Chapter 13G.5
Reappointment Process
Reappointment to Research Scientist or Senior Research Scientist beyond the initial five-year appointment (and for subsequent reappointments) requires a formal review by the appropriate department or center, and with subsequent approval by the appropriate divisional/SEAS dean. This review should occur in the penultimate year of the appointment. Please see the process below.
To conduct the review, the P.I. should propose to the divisional/SEAS dean (via the divisional/SEAS associate dean) a committee that will evaluate the justification for reappointment. This committee consists of two ladder faculty (not including the P.I.).
Once the divisional/SEAS dean has approved the committee, the committee will review the following materials to determine whether or not the candidate merits reappointment:
a. A letter authored by the P.I. which describes what the Research Scientist or Senior Research Scientist has been doing, as well as the impact of their work at Harvard. Additionally:
- For Research Scientist reappointments, the letter will describe the expected length of the project and the stability of its funding, and why it is important for the research scientist to remain at Harvard.
- For Senior Research Scientist reappointments, the letter will describe the impact of their work more broadly on the field, and any mentoring or advising roles. The letter should also discuss the expected length of the project and the stability of its funding, and why it is important for the Senior Research Scientist to remain at Harvard.
b. The Research Scientist or Senior Research Scientist’s:
Curriculum vitae, including details of his/her/their Harvard affiliation
Research statement
Mentoring and advising statement, if applicable.
After reviewing all materials, the committee votes on the case and informs the P.I. or the department. After a favorable vote, the committee drafts a short case statement and sends a dossier to the associate dean for review. All electronic materials must be sent securely. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform. All materials should be sent as PDFs.
a. The case statement should include:
- The committee’s evaluation of the candidate’s professional accomplishments and future promise (and, for Senior Research Scientists, their impact on the field)
- If applicable, an evaluation of the candidate’s advising and mentoring roles
- A recommendation as to whether the candidate should be renewed.
b. The dossier should include the materials on which the committee’s evaluation is based:
- The letter authored by the P.I.
- The research scientist’s
- Curriculum vitae, including details of his/her/their Harvard affiliation
- Research statement
- Mentoring and advising statement if applicable.
If the reappointment is granted, the offer letter is issued by the department or the P.I., cc’ing the divisional/SEAS associate dean.
If the offer is accepted, the final dossier is sent to the Appointments Office via Aurora with the offer letter, and the appointment is processed in the Aurora system by the department.