadership‑focused faculty member for this tenured or tenure‑track, Regular Title Series, full‑time (12‑month) position.

As a position of oversight, the director of the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research serves as the most visible advocate for center activities. The director will ensure that faculty, staff, and trainees work in conjunction with one another and with other groups across the college and campus, sharing research resources whenever possible. The director will also provide administrative, scientific, and mentoring support to center faculty, staff, and trainees.

The director will work to uphold and expand the reputation and mission of the center at the University, in the community and nationally, while also serving as a leader for the College of Medicine.

• Provide oversight for the research portfolio of CDAR, encouraging the growth of its research through scholarly dissemination (publishing, presenting, submitting, and obtaining extramural funding) and interdisciplinary collaboration within the College of Medicine and outside the college.
• Support a positive and productive environment for faculty, staff, and trainees within the center.
• Promote mentorship of faculty, staff, and trainees in research and professional development.
• Facilitate an environment of collaborative research, including maintaining records of accomplishments and supporting the acquisition of external funding.
• Maintain and expand University‑wide and external partnerships to advance CDAR’s mission and initiatives, including pursuing philanthropic partnerships.
• Manage center resources and space to ensure effective, transparent, and productive utilization.
• Represent and communicate the needs and priorities of the center and its affiliated faculty to College of Medicine and institutional leadership.
• Sustain and grow the national and international reputation of the center in the fields of substance use through professional, societal, and evidence‑based outreach and the development of complex center grants.

For full details and consideration for this position, :
Director of CDAR Prospectus for the entire position prospectus.

Interested applicants should apply through the University of Kentucky job posting: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Questions and inquiries can be directed to the search chairs:
Thomas

E. Curry (tecurry) or Kevin J. Pearson (kevin.pearson). All applications will be handled in a secure, sensitive, and confidential manner.

The position is open until filled; however, review of applications will begin on Jan. 14, 2026. Please submit by this date to ensure full consideration.

For questions, contact Sabrina Brewer wer