Research Associates

Position Requirements

Research Associates, Senior Research Associates, and Research Scientists are appointed positions that typically require a PhD, MD, or other terminal doctoral degree. They are appointed for a 12-month period and appointments may be renewed annually. The minimum requirements and benefits for these positions vary; the title should reflect the work that will be expected within the 12-month appointment period.

Research Associate Minimum Requirements - Master's degree and a minimum of 5 years of related experience required. Or PhD, MD, or other terminal degree and 0 or more years of experience required.

Research Associate 2 Minimum Requirements - PhD, MD, or other terminal degree and a minimum of 3 years of related experience required.

Senior Research Associate Minimum Requirements - PhD, MD, or other terminal degree and a minimum of 5 years of postdoctoral experience required.

Senior Research Associate 2 Minimum Requirements - PhD, MD, or other terminal degree and a minimum of 8 years of postdoctoral experience required.

Research Scientist Minimum Requirements - PhD, MD, or other terminal degree and a minimum of 5 years of postdoctoral experience required.

* RA/SRA/RS Specialized Technical Skills (STS)

In exceptional cases, when a position requires highly specialized skills or scientific responsibilities of an extremely advanced nature (e.g. bioinformatics, engineering, computer sciences, large database management), the degree & experience requirements may be requested to be adjusted for a certain position. All RA/SRA/RS STS positions will go through a review process, and must receive an exception request approval by the SOM RA/SRA/RS Review Committee.

Requests and Other RA/SRA/RS Processes

All new position search requests, reappointment requests, non-renewal requests, promotion requests, equity requests, job description review, will be reviewed by the SOM RA/SRA/RS Review Committee. The sections below provide additional information and steps regarding RA/SRA/RS processes:

New Position Search Request

If a department needs to fill or create a new RA/SRA/RS position, the first step will be to review the position information above. Next, thoroughly review the functions, skills, qualifications, & responsibilities of each RA/SRA/RS job description template at the bottom of this page. Edit and customize the job description template to match the position's exact duties, functions, & skills to your area's needs. Afterwards, contact the RA/SRA/RS team at somRA-SRA-RS@case.edu with your initial job description. The team will review the job description, and assist in next steps to create the job posting on Interfolio through the CWRU Academic Careers page. The job requisition will then go through an approval pathway before it is posted and live. Please note that the position needs to be live for a minimum of 5 business days before the SOM can proceed with a selected candidate.

Requesting a New Appointment Offer Letter

Once the position has been posted for a minimum of 5 business days and a finalist has been identified for the position, please contact the SOM RA/SRA/RS team with the following:

• Completed Affirmative Action Form
• Candidate degree verification (a photo/copy of the candidate's highest earned degree).
• Hiring team requested salary (this will go through an equity review based on the candidate's experience compared with other current CWRU employees in similar positions in the same department and with the SOM as a whole).
• Anticipated start date (this can be adjusted on the letter as needed)

The SOM RA/SRA/RS team will then generate the New Appointment Offer Letter.

Reappointment Requests

Supervisors are required to provide RAs, SRAs, and RSs with a documented annual activity review each year. The completed Annual Activity Review Form and the employee's updated CV/Resume is required to submit a reappointment request. To submit a reappointment request, please complete the steps on this Google Form.

Promotion Requests

RA/SRA/RS promotion requests will be based on the candidate's record of performance, satisfaction of eligibility requirements, and their ability to fulfill the expectations of the new position. To submit a promotion request, please complete the steps on this Google Form.

Non-Renewals

The department/supervisor must contact the SOM RA/SRA/RS Review Committee at somRA-SRA-RS@case.edu for review and approval before initiating any Non-Renewals

RA/SRA/RS Forms & Templates 

For questions about the forms below, please contact the School of Medicine Department of Human Resources.

• Reappointment Request: RA/SRA/RS

• Promotion Request: RA/SRA/RS

• CWRU Orientation Policy, Procedure, and Review Form

• Work Safety Conditions

• Research Associate/Senior Research Associate/Research Scientist Annual Activity & Review Form

• Research Associate/Senior Research Associate/Research Scientist Affirmative Action Forms

• Research Associate/Senior Research Associate/Research Scientist Employment Application

• Research Associate Job Description Template

• Research Associate 2 Job Description Template

• Senior Research Associate Job Description Template

• Senior Research Associate 2 Job Description Template

• Research Scientist Job Description Template

Additional Information

For further information concerning the appointment of Research Associates, Senior Research Associates, and Research Scientists, please refer to the RA.SRA.RS Work Flow document.