SUBJECT:  Academic Personnel Policy on Research Titles

The Office of the President issued a revised Academic Personnel Policy (APM) Section 310 on the Professional Research series, a new APM Section 311 establishing the Project (e.g., Scientist) series for the UC system, newly established UC-wide salary scales for the Project (e.g., Scientist) series, and a revised APM Section 620-14 on off-scale salaries effective August 1, 2003.

At UCSD, the new UC-wide salary scales for the Project (e.g., Scientist) series will be effective January 1, 2004, to allow an adequate transition period from UCSD's current salary scale. At the time of transition to the new salary scale, current Project Scientists in disciplines other than engineering will maintain their current salaries through the use of off-scale components. The off-scale components will be maintained for these current Project Scientists for the duration of their careers as Project Scientists at UCSD. A new salary scale also was established for Project Scientists in Business, Management, and Engineering. At UCSD, we are working with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and the Jacobs School of Engineering to coordinate the transition to the new Business, Management, and Engineering (B&E) scale as funding permits.

Academic Personnel Manual Section 310 emphasizes that appointees to the Professional Research series have research qualifications and perform research equivalent to ladder-rank faculty, engage in independent research, and can function as Principal Investigators with the major responsibility for their research programs.

Academic Personnel Manual Section 311 adds the new Project (e.g., Scientist) title UC-wide for appointees who make significant and creative contributions to a research program in any academic discipline. UCSD's 12-year experience with a campus Project Scientist series served as the foundation for the new UC-wide title. Appointees in the series are not required to conduct independent research and normally will not serve as Principal Investigators. On the General Campus and in the School of Medicine, Project Scientists may serve as co-Principal Investigators with the approval of the department. In addition, on the recommendation of the department and, if appropriate, the School of Medicine, OGSR will approve Assistant Project Scientists on the General Campus and in the School of Medicine to serve as sole Principal Investigators to assist them in launching their careers. SIO Project Scientists may serve as co-Principal Investigators with Institutional approval, and they may obtain authorization to serve as sole Principal Investigators for part of their salary support with specific justification and with SIO and OGSR approval.

The revised and new polices are available at the following websites:

APM 310 Professional Research Series:
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-310.pdf

APM 311 Project (e.g., Scientist) Series:
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-311.pdf

APM 620 Off-Scale Salaries for Appointment and Advancements:
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-620.pdf

The new salary scales for the Project (e.g., Scientist) series are
available at the following websites:

UCSD Comparison of Current and New Project Scientist Salary Scales:
http://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/offices/apo/ProfResScaleCompMatrix.pdf

Project (e.g., Scientist) Series, Fiscal Year (new scale effective
1/1/04 at UCSD):
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/proj-scientist-scale.pdf

Project (e.g., Scientist) Series, B&E, Fiscal Year (new scale effective
1/1/04 at UCSD):
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/proj-scientist-bme-scale.pdf

UCSD Academic Affairs Project Scientist Web Site
http://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/offices/apo/ProjSciSeries.htm

If you have any questions regarding these policies or their implementation at UCSD, contact Tricia Takacs, Assistant Director, Academic Personnel, at ttakacs@ucsd.edu .

                                                David R. Miller
                                                Acting Senior Vice Chancellor