Faculty Ranks & Tracks

Investigator Track

Individuals at the School of Medicine who have established themselves as nationally recognized independent investigators and who have a record of sustained funding, or in the case of new recruits, strong promise of such funding, are eligible for appointment in the Investigator Track. While these faculty members may engage in teaching, their major responsibility will be the development of productive research programs. Teaching will normally occupy no more than ten percent of their professional time.

Individuals who will contribute to graduate education and who hold a primary or secondary appointment in a basic science or bridge department are eligible for appointment in the Graduate School.

Associate Professor

Candidates for appointment or promotion to the rank of associate professor in the Investigator Track must have demonstrated a strong record of high quality independent research and of successful competition for grant support. There must clear evidence that their academic growth will continue with the expectation that their value to the institution will make them suitable candidates for promotion to Professor within ten years. The initial term of appointment may be up to five years, and there may be one reappointment at this rank. Non-reappointment requires one year written notice.

Professor

Candidates for appointment or promotion to the rank of professor in the Investigator Track are expected to stand in competition with the foremost leaders in their field throughout the world. Their research must have significantly advanced the frontiers of knowledge, and there must be a record of sustained outside funding sufficient to cover salary and research activities. The strength of commitment conferred by appointment to the rank of professor mandates that candidates in this track have attained the same level of achievement in their domains as candidates for professor in the other faculty tracks.

Appointments at the rank of professor in the Investigator Track are made on a continuing basis without term but do not confer tenure. They continue without extra-departmental review as long as the faculty member generates extramural funding sufficient to cover his or her salary and fringe benefits. Funding is reviewed annually by the department. If, for any three years in a five-year period, the individual's funding is not sufficient to cover salary and fringe benefits, as determined by the department and the Office of the Dean, the appointment reverts to a term appointment that expires at the end of two additional years. Non-reappointment requires one year written notice.