Promotions in Research Scientist Track

(revised 11/8/2022)

Faculty wishing to recommend the promotion of a research scientist should consult with their department administrator for information on the procedures to be followed.

A promotion package checklist (PDF) should be used when assembling a promotion proposal which includes the following items:

  • job description (should provide detailed description of activities research scientist will be engaged in)
  • letter from department chair supporting the appointment
  • three letters of recommendation (letters may be solicited from peers and mentors but not from trainees)
  • the research scientist’s current CV (peer-reviewed publications should be listed separately from other publications; publications not yet accepted should not be listed; the candidate’s role in grants should be clearly stated; information about grants for which the candidate is PI or co-PI should include the dollar amount and length of the grant). BE SURE TO UPDATE YOUR CV TO HARVARD CHAN SCHOOL FORMAT! Click here to view.
  • an activities statement that outlines the research scientist’s’ duties, responsibilities, and plans for future research
  • supporting financial information including: proposed salary/increase, costing strings, and fringe

N.B. Research Scientist and Senior Research Scientist appointments are for three years.  Principal Research Scientist appointments are five years in length.

Once the above items are assembled into a single PDF document by the department administrator, it should be submitted to Philip Kret (90 Smith Street, 1st Floor) approximately two to three weeks before a meeting of the Research Scientist Review Committee. A schedule of the Research Scientist Review Committee meetings is available online.