Research Faculty

For creating new positions that will be recruited, or used in a search waiver, for guidance please refer to the hiring page.

Steps for non-recruitment position changes (such as FTE change, appointment end date extensions, etc.):

1. Department completes an addendum and routes for signatures through DocuSign. The addendum must be routed to ResFacHR@colorado.edu first in the signing order
2. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) enter the HCM transaction to complete the update
3. Research Faculty HR will approve the transaction if all conditions are met, and will reach out to the department liaison for any questions or follow-up.

Steps for Research Faculty Promotions. To be used only for career track changes, not filling a vacancy or new position.

1. Department fills out the Promotion Request Form and sends via DocuSign for signatures to ResFacHR@colorado.edu, the supervisor, and the Dean, Chair, or Director 
2. If request includes a promotion to a job code that requires a higher level of degree, department emails the employee’s proof of degree to ResFacHR@colorado.edu
3. Research Faculty HR will review the request and initial the form if approved
4. If approved, department completes an addendum and routes for signatures through DocuSign. Must be routed to ResFacHR@colorado.edu first in signing order
5. Research Faculty HR initiates a new background check if needed for job code promotion
6. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) enters the promotion transactions in HCM
7. Research Faculty HR will approve the transaction if all conditions are met, and will reach out to the department liaison for any questions or follow-up

Senior Research Associate: should have a terminal degree appropriate to their field or its equivalent and a record of outstanding research in their field, and; (a) a minimum of three years’ experience as a Postdoc and three years’ experience as a Research Associate or equivalent, or a minimum of six years’ experience combined; (b) an appropriate number of publications for their field and level of position.

Requests for promotion from Research Associate to Senior Research Associate or hiring faculty at the Senior Research Associate level are approved by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please email your request and the employee’s Curriculum Vitae to ResFacHR@colorado.edu. The Curriculum Vitae will be reviewed based on the qualifications outlined above.

Unpaid Researchers Process

Loss of Funding

Research Faculty appointments (Research Associate, Sr. Research Associate, Professional Research Assistant, Sr. Professional Research Assistant, and Postdoctoral Associate) in a situation where (sponsored project) funding for salary is disrupted, may be put on a “bridge appointment” for up to three months, with Institute Director or Chair approval. The employee may retain their benefits ($0 salary, 50% FTE or greater), with the employee paying their portion of the benefits, or the employee may be appointed at a lower or zero FTE during this time period to maintain the appointment without benefits. Anything over the three month time period will require Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation approval.

• This change is effective July 1, 2021
• An addendum is required to reduce FTE and pay during the bridge appointment. The appointment must be terminated after three months unless an extension is approved (see bullet point below) or the employee becomes funded again within the three month time period.  
• Requests to extend the bridge appointment past three months can be submitted by email to ResFacHR@colorado.edu and must include the employee’s name and a justification for the extension.
• Research Faculty who no longer have funding may be offered a Research Affiliate position with the Institute or Academic Unit. This will allow them to continue to submit proposals, retain their CU Boulder email address, and other access.
• Employees already in an unpaid appointment prior to July 1, 2021 will be given until October 1, 2021 to end the appointment or request an extension

In accordance with regent policy 5.C.4(B) research faculty must receive an annual performance evaluation. The performance review cycle is July 1^st – June 30^th. Merit increases, if available, are effective January 1^st and are contingent upon a performance evaluation being completed.

Temporary Researchers, Visiting Researchers, and Research Affiliates are not required to receive an annual performance evaluation and are not eligible for merit increases.

Research Faculty HR will reach out to department HR Liaisons with instructions for the performance evaluation process each year. If you have questions, please reach out to resfachr@colorado.edu.

Merit Forms and Templates

​ Research Faculty Merit Form 2022-2023 Cycle

Most units have developed an “internal evaluation document” which includes (1) yearly accomplishments, (2) goals for the next review cycle, (3) optional comments sections for both the employee and the supervisor, and (4) signature lines for both the employee and supervisor.  The following are sample forms:

 Sample Evaluation Form #1

​ Sample Evaluation Form #2

​ Sample Evaluation Form #3

Sample Evaluation Form #4 (Postdocs)

Last updated: 9/27/22

Primary hiring scenarios for Research Faculty positions

• Open Search - Searches open for anyone to apply. This is the default search option as anyone national or international may apply.
  • Internal Search - A variation of the open search that is posted internally and only available to current CU Boulder employees.
• Targeted Search - For specific circumstances where a department would like to hire an individual widely known in their field for possessing qualifications unique to the position being filled. This option may also be used for other qualifying circumstances, such as an individual being named in a grant. Only applicable for individuals unaffiliated with the University of Colorado being hired into a regular job code. Please see the linked search waiver process for more information: https://www.colorado.edu/hr/search-waivers
• Internal Promotion – Promotional opportunity for CU Boulder student employees transitioning to regular or temporary Research Faculty positions to continue their work. Please see Internal Promotion eligibility and hiring process below for more information.
• Transfer – For Research Faculty employees in a regular position that are moving to a different department but staying in the same position with the same job duties. Transfer process detailed below. 
• Research Affiliate – Formal affiliation with the university that is unpaid. Please see job code description and process information below.

Regular Research Faculty Series

Primary Research Faculty job codes. Professional Research Assistant (job code 1310), Senior Professional Research Assistant (job code 1309) Research Associate (job code 1306), Senior Research Associate* (job code 1305), Postdoctoral Associate (job code 1312), Postdoctoral Fellow (job code 1438), and Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend (job code 3201).

Additional job code definitions available through the CU System website. 

Regular Research Faculty Series Hiring Process:

1. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - hrsc@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. If using a targeted search for a preferred external candidate, department starts the Search Waiver process
4. Department creates a posting request in the Search Committee Portal
   • Posting must include pay rate or pay range and a link to benefits
5. Talent Acquisition reviews and creates the posting
   • If the posting is:
     • Open – job posts to public job board and is available for anyone to apply
     • Internal - job posts to internal job board and is only available to CU Boulder employees
     • Targeted – job posts to internal job board. If no internal applicants apply or are selected to hire, search waiver will receive final approval and a private Avature link is created for the preferred candidate to apply
6. Department performs recruitment process and selects a candidate
7. Selected candidate uploads hiring dossier required documents in portal
   • PRAs, RAs, and Postdoctoral Associates: resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation
     • Letter of recommendation must be dated within the last 2 years. A SkillSurvey reference report may be used for the hiring dossier in lieu of a letter of recommendation
   • Postdoctoral Fellows (job codes 1438 and 3201): resume
8. Talent Acquisition sends candidate request for DOB/SSN, background check, and initiates a degree verification
9. Department completes an offer letter and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
   • Research Faculty Offer Letter Template
   • Postdoctoral Fellow Offer Letter Template (job code 1438 only)
   • Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend Offer Letter Template (job code 3201 only)
10. Once all information for the candidate has been collected and the background check is complete, Talent Acquisition pushes information to HCM and sends confirmation to Research Faculty HR and department
11. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to department and initiates I-9 

* Postdoctoral Associates and postdocs who are classified as Research Associates (or Postdoctoral Research Associates) have a five-year term limit in accordance with the Postdoctoral Scholar Guidelines. Postdoctoral Fellows' terms are governed by the conditions of their fellowship, and therefore, not subject to the university's five-year term limit.

*Senior Research Associate: should have a terminal degree appropriate to their field or its equivalent and a record of outstanding research in their field, and; (a) a minimum of three years’ experience as a Postdoc and three years’ experience as a Research Associate or equivalent, or a minimum of six years’ experience combined; (b) an appropriate number of publications for their field and level of position.

Requests for promotion from Research Associate to Senior Research Associate or hiring faculty at the Senior Research Associate level are approved by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please email your request and the employee’s Curriculum Vitae to ResFacHR@colorado.edu. The Curriculum Vitae will be reviewed based on the qualifications outlined above.

Internal Promotion

In order to improve the recruitment of Research Faculty at CU Boulder, eligible student employees may utilize the internal promotion process to transition from student employment to a regular or temporary research faculty position in order to continue their work. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates must be a current student employee at CU Boulder or terminated from a student employee position no more than 90 days prior to the start date of the Research Faculty appointment. Candidates must not have received other employment within those 90 days, at the University or externally.
• • Eligible student positions: Student Assistant, Research Assistant, and Pre-Doc Trainee
• Candidate must have been a student employee in the same department as being hired into, and working on the same project or similar scope of work. Internal promotion cannot be used to fill a vacancy or new position, it must be a continuation of student work. 

Internal Promotion Process:

1. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - hrsc@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. Research Faculty HR requests a background check for employee
4. Department emails employee’s required hiring documents to resfachr@colorado.edu 
   • Temporary appointments (job codes 1313 and 1314): resume
   • Regular appointments (PRAs, RAs, and Postdoctoral Associates): resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation, and proof of degree
   • Postdoctoral Fellows (job codes 1438 and 3201): resume and proof of degree
5. Department completes an offer letter and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
   • Research Faculty Offer Letter Template
   • Temporary Researcher Offer Letter Template
   • PostDoc Fellow Offer Letter Template (job code 1438 only)
   • Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend Offer Letter Template (job code 3201 only)
6. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to department and initiates I-9 

Transfer

An employee currently in a regular Research Faculty appointment that is moving to a different department but staying in the same position with the same job duties. Position must be staying the same. Transfer process cannot be used to fill a vacancy or new position, it must be a continuation of work.

Transfer Process:

1. Optional step, may use same position number employee is currently in: Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - hrsc@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. Research Faculty HR requests background check for employee
4. Department completes an offer letter and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
   • Research Faculty Offer Letter Template
   • Temporary Researcher Offer Letter Template
   • PostDoc Fellow Offer Letter Template (job code 1438 only)
   • Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend Offer Letter Template (job code 3201 only)
5. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to department 

Visiting Researcher – Job Code 1313

Temporary appointment to participate in a sponsored research program, cooperative agreement, or collaborative research project being conducted at the University.  Visiting Researchers are generally from another university, research institution, industry, government agency or non-profit organization.

• Eligible to work 12 months in an 18 month period
• Paid monthly salary
• Accrue leave, and appointments at 50% time or above are eligible for health and life insurance benefits
• Must go through formal search to become regular Research Faculty employee
• Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) and current research experience required

Visiting Researcher Hiring Process:

1. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. Department creates a posting request in the Search Committee Portal
   • Posting must include pay rate or pay range and a link to benefits
4. Talent Acquisition reviews and creates the posting
   • If the posting is:
     • Open – job posts to public job board and is available for anyone to apply
     • Internal – job posts to internal job board and is only available to CU Boulder employees
5. Department performs recruitment process and selects a candidate
6. Selected candidate uploads CV in portal
7. Talent Acquisition sends candidate request for DOB/SSN and initiates background check
8. Department completes an offer letter using the Visiting Researcher Offer Letter Template and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
9. Once all information for the candidate has been collected and the background check is complete, Talent Acquisition pushes information to HCM and sends confirmation to Research Faculty HR and department
10. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to department and initiates I-9  

Temporary Researcher – Job Code 1314

Research Faculty temporaries perform work defined in Regent Policy Appendix A in a temporary capacity.

• Eligible to work 9 months in a 12 month period or 12 months in an 18 month period
• Paid hourly/ bi-weekly
• Ineligible for benefits and vacation leave
• Must go through formal search to become regular Research Faculty employee

Temporary Researcher Hiring Process:

1. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. Department creates a posting request in the Search Committee Portal
   • Posting must include pay rate or pay range
4. Talent Acquisition reviews and creates the posting
   • If the posting is:
     • Open – job posts to public job board and is available for anyone to apply
     • Internal – job posts to internal job board and is only available to CU Boulder employees
5. Department performs recruitment process and selects a candidate
6. Talent Acquisition sends candidate request for DOB/SSN and initiates background check
7. Department completes an offer letter using the Temporary Researcher Offer Letter Template and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
8. Once all information for the candidate has been collected and the background check is complete, Talent Acquisition pushes information to HCM and sends confirmation to Research Faculty HR and department
9. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to department and initiates I-9

Working Retirees

Research Faculty Working Retirees – Job Codes 1630 & 1631

Employees retired from the university that will be working on research may be hired as a research faculty working retiree. Please reference APS #5054 for policy details.

• Job Code 1630: Working PERA Retiree – Research Faculty
• Job Code 1631: Working ORP Retiree – Research Faculty
• Paid either hourly/ bi-weekly or salaried/monthly
• Ineligible for benefits, leave, holidays, and merit increases

Working Retiree Hiring Process:

1.  Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2.  Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3.  Department creates a posting request in the Search Committee Portal
4. Posting must include a pay rate or pay range
5. Talent Acquisition reviews and creates the posting
6. Department performs the recruitment process and selects the candidate
7. Talent Acquisition sends candidate request for DOB/SSN and initiates background check
8.  Department completes an offer letter and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to Research Faculty HR first in signing order
   • Job Code 1630: Working PERA Retiree – Research Faculty
   • Job Code 1631: Working ORP Retiree – Research Faculty
9. Once all information for the candidate has been collected and the background check is complete, Talent Acquisition pushes information to HCM and sends a confirmation to Research Faculty HR and the department 
10. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to the department and initiates I-9

Research Affiliates are individuals from other academic, research, governmental or non-profit institutions who have a clear and documented association with the research activities occurring in the sponsoring unit. The Research Affiliate is eligible to participate, contribute or collaborate on a sponsored research program, cooperative agreement, or research project and may apply on behalf of the University for Sponsored Projects or grants. Research Affiliates are not employees of the University of Colorado Boulder and are not entitled to any rights, privileges or benefits of employment. 

• Unpaid – cannot earn salary or wages
• Ineligible for benefits
• Must go through formal search to become regular or temporary Research Faculty employee

Research Affiliate Hiring Process

1. Department or HR Service Center (Payroll and Transaction Team - HRSC@colorado.edu) creates a new position or updates a vacant position in HCM
2. Department completes the Research Faculty Position Checklist and emails to resfachr@colorado.edu
3. Research Faculty HR requests background check for candidate
4. Department completes Affiliate Agreement and routes for signatures via DocuSign. Must be routed to ResFacHR@colorado.edu first in signing order
5. Department sends the candidate the CU New Hire Personal Information Form to securely collect personal information
6. Research Faculty HR enters and approves the hire in HCM if all conditions are met. Once approved, Research Faculty HR emails confirmation to the department

Research Affiliate FAQs

• Can a Research Affiliate serve as a University of Colorado Boulder Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on sponsored project?
  • Yes, with approval from the Chair, Dean or Institute Director. See https://www.colorado.edu/ocg/principal-investigator-eligibility
• What should I do if I create intellectual property related to my role as a Research Affiliate, such as an invention or software?
  • The first step is to disclose the invention, software, or work to Venture Partners at CU Boulder using this online form. You will be assigned a case manager, who will walk you through the university’s many resources available to assist with developing and commercializing the invention.
• Does the agreement mean that the university will own all intellectual property I create?
  • No. In accordance with APS 1013, the university owns only those inventions and intellectual property created using university funding or resources, and those created in the course of university employment responsibilities.
• Will I receive a share in any revenue generated by intellectual property I create?
  • Yes. When university intellectual property is partnered (via a license agreement) to a newly formed startup company or existing company, any revenue received by the university is allocated per Regent Policy 5J, including a 25% share to the inventor(s).
• Are the intellectual property terms in the Research Affiliate agreement negotiable?
  • No. These terms are required in order to comply with the university’s policies, federal laws (including the Bayh Dole Act), and obligations to research sponsors.
• Who should I contact if my employer has questions about the agreement?
  • Please contact Venture Partners at CU Boulder vpcontact@colorado.edu