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Overview

See Procedures for Research Titles 090222.pdf.

All Research titles fall under the authority of the Office of the Vice President (VP) for Research. Research titles are paid positions (as opposed to unpaid Research Affiliates). Review document "Research Titles Guidelines" at OVPR Human Resources Information > University Policies > Research Titles for descriptions of different titles, information, and procedures for processing Research assignments.

Paid research titles include both regular (ongoing) and temporary statuses. Review research title descriptions and the proposed affiliate's current CV carefully to determine the most appropriate title. Pay careful attention to their highest-completed degree and date of completion.

Be aware that some research titles are eligible for automatic Principal Investigator (PI) status, and others are subject to approval from the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP). Review OSP’s PI Eligibility Administrative Procedures for details and instructions.

Performance evaluations are required for all paid research titles. 

Full-time status required unless an exception is approved by APS. Email EVPP-APS@austin.utexas.edu and detail reason for exception request. If exception is granted, add approver name and date to comments of Workday business process.

If you are unsure of the appropriate title to use or if you have additional research questions or need information, reach out to your research administration specialist.

Additional resources:

• HOP 7-1020: Research Titles

• Texas Research: Serving as a Principal Investigator

Research faculty vs. research staff

For research faculty, there is an expectation of evidence of engagement with the academic enterprise through teaching, mentorship, or supervision of students at some level.

For information on research staff, see COE: Hiring Research Faculty.

Permanent research job profiles (expected to continue)

• Supervisory Organization: PM preferred

• Duration of assignment: One year minimum

• Recruiting: Required, unless granted a prior exception by Academic Personnel Services (APS); Process a Workday Job Requisition

• Recruiting exceptions:

  • May be requested in advance from APS

  • Email justification for request and qualifications of intended hire to evpp-aps@utexas.edu

  • If approved, process Create Position in the appropriate PM supervisory organization, and note approval in comments: "Recruiting exception approved by APS on MM/DD/YYYY."

Job profile descriptions

Temporary research job profiles (fixed term)

• Supervisory Organization: JM

• Duration of assignment: 

  • Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow: One year minimum, renewable for up to three years

  • Postdoctoral Fellow: Assignments are for period of one year but may be renewed on an annual basis up to a maximum of five years.

• Recruiting: 

  • Optional. Workday Job Requisition required if recruiting.

  • If not recruiting, Create Position in appropriate JM supervisory organization.

Job profile descriptions

Workday processing - research staff

Create Job Requisition/Create Position

See Job Recruitment and Requisition Requirements for Research Staff.pdf

•  "Required Qualifications": 

  • Postdocs, add “PhD must have been received with the past three years.”

  • (Senior) Research Fellows, add "PhD must have been received more than three years ago."

  • Remove “Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.” PhD is required for postdoc and (Senior) Research Fellow titles.

Hire

Upload the most current CV and offer letter to the Workday Hire business process.

In the comments, add the following:

Initial (S)RF/PDF assignment (was in YYYY-YY). PhD received in YYYY from XX University, State (and Country if outside U.S.). Assignment is expected to continue for X years. Country of citizenship is XX. Background check results clear as of MM/DD/YYYY.

Notes on required comments:

• RF = Research Fellow; SRF = Senior Research Fellow; PDF = Postdoctoral Fellow

• "Initial assignment" refers to the date the scholar was first appointed in this title. If this is the first assignment, just comment "Initial (S)RF/PDF assignment." If this is a renewal, use the beginning date of the initial assignment.

• If scholar is ABD but PhD has not been awarded by the time of Workday processing, but will have been by time of assignment start, add notes: (Name) has completed all the requirements for his/her PhD through the (University Name) program. His/her official graduation date is MM/DD/YYYY.

Please send suggested additions to this page and notifications about broken links to COE-HR@austin.utexas.edu.