SRF Ranks
Below you will find more information regarding each rank of special research faculty.
Click the respective rank you want to learn more about.
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Postdoctoral Associate
General
Qualifications
Recent Ph.D.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean
General Expectations
The position of postdoctoral associate is intended to be a limited-term traineeship, lasting 2-4 years, during which the individual works under the supervision of one or more senior faculty mentors in preparation for a career in academe or research. Such training may include an opportunity to prepare grant proposals for which the scholar may serve as co-PI (with justification and special approval may serve as PI). If the employee remains at VT, he or she should move on to another role or rank, e.g., Res Scientist or Res Asst Prof.
Salary Guidelines
TBD
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
May serve as a co-PI with name listed second on contract or grant. In special cases with appropriate justification, post-docs may serve as PI if approved by department head, dean, and research division.
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders/ committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Role designed to enable individual to continue studies in a specialty training program while gaining practical experience in the field.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Limited responsibility for project management.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
May supervise undergraduate or graduate students in laboratory.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Typically conducts research under supervision of one or more faculty members.
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Research Scientist
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree and signficant experience
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean, research division
General Expectations
This is a senior role in a research program. By virtue of expertise and experience, the researcher makes significant contributions to the conceptualization and conduct of a project. May be involved in preparation of proposals, reports and/or publications; presentation of research results; and/or development of patents.
Salary Guidelines
Expected minimum salary:
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
May serve as PI
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders/ committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Contributes significantly to project design, execution, and interpretation.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Contributes significantly to project management.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
May have full or partial supervisory responsibility for project personnel.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Carries out independent research in field of specialization under general supervision.
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Senior Research Scientist
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the field and considerable record of research.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean, research division
General Expectations
This is the highest rank in the research faculty series for those who do not also have involvement in the graduate program. As the most experienced research faculty, these individuals often develop innovative research proposals, conduct pioneering research, and/or lead multidisciplinary project teams.
Salary Guidelines
Expected minimum salary:
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Expected to serve as PI
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Typically responsible for design, execution, and interpretation of research projects, which he or she may head.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Typically significant or complete responsibility for project(s).
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Typically significant responsibility for supervision of project personnel at all levels.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Carries out independent research in field of specialization.
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Research Professor
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Credentials consistent for
appointment to rank of professor.Approval Requirements
Standard departmental procedures, usually recommendation from departmental committee, and approval by research division
General Expectations
The "research professor" series is designed for research faculty members who will have extended appointments at VT and who are expected to interact with graduate students, serving on committees or supervising their research for example. It is not appropriate for those with shorter-term or limited appointments since this would disadvantage the students they might work with. Faculty in this series may teach one course per year or two courses in at wo-year period. They may teach more if funding is appropriately charged to the instructional budget. This series is parallel to Research Scientsit and Sr. Research Scientsit, not necessarily above it.
Salary Guidelines
Minimum salary for these ranks should be at least the average starting salary for the rank for 9-month faculty in the department/discipline. So if starting asst prof in civil engineering is paid $55,000 on an AY basis, the minimum acceptable salary for Research Asst Prof is $55,000 on CY basis.
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Expected to serve as PI
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Typically responsible for design, execution, and interpretation of research projects, which he or she may head.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Typically significant or complete responsibility for project(s).
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Typically significant responsibility for supervision of project personnel at all levels.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Carries out independent research in field of specialization.
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Research Assistant Professor
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Credentials consistent for appointment to rank of assistant professor.
Approval Requirements
Standard departmental procedures, usually recommendation from departmental committee, and approval by research division
General Expectations
The "research professor" series is designed for research faculty members who will have extended appointments at VT and who are expected to interact with graduate students, serving on committees or supervising their research for example. It is not appropriate for those with shorter-term or limited appointments since this would disadvantage the students they might work with. Faculty in this series may teach one course per year or two courses in at wo-year period. They may teach more if funding is appropriately charged to the instructional budget. This series is parallel to Research Scientsit and Sr. Research Scientsit, not necessarily above it.
Salary Guidelines
Minimum salary for these ranks should be at least the average starting salary for the rank for 9-month faculty in the department/discipline. So if starting asst prof in civil engineering is paid $55,000 on an AY basis, the minimum acceptable salary for Research Asst Prof is $55,000 on CY basis.
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
May serve as PI
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Contributes significantly to project design, execution, and interpretation.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Contributes significantly to project management.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
May have full or partial supervisory responsibility for project personnel.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Carries out independent research in field of specialization under general supervision.
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Research Associate Professor
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Credentials consistent for appointment to rank of associate professor.
Approval Requirements
Standard departmental procedures, usually recommendation from departmental committee, and approval by research division
General Expectations
The "research professor" series is designed for research faculty members who will have extended appointments at VT and who are expected to interact with graduate students, serving on committees or supervising their research for example. It is not appropriate for those with shorter-term or limited appointments since this would disadvantage the students they might work with. Faculty in this series may teach one course per year or two courses in at wo-year period. They may teach more if funding is appropriately charged to the instructional budget. This series is parallel to Research Scientsit and Sr. Research Scientsit, not necessarily above it.
Salary Guidelines
Minimum salary for these ranks should be at least the average starting salary for the rank for 9-month faculty in the department/discipline. So if starting asst prof in civil engineering is paid $55,000 on an AY basis, the minimum acceptable salary for Research Asst Prof is $55,000 on CY basis.
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Expected to serve as PI
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Typically responsible for design, execution, and interpretation of research projects, which he or she may head.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Typically significant or complete responsibility for project(s).
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Typically significant responsibility for supervision of project personnel at all levels.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Carries out independent research in field of specialization.
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Project Associate
General
Qualifications
Minimum is master's degree in field. An exception may be granted for individuals with bachelor's degrees and significant relevant experience.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean (research division for exceptions)
General Expectations
Entry level position for faculty members involved in sponsored projects which may deliver services to clients or involve program responsibilities other than traditional research. Range of responsibilities may vary from relatively new project professional to more experienced professional. Position is generally characterized as requiring supervision and evaluation by a project leader or PI, with some but limited independence, authority or responsibility for overall project.
Salary Guidelines
Salaries should be comparable to those with similar credentials and responsibilities in field.
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Not eligible.
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
May provide input into project development, but generally limited or no responsibility or authority for project or program conceptualization or resource acquisition.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
May provide input into budget preparation, hiring decisions, expenditures, but generally limited responsibility and authority.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
May supervise or coordinate work of support personnel, but generally limited supervisory responsibilities.
Program or service delivery: designing and/or delivering training; providing consultation or technical assistance to clients; developing content for manuals, reports, materials; evaluating initiatives.
Carries out project responsibilities under supervision. Applies accepted principles and practices of field. Prepares written reports, documents, manuals for review by project leaders.
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Senior Project Associate
General
Qualifications
Doctorate/terminal degree with some experience. An exception may be granted for individuals with lesser degree and substantial related experience.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean (research division for exceptions)
General Expectations
Position requires greater qualifications in either or both education and experience. Expected to function with relatively high level of independence and responsibility.
Salary Guidelines
Expected minimum salary:
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Not eligible. Exceptions may be requested and approved by research division.
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Provides significant input into project development, may write or assist in writing proposals; assists in developing new programs and interacting with stakeholder groups or funders.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Provides input into budget preparation, hiring decisions, expenditures, but may not have final authority or responsibility.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Usually has some significant supervisory responsibility for project personnel.
Program or service delivery: designing and/or delivering training; providing consultation or technical assistance to clients; developing content for manuals, reports, materials; evaluating initiatives.
Carries out project responsibilities with limited supervision. Provides high level of professional service and expertise. Creates original materials requiring high level of knowledge/experience of subject matter.
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Project Director
General
Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree and 2 or more years experience. An exception may be granted for individuals with lesser degree and related experience of substantial scope and duration.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean, research division
General Expectations
Project directors or leaders provide considerable subject matter expertise and leadership for the program, project, or center. They typically have significant independence, responsibility, and authority for all aspects of the project. May also serve as Assistant Center Director combining responsibility for business and administrative affairs of large center, effectively acting Asst. Ctr. Director.
Salary Guidelines
Expected minimum salary:
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
May serve as PI; expected to serve as director or manager of project
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Typically responsible for design and execution of program or project, which he or she may head. Significant interaction with stakeholders.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Typically significant or complete responsibility for project(s).
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Typically significant responsibility for hiring and management of project personnel at all levels.
Program or service delivery: designing and/or delivering training; providing consultation or technical assistance to clients; developing content for manuals, reports, materials; evaluating initiatives.
Designs and coordinates project services; evaluates project effectiveness; develops strategic plans; assigns resources.
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Research Associate
General
Qualifications
Minimum is master's degree in field. An exception may be granted for individuals with bachelor's degrees and significant relevant experience.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean (research division for exceptions)
General Expectations
Entry level position for research faculty members involved in sponsored projects. Range of responsibilities may vary from relatively new research professional to more experienced professional. Position is generally characterized as requiring supervision
Salary Guidelines
Salaries should be comparable to those with similar credentials and responsibilities in field.
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Not eligible.
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
May provide input into project development, but generally limited or no responsibility or authority for research conceptualization or resource acquisition.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
May provide input into budget preparation, hiring decisions, expenditures, but generally limited responsibility and authority.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
May supervise or coordinate work of support personnel, but generally limited supervisory responsibilities.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Conducts research under supervision using standard and non-standard procedures appropriate to the field. Recognizes problems and inconsistencies in data; proposes solutions, interpretations. Prepares reports.
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Senior Research Associate
General
Qualifications
Doctorate/terminal degree with some experience. An exception may be granted for individuals with lesser degree and substantial related experience.
Approval Requirements
Department head, dean (research division for exceptions)
General Expectations
Position requires greater qualifications in either or both education and experience. Expected to function with relative independence and responsibility.
Salary Guidelines
Expected minimum salary:
Typical Job Responsibilities
Elgible or expected to be Principal Investigator?
Not eligible. Exceptions may be requested and approved by RGS.
Design & initiation of research: conceiving the research project, interacting with stakeholders / committees, developing funding source(s), communicating results to stakeholders, defining unit goals, allocating resources
Contributes to research conceptualization, proposal development, and resource acquisition.
Project management: Setting priorities, acquiring resources, monitoring budgets, measuring progress, preparing reports, problem solving
Provides input into budget preparation, hiring decisions, expenditures, but may not have final authority or responsibility.
Supervisory: assigning tasks, monitoring activity, performing evaluations, recommending personnel actions, personnel mgt
Usually has some significant supervisory responsibility for project personnel.
Conducting research: collecting data, applying standard methods, writing reports, communicating results, developing new methods
Conducts research under limited supervision using standard and non-standard procedures appropriate to the field. Interprets findings. Prepares reports; presents results.
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