Guidelines for Non-Faculty Professional Research Staff: Designation of Principal Investigator Status and Honorific Faculty Titles

  • All tenured and tenure track faculty have Principal Investigator Status
  • Only designated Research Scientists have Principal Investigator Status or Research Professor status
  • All Research Professors have Principal Investigator status

Two designations exist for nonfaculty professional research staff who make special contributions to a department or who merit special consideration in establishing independent research programs. Principal Investigator and Research Professor status are awarded on the basis of specific credentials and justifications, as noted below.

 

Research Scientists with Special Designations  

 
 

Research Scientists

Principal Investigator Status

Research Professor Status
Duties
  • Conduct research under supervision of principal investigator.
  •  Oversight and accountability for programmatic and fiscal administration of external grants.
  • Oversight and accountability for programmatic and fiscal administration of external grants.
  • Contribute to department’s research and training mission.
  •  Occasional teaching assignments
Privileges                                             
  • Not applicable.
  • Can submit proposals for external funding, and oversee externally funded programs.
  • Eligible to compete for University funds
    (Research Challenge Fund).
  • Can submit proposals for external funding, and oversee externally funded programs
  • Eligible to compete for University funds (Research Challenge Fund).
  • Courtesy faculty title (with no implications for tenure).
Justification for 
Special Designation           
  • Not applicable.
  • Proficiency to compete for external funds to conduct research of an acceptable standard to department/ school and congruent with department/school interests and resources.
  • Demonstrated success competing for external
    funds to conduct research of an acceptable standard to department/ school and congruent
    with department/ school interests and resources.
  • Substantial professional stature.
  • Teaching contribution to department.
Ranks
  • Junior, Assistant, Associate, Full, Senior.
  • Ranks correspond to years of professional experience and level of research competence.
  • Designation is not ranked.
  • Assistant, Associate, Full, Senior.
  • Ranks correspond to years of experience,
    research competence.

Special designations as Principal Investigator or Research Professor have no implications for salary, benefits, termination and severance.

Cost Center for Salary

External Funds

Same as for Research Scientist

Same as for        Research  Scientist
Salary minimum

12 month minimum ($24,000). Minimum can be met by supplementing from sources outside NYU.
Additional compensation for additional work, including teaching, is possible if this does not reduce time on   the sponsored project.

Same as for Research Scientist

Same as for Research Scientist
Salary increases

Proposed annually to FAS using specified guideline of salary merit pool.
Increases are subject to availability of external funding.

Same as for Research Scientist

 

Same as for Research Scientist
Benefits

Same as Code 100 Administration

Same as for Research Scientist

Same as for Research Scientist
Termination

When external funding ends. Term of appointment statement in the appointment letter constitutes due         notice for termination.
Four-month leave-without-pay is available when employee has been full time for 2 consecutive years and     when renewal of grant or other source of funding is expected.

Termination of appointment is same as for Research Scientist.

(Expectation is that special designation will continue during term of appointment as Research Scientist.

 

Same as for Principal    Investigator
Severance Pay

If terminated within the term of appointment for lack of funds or changing programmatic needs, one                 month's written notice is required. There is severance pay after 3 years of continuous service.

Same as for Research Scientist

Same as for Research Scientist

 

Note: Research Scientists are not to be confused with postdoctoral fellows who are trainees rather than employees and are typically supported on training grants or fellowships.