U of Kentucky - TT Med Soc

[UKY]

Open Rank Faculty Position in Medical Sociology at the University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky’s Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure track position at the assistant, associate, or full professor level to begin August 15, 2015. The department is seeking a scholar who can contribute to instruction and research in medical sociology or the sociology of health and illness as well as quantitative methods. The successful candidate will contribute to implementing a newly established program in Health, Society, & Population. Ideally, the applicant will be able to serve in an administrative leadership role in this program, dependent upon experience. This individual will teach 2/2 at the graduate and undergraduate level. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in hand at the time of the appointment. Interested candidates should submit the following items through Interfolio: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, a teaching statement, samples of research, and contact information for three references. Follow this link to Interfolio to apply for the position: apply.interfolio.com/25131<http://apply.interfolio.com/25131>.

The statement of research interests should identify the emphases of the applicant’s research program and specific research plans and goals. The teaching statement should describe the applicant’s teaching philosophy and pedagogical approaches, as well as specific courses that the applicant has taught or is prepared to teach. Review of applications will begin on August 1, 2014 and continue until the position is filled. The University of Kentucky is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University that values diversity and is located in an increasingly diverse region. It is a Research I institution and committed to becoming one of the top public universities in the country. Women, persons with disabilities, veterans, and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

(Source: ASA Section email.)

[Department information]

I've heard some pretty disparaging things from a colleague regarding this department (albeit, information from a few years ago): i.e., infighting, elitism, quant. vs. qual (more than you would "regularly" find), and disrespect towards grad students in the program. Can anyone confirm or deny that this still exists or make an argument for/against applying?

Also, I read the guidelines, but if this post goes against the mod rules than you can take it down and my apologies for being inappropriate!

[false idea of choice]

This is my fourth time on the market, and I get that we all want to know about who gets along and who doesn't, but let's remember that none of us really get to choose our jobs. How many of us are really going to skip the opportunity for a TT position just because of a rumor that people don't always play nicely? Apply, apply, apply. Don't say 'no' to a job until you have been there, in person, yourself. Most of us won't get that far anyway.

[didthey]

did UK hire for the health position last year? Was that a failed search, or is this a new position?

[idk]

I had a phone interview with them last year for a med soc job, but it was for Assistant Prof. I have no idea what they decided to do with the position or if they made a hire. My guess is they are probably looking for an associate prof now...

[FWIW]

Jun 15, 2014 12:45:59 GMT -5 Department information said:

I've heard some pretty disparaging things from a colleague regarding this department (albeit, information from a few years ago): i.e., infighting, elitism, quant. vs. qual (more than you would "regularly" find), and disrespect towards grad students in the program. Can anyone confirm or deny that this still exists or make an argument for/against applying?

Also, I read the guidelines, but if this post goes against the mod rules than you can take it down and my apologies for being inappropriate!

FWIW, everyone was saying very nice things about UK last year when they had a job up, including folks who interviewed there.

[OP]

My assumption is that they're replacing Brea Perry, who left for Indiana.

[birdie]

UK is a fantastic place, and the department is wonderful.
The worrisome rumors from years ago are no longer accurate.
A med soc hire was made last year at the asst level.

[InTheKnow]

I'm just going to out myself. I am Brea Perry, and yes, the position is to replace me (and yes, we hired a great assistant in medical sociology last year). I strongly encourage anyone (at any level) in the field of medical sociology to apply. I had an unequivocally positive experience at UK...no infighting, no elitism, no methodological factions. That might have been true twenty years ago, but that information is totally out of date. Anyone who interviewed here last year will tell you that. My colleagues at UK are warm, supportive, and intelligent, and I do not regret for one second beginning my career at UK. There are only a handful of places I would have left UK for, and Indiana was one of them. It is a great, up and coming department. I hope many of you apply, and good luck! If you have questions, feel free to hit me up at ASA. I will be at the med soc reception.

[Also]

Brea is obviously the expert, but if we're going to go by "rumors", I'd like to note that I've heard only the exact opposite of what "Department information" has heard. My sources tell me that UK is actually one of the most collegial departments around. People genuinely seem to like one another and get along well. Am guessing those rumors about a negative environment are just really outdated? Regardless, I agree with "false idea of choice." You won't *really* know the department environment until you see it yourself. So if the ad appeals to you at all, why not apply?

["Steve"]

I concur, I have a close friend within the department who has been nothing but positive about his/her experience there. Great department, a lot of interesting and diverse interests, and a good crop of energetic and enthusiastic graduate students. Lexington is supposed to be a great city to live in, too.