All new research associate hires must incorporate the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) approval of the position description:

• Email the draft to etagelppA lehcaR or ude[dot]iupui[at]rhdaca for approval. These approvals will be saved by Rachel Applegate and reviewed by HR before a hire document is approved. 
  • In the unit, keep the offer letter; research associate personnel files are kept in the unit. 
• You are encouraged to do a search, but not required. Any vacancy, interview, and offer eDocs will be approved without delay, if there is a position description on file.
• The ‘visiting research associate’ post (FV8) is still available for temporary appointments.
• Research associates should be performing research under the direction of a research scientist or other faculty: “The title of Research Associate is limited to those research personnel who are not qualified for a research rank but whose positions call for full-time research under the supervision of a faculty member or a person holding a research rank. Persons working at the University as postdoctoral fellows shall be designated as postdoctoral fellows.”  ACA 20

Include in the position description:

• Title, department, and unit
• Anticipated salary range; whether this is a new or replacement position
• Description of duties. Provide percentages for different duties (e.g. 30% working with community partners)

If the description does not seem to fit the classification of research associate, you will be contacted to provide more information or to consider a different appointment type.  

In your offer letter include the expected term of service and indicate how and when someone might be notified that the position is ending.  

About research associates:

• Primary focus is on research duties.
• Minimum qualifications of a masters degree.
  • If someone possesses a doctoral degree, consider a postdoc or a research scientist position. Postdocs and research associates primarily assist with research; research scientists are expected to lead. Both research scientists and research associates have the same dismissal period, “at least one pay period prior to end of present appointment.”
• Consider a staff position, especially if the need is anticipated to be relatively stable/long-lasting.
  • Staff can serve as PIs and project directors.
  • Staff have the ability to be promoted and campus procedures for grievances; research associates do not.

Reviewed and Revised 7/26/2021. Review requirement came into effect 7/1/2019.