Skip to Main Content
Yale School of Medicine
YSM Home

INFORMATION FOR

Investigator Track

The Investigator track emphasize excellence in individual and team science.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak

As described in the Yale Faculty Handbook:

This track is intended for investigators who demonstrate conceptual and creative leadership in research that may be carried out either as an independent investigator or as an essential contributor to a research team or core facility. If working in a collaborative research effort, an investigator’s creative contributions must be distinguished and identifiable. Faculty members in this track may engage in teaching, but their major responsibility will be the development of productive research programs. Individuals who will contribute to graduate education and who hold a primary or secondary appointment in a basic science or bridge department may be eligible for assignment to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Supplemental information can be found in the YSM Ladder Faculty Track Metrics document.

Assistant Professor on the Investigator Track

Description:

As described in the Yale Faculty Handbook:

Appointment at this rank may be considered for individuals who hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree and who have completed appropriate postdoctoral training. Published scholarship of high quality is desirable, along with promise as a scholar, as an independent investigator, or as a key member of a research team or core facility. If working in a collaborative research effort, an investigator’s creative contributions must be distinguished and identifiable. Individuals who will contribute to graduate education and who hold a primary or secondary appointment in a basic science or bridge department may be eligible for assignment to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The initial appointment is usually for, but cannot exceed, three years. There is no entitlement to reappointment. Reappointment requires evidence of excellence as a scholar, either independently or as part of a team, along with sustained funding for salary and research activities. Non- reappointment requires one year’s written notice, except in the case of current one-year appointments or reappointments, which require 60 days’ written notice.

Limits on Term Appointments. A faculty member’s total years in rank as assistant professor may not exceed six years plus approved extensions described in Section III.F. No one shall be appointed in the Investigator Track at the combined ranks of assistant professor and associate professor on term for longer than a total of 16 years, plus any approved extensions described in Section III.F. For faculty who served in the ladder ranks at other institutions, both (i) the years of appointment to the ladder ranks at Yale and (ii) all years served (except for up to two years for assistant professors and one year for associate professors with term, to allow for transition of their research programs) in the ladder ranks at other institutions together shall count toward this maximum.

Process:

Terms for this rank are for up to three years. For this track, there is a maximum of 6 years as assistant professor. Those who have held a ladder track position at another instructions should see the position-specific considerations delineated under appointments.

Appointment to assistant professor in this track does NOT require presentation to a YSM A&P Committee or the BPO.

Appointment to this rank requires:

Reappointment processes, including review requirements, are determined by departments. Once completed, departmental faculty affairs staff should enter reappointments into Workday, preferably by June 1 for new terms beginning July 1.

Associate Professor on the Investigator Track

Description:

As described in the Yale Faculty Handbook:

Candidates for appointment or promotion to the rank of associate professor in the Investigator Track must have demonstrated a strong record of conceptual and creative research leadership in independent research or in collaborative efforts as part of a team. If working in a collaborative research effort, an investigator’s creative contributions must be distinguished and identifiable. There must be clear evidence that academic growth will continue with the expectation that the investigator will be a suitable candidate for promotion to professor within ten years. There must be a record of sustained funding sufficient to cover the proportion of salary and research activities required by the investigator’s department.

The initial term of appointment may be up to five years. Reappointments may be made for terms of up to five years, provided that the total number of years in the rank of associate professor does not exceed ten. Non-reappointment requires one year’s written notice except in the case of one- year appointments or reappointments, which require 60 days’ written notice.

Limits on Term Appointments. A faculty member’s total years in rank as assistant professor may not exceed six years plus approved extensions described in Section III.F. No one shall be appointed in the Investigator Track at the combined ranks of assistant professor and associate professor on term for longer than a total of 16 years, plus any approved extensions described in Section III.F. For faculty who served in the ladder ranks at other institutions, both (i) the years of appointment to the ladder ranks at Yale and (ii) all years served (except for up to two years for assistant professors and one year for associate professors with term, to allow for transition of their research programs) in the ladder ranks at other institutions together shall count toward this maximum.

Process:

Appointment terms for this rank are for up to five years. For this track, there is a maximum of 10 years as associate professor. Those who have held a ladder track position at another instructions should see the position-specific considerations delineated under appointments.

Appointment to this rank requires:

Promotion to this rank requires:

Reappointment processes, including review requirements, are determined by departments. Once completed, departmental faculty affairs staff should upload the CV of the faculty members who are being reappointed to Interfolio. After approval by the BPO, the reappointments should be entered into Workday, preferably no later than June 1 for new terms beginning July 1.

Professor on the Investigator Track

Description:

As described in the Yale Faculty Handbook:

Candidates for appointment or promotion to the rank of professor in the Investigator Track are expected to stand in competition with the foremost leaders in their fields throughout the world. A strong record of conceptual and creative research leadership that has significantly advanced the frontiers of knowledge must be demonstrated in independent research or in collaborative efforts as part of a team. If working in a collaborative research effort, an investigator’s creative contributions must be distinguished and identifiable. There must be a record of sustained funding sufficient to cover the proportion of salary and research activities required by the investigator’s department.

The strength of commitment conferred by appointment to the rank of professor mandates that candidates in this track have attained the same level of achievement in their domains as candidates for professor in the other ladder tracks. Appointments at the rank of professor in the Investigator Track are made on a continuing basis without term but do not confer tenure. Appointments continue without extra-departmental review as long as the faculty member generates funding sufficient to cover the proportion of salary and research activities required by the investigator’s department. Funding is reviewed annually by the department. If, for any three years in the preceding five-year period, the individual’s funding is not sufficient, as determined by the department and the Office of the Dean, the appointment reverts to a term appointment that expires at the end of two additional years. Non-reappointment requires one year’s written notice.

Process:

Appointment terms for this rank are made on a continuing basis.

Appointment to this rank requires:

Promotion to this rank requires:

Appointments at the rank of professor in the Investigator Track are made on a continuing basis without term but do not confer tenure. Appointments continue without extra-department review as long as the faculty member generates funding sufficient to cover the proportion of salary and research activities required by the investigator's department. Funding is reviewed annually by the department. If, for any three years in a five-year period, the individual's funding is not sufficient, as determined by the department and the Office of the Dean, the appointment reverts to a term appointment that expires at the end of two additional years and reappointment information becomes relevant.