Faculty-Level Clinical Research Appointments Within the Division of Research

SUBJECT:

FACULTY-LEVEL CLINICAL RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS WITHIN THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH

 Effective Date:
09/15/2020 		Policy Number:
10.1.5
Supersedes:
N/A 		Page 1 of 3
Responsible Authority:
Vice President, Research

I. BACKGROUND

Faculty-level, clinical research appointments, identified by the titles of Clinical Research Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Associate Professor or Clinical Research Professor may be made in one of the Pillar Institutes and are intended to offer research opportunities to individuals who hold full-time positions as physicians and clinical researchers at an institution that has in place a research affiliation agreement with Florida Atlantic University's (FAU).

Appointees are professional researchers who are interested in, and capable of, independent investigation and publishing research results, and support the research mission of the University by assisting a pillar to achieve its research goals. Their research should complement the research programs of regular faculty members in the pillar. Clinical Research faculty can have courtesy, unpaid or voluntary, appointments in one of FAU's four pillars. Clinical affiliate faculty appointments in the College of Medicine are issued by the College's Committee on Appointments and Promotions and require a separate application.

Clinical Research faculty are voluntary, non-compensated, part-time positions, reporting entirely within the Division of Research. Clinical Research faculty may serve as principal investigators or project directors on research awards and are expected to seek independent external funding that aligns with FAU's mission. University policies pertain to faculty-level research appointees, including but not limited to the University Patent Policy, Policy on Faculty Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest, Policy on Integrity in Research and Procedures for Reviewing Alleged Misconduct, Policy on Employment of Relatives, and the Annual Leave Policy for Contract and Grant Employees

II. PROCEDURES

Clinical research faculty appointments typically are based on nominations to the Vice President for Research or Pillar Director. Requirements for appointments include, but are not limited to

  • Having obtained the prior written approval of the Institute Director, indicating that the individual fulfills Institute eligibility requirements;
  • Their organization having a research affiliation agreement with FAU;
  • Their organization having certified in writing to FAU Office of Sponsored Programs that it has an appropriate and sufficient research compliance infrastructure; and
  • The appointee being responsible to monitor and track grant expenditures and agreeing to manage the research funding following both FAU and sponsor rules and regulations.

The Pillar director forwards the recommendation packet for the faculty-level clinical research appointment to the Vice President for Research. This recommendation packet must include a resume, supporting documents that would be appropriate for a regular faculty appointment, and a draft letter of appointment. All faculty members review the application and advise the Pillar Director and Vice President on the proposed appointment. While provisional appointments can be made by the pillar director and Vice President for Research in cases where a timely decision is needed, final decisions require the faculty input. The letter of appointment must specify the terms of appointment. If the Vice President for Research approves the appointment, the pillar will send the official letter of appointment to the appointee. No oral or written offer of appointment may be extended until approval of the Vice President for Research has been received.

III. SALARY AND BENEFITS

Clinical Research faculty appointments are voluntary positions without salary support. The University has no obligation of payment to appointees.

IV. REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE

A clinical research faculty member's research activity, including publications, grant applications, and external funding, shall be reviewed at the time of any reappointment by the Vice President for Research or designee and the Pillar Director. Appointees are normally judged by research activity, such as external funding and peer-reviewed publications, as well as their research alignment with FAU's interests.

V. PROCEDURES FOR REAPPOINTMENT

For reappointment, the clinical research faculty member within an institute must be reviewed and approved by the Pillar Director then by the Vice President for Research. Reappointments follow procedures set out by the pillar, but appointments are typically for three years. This should include an evaluation of the appointee's research activity and contribution to the Pillar research effort, as well as the appointee's record with respect to securing independent external funding. The reappointment procedure is to be evidenced by the issuance of a continuing appointment letter, a copy of which must be sent to the Division of Research.

POLICY APPROVAL

Executed signature pages are available in the Initiating Authority Office