Research Faculty Administration

Research Faculty at the University of Michigan

Office of the Vice President for Research
June 2001

Administration of Research Faculty
Bridging Support for Research Faculty

ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESEARCH FACULTY AND THE PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION
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Administration of faculty in Research Professor Track will reside in the Office of the Provost, although all such appointments and promotions will also be reviewed by the Vice President for Research. The Office of the Vice President for Research will administer the Research Scientist Track.

Appointments and promotions will be made by processes that include evaluation within the hiring unit, peer review within the school, college or institute, external evaluation, unit executive committee review, and review and approval by OVPR (for the research scientist track) and by the Office of the Provost (for the research professor track).

Important Note. Dual appointment of individuals to the instructional and research professor tracks requires satisfaction of requirements for each track.

RANK CHARACTERISTIC LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IN RANK

Research Investigator Research conducted usually within program of a senior colleague; independence not expected, but may be goal of training

Assistant Research Scientist Research conducted either within program of a senior colleague, or, if career in research professor track is envisioned, evidence of growth in independent scholarship

Associate Research Scientist Strong local reputation on the basis of research productivity and contributions over several years, but without the necessity of conducting an independent research program

Research Scientist As for Associate Research Scientist, but with expanded reputation based on continued essential contributions to a research program

Research Assistant Professor Strong potential of development into independent scholar; Record of peer-reviewed publications; Potential of or documented evidence of extramural funding; Participation in relevant academic or professional meetings; Expectation of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.

Research Associate Professor Independent scholarship; Independent sustained funding; National reputation; Research achievements fully equivalent to Associate Professor (instructional track); Record of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.

Research Professor Independent scholarship; Independent sustained funding; National and international reputation; Research achievements fully equivalent to full Professor (instructional track); Record of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.

RANK	CHARACTERISTIC LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IN RANK
Research Investigator	Research conducted usually within program of a senior colleague; independence not expected, but may be goal of training
Assistant Research Scientist	Research conducted either within program of a senior colleague, or, if career in research professor track is envisioned, evidence of growth in independent scholarship
Associate Research Scientist	Strong local reputation on the basis of research productivity and contributions over several years, but without the necessity of conducting an independent research program
Research Scientist	As for Associate Research Scientist, but with expanded reputation based on continued essential contributions to a research program
Research Assistant Professor	Strong potential of development into independent scholar; Record of peer-reviewed publications; Potential of or documented evidence of extramural funding; Participation in relevant academic or professional meetings; Expectation of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.
Research Associate Professor	Independent scholarship; Independent sustained funding; National reputation; Research achievements fully equivalent to Associate Professor (instructional track); Record of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.
Research Professor	Independent scholarship; Independent sustained funding; National and international reputation; Research achievements fully equivalent to full Professor (instructional track); Record of substantial teaching and mentoring [further guidance on this criterion] within the context of one or more research programs (e.g., laboratory bench science, social science, or other disciplinary setting) with postdoctoral fellows, junior research colleagues, or a student at any level.

BRIDGING SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH FACULTY SALARY
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Bridging support addresses the need for salary and fringe benefit support for research faculty who experience a temporary gap in external funding due to factors beyond their control. An important feature of the Research Professor Track is eligilibity to apply for bridging support of somewhat longer duration than is available for Research Scientist Track.

NOTE: When support from OVPR for bridging is sought, a minimum of a dollar-for-dollar match is expected from the unit. This is applicable to bridging request for all ranks. Support will be provided for the durations specified by OVPR. (See the Bridging Eligibility Table.)

Each unit of the University will be responsible for developing, administering, and funding the bridging support program for its research faculty. It is expected, however, that programs will adhere to the following guidelines:

ELIGIBILITY: A table has been prepared that outlines the level of bridging support eligibility according to rank and years of service at the University of Michigan. A minimum commitment of a dollar-for-dollar match is expected from the research faculty member's home unit as part of all requests to the Office of the Vice President for Research for bridging support.

These funds are not intended to cover severance pay or terminal leaves for researchers who will not continue employment at the University. Research faculty employed by the Institute for Social Research are not eligible to apply.

Research faculty in the above ranks holding joint research and non-tenured instructional appointments may apply for bridging support for the research appointment. (Research faculty holding joint research and tenured instructional appointments are not eligible for bridging support.) Part-time research faculty in these ranks may apply for bridging support for their part-time appointment if the duration of service requirements are met. "Courtesy Appointments" (research faculty appointments without funding) do not confer eligibility.

NATURE OF SUPPORT: OVPR bridging support is intended to cover only the salary and fringe benefits of the researcher. Funding for other research expenses should be sought from a researcher's units, or other regular sources of UM research funds (e.g., Biomedical Research Support Grants in the health science schools; OVPR programs for research and scholarship support; other internal funding sources), or from external sources.

EVALUATION CRITERIA: Criteria in the evaluation of bridging support applications will include:

the quality and significance of the researcher's work;
the researcher's past experience in obtaining external support for his/her work;
the researcher's potential for obtaining such support in the future;
evidence that the applicant has a grant application which is expected to be funded in the near future (1-6 months) by an external agency;
evidence that the researcher's work is in keeping with unit and institutional priorities; and
a statement by the applicant's employing unit as to the applicant's continued employment.

Additional Bridging Research Support

In many cases, the need for faculty salary support is only part of the task of keeping a research program intact when funding is interrupted. Support for supplies and for the salaries of key personnel, for example, is critical to the integrity of the program. For these research expenses, support may be sought from the individual units, from other regular sources of UM research funds (e.g., Biomedical Research Council Grants in the health science schools; OVPR programs for research and scholarship support; other internal funding sources), or from external sources.

Application details for Bridging Support

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