Research Professor or Scientist Track Faculty

Research Professor or Scientist Track

There are  two types of appointments: Research Professor and Research Scientist.

The following titles may be used for Research Professor appointments: research professor, research associate professor, and research assistant professor. 

The following titles may be used for Research Scientist appointments: research scientist, associate research scientist, assistant research scientist, and research investigator. Each has different responsibilities and expectations. 

New Faculty Hiring ("Research" Track) 

Research Professors and Research Scientists

Appointments to the Research Professor and Research Scientist tracks must be reviewed and voted on by the governing faculty.  This includes a site visit comprised of interviews and a public presentation.  

At UMSI, Research Professor and Research Scientist appointments are contingent on identified funding for three years at the proposed fraction of appointment. This funding will need to be used for the terminal period (if necessary) and for vacation accrual payout.  

Research Investigators

In some cases, the Associate Dean for Faculty or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may recommend to the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation to make a 0% Research Investigator appointment at UMSI. Such titles recognize and facilitate research involvement by individuals at UMSI without the current ability to submit grants and to facilitate access to shared data by research collaborators. 

Full guidelines for appointment, renewal, and review of research investigators are available through the University of Michigan Office of Research, https://research.umich.edu/research-resources/research-faculty-affairs/.

As noted in those guidelines, the 0% Research Investigator appointments constitute a special case.

Details on Appointments

Faculty in the Research Professor, Research Scientist, and Research Investigator tracks typically have 12 month contracts and accrue formal vacation time. UMSI expects its Research Professors and Scientists to be self-funding and paid principally from external funds (e.g., grants, contracts, gifts). Such appointments can be for any fraction between 0% and 100%. Funding will be worked out between the Research Faculty member and the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation. Unless overridden by the Dean, Research Faculty without external funding will be terminated according to the university guidelines. Their research funding must be sufficient to cover the terminal period and the vacation accrual payout. Consistent with these university guidelines, some bridging funds may be available upon request.

For more information go to  the University of Michigan Office of Research and go to Policies on Appointments and Promotions for Research Scientist Track.

Research Professors and Research Scientists

The Regents’ Bylaws describe the roles and responsibilities of Research Professors and Scientists. See Regents’ Sec. 5.24. Research Scientists and Research Professors (https://regents.umich.edu/governance/bylaws/chapter-v-the-faculties-and-academic-staff/ ). However, the University of Michigan Office of Research documentation on Policies on Appointments and Promotions for Research Scientist Track goes into more detail (see section 9, for example). 

Research Investigator (dry) Appointments

See section 15 of the Policies on Appointments and Promotions for Research Scientist Track to read more about UM policy for the determination or appointment and renewal of 0% Research Faculty positions.

Units may appoint a faculty member to a Research Professor Track or Research Scientist Track dry appointment (0% effort on all research faculty appointments) for up to three years without review. Subsequently, the School, College, or unit must determine whether the connection of the faculty member to the appointing unit justifies the renewal of the dry appointment. The unit must do this type of determination at least every three years.

Research Investigator (dry) Appointment Conditions 

• The appointment carries no budgetary commitment on the part of UMSI.

• Appointment is for a period of up to three years. This appointment may be renewed, at the discretion of the candidate and UMSI, by providing a CV and 3 relevant publications, and documenting continued involvement in grants and research activities at UMSI.

• The appointment carries no voting rights within UMSI.

Promotions and Reviews

Research Faculty appointments and promotions are governed by the University of Michigan Faculty Handbook as well as  by criteria established by the University of Michigan Office of Research (UMOR) and UMSI's amendment UMSI Research Faculty Appointment and Promotion Criteria. 

The criteria for appointment and promotion to research faculty ranks are defined using four fundamental characteristics of all faculty positions: scholarship, teaching, independence, and service. The Research Scientist Track is differentiated from the Research Professor Track on the basis of all four criteria. The level of and potential for scholarship and independence differs between the tracks. Teaching and service are not required activities for any rank in the Research Scientist Track.

Section 11 of the Policies on Appointments and Promotions for Research Scientist and Research Professor tracks describes the review and promotion cycles for Research Scientists. The policy states that promotion be, "..consistent with its approved appointment and promotion guidelines". 

• As such, for relevant promotion and review material (including the FAR), please consult the promotion and review materials for tenure track faculty.

See section 15 for the special case of dry Research faculty appointments.

Section 12 of the Policies on Appointments and Promotions for Research Scientist and Research Professor tracks describes the review and promotion cycles for Research Professors. It notes that, "The mandatory review cycle for the research professor track is intended to parallel each school/college’s review cycle (tenure clock) for tenure track instructional faculty."  

• As such, for relevant promotion and review material (including the FAR), please consult the promotion and review materials for tenure track faculty.