Summary of Old Dominion University Research Appointments and Characteristics

SSRP
Requirements/ Characteristics	Research Assistant Professor	Research Associate Professor	Research Professor
Degree Requirements	PhD	PhD	PhD
Faculty Appointment	YES	YES	YES
PI Eligibility	YES*	YES*	YES*
Benefits	Full	Full	Full
Salary Range (see current rates)	Dept Scale	Dept Scale	Dept Scale

*Note: Part-time SSRP appointments are permissible with legally required benefits only (appointment @ 75% FTE or less).

Notes:

• SSRP (Self-Supporting Research Professional) positions have typically been awarded to more senior researchers with established track records who are either recruited directly into Research Faculty lines or brought into Regular Research tracks and groomed over time to become self-supporting (eg., post-doc to Research Scientist to Research Assistant Professor).
• SSRP designation is made upon recommendation of the Chair and Dean with approval by Vice President for Research and Provost.
• SSRP can be hired either through the Research Foundation or through the University. Hiring through the University requires a contract and a commitment by Department to support the SSRP if grant funding is not available.
• Colleges of Science and Engineering have special plans and procedures for utilizing F&A or PRT resources as a buffer to support SSRP faculty between grants.
• SSRP designation for a non-research faculty appointment (ie., Research Scientist) is theoretically possible at ODU, but has never been done.

Research Track Position Description Templates – To be tailored to individual project needs

Research Track Faculty (Self-Supporting Research Professionals: Assistant Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, and Research Professor) –

Research Professor/Research Associate Professor/Research Assistant Professor - Responsible for the development, conduct, and maintenance of independent and/or collaborative programs of extramurally funded research which generate salary support for the faculty member and research support staff. Doctoral degree (or terminal degree in field) and history of successful external grant funding and grants management experience are required. Research faculty may be either full time or parttime, are primarily involved in research, andnormally do not teach more than one course a semester. Tenure can not be awarded on the research faculty track, though conversion to tenure-earning appointment is possible.Promotion to higher ranks in the research faculty track is possible. The Research Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor must meet the criteria required for appointment at that rank in the relevant department.

Regular Research Track Positions: [Note progressive increase in degree requirements and supervisory/research development responsibilities]

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Recent PhD required. Independent and/or supervised research and teaching activities determined in agreement with project director.May be full or part-time and may also involve a program of structured coursework or training. [These positions are generally funded through non-Commonwealth funds and are generally time limited ( 1-2 years)].

Senior Research Scientist* – PhD required.Coordinates and provides technical direction to project staff; Performs and supervises procedures requiring high level of technical skill; Establishes appropriate internal controls for department, provides mechanisms for project monitoring; May administer funds for project budget.Other responsibilities may include: Review of scientific literature and preparation of literature summaries; Recruitment, training, and monitoring of research supportstaff; Collection of primary and secondary data; Maintenance of Human Subjects compliance documents; Development and modification of databases;Conducts statistical analyses and evaluates data; Produces graphics and summary tables for presentation and manuscripts; Compiles, writes, and submits project results to supervisor; May contribute to the development of grant proposals and presentations/reports/publications , budget preparation, and budget management.Generally limited or no teaching responsibilities.

Research Scientist I and II*– Minimum MS degree (I). PhD preferred (II).Plans and coordinates details of assigned research projects; Selects, reviews, and determines appropriate research procedures and supervises their implementation. Responsibilities may include: Review of scientific literature and preparation of literature summaries; Recruitment, training, and monitoring of research supportstaff; Collection of primary and secondary data; Maintenance of Human Subjects compliance documents; Development and modification of databases;Conducts statistical analyses and evaluates data; Produces graphics and summary tables for presentation and manuscripts; Compiles, writes, and submits project results to supervisor; May contribute to the development of grant proposals and presentations/reports/publications , budget preparation, and budget management. Generally limited or no teaching responsibilities.

Research Associate* – Minimum BA/BS degree. MS preferred.Implements details of assigned research projects; Selects, reviews, and determines appropriate research procedures. Responsibilities may include: Review of scientific literature and preparation of literature summaries; Recruitment, training, and monitoring of data collection staff; Collection of primary and secondary data; Maintenance of Human Subjects compliance documents; Development and modification of databases; Conducts statistical analyses and evaluates data; Produces graphics and summary tables for presentation and manuscripts; May contribute to the development of grant proposals and presentations/reports/publications. Generally limited or no teaching responsibilities.

*Note: Determination of specific level of appointment to be determined by complexity of project needs and degree status/experience of candidate.

For guidance in establishing an SSRP position and recruitment procedures contact ODURF staff (HR Director: Alan Bohache—Phone: 683-4293 ext. 200; email: abohache@odu.edu)