Research Titles and Staffing
Research Career Ladder
Effective February 1, 2023, the review and approval of research staff personnel actions in Workday moved to Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness (HROE). The review of research staff personnel actions has been shared amongst Talent Management and the Classification and Compensation office.
- Contact HROE’s Classification and Compensation department for all position actions on research positions including Create New Position, One Time Payment, Change Job, Add Additional Job, Request Compensation Change, Business Title Change, Primary Job Switch, or Edit Position Restrictions. Contact info: 979-845-4170 or hrcomp@tamu.edu.
- Contact HROE’s Talent Management department for recruiting actions pertaining to research positions including the job requisition, hiring, and onboarding of research staff. Contact info: 979-845-5154 or jobs@tamu.edu.
In the 31.01.01.M7 Employee Compensation Administration Rule, it states that the Vice President for Research (VPR) or designee approves the full lower, middle and upper band ranges of applicable non-faculty research titles, and the Vice President for Research or designee approves the rates for all excluded non-faculty research positions. Specifically, the following is a list of the titles that will require VPR approval:
- Research Assistant
- Research Associate
- Senior Research Associate
- Research Specialist I
- Research Specialist II
- Research Specialist III
- Research Specialist IV
- Research Specialist V
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Assistant Research Scientist
- Associate Research Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Senior Research Scientist
For compensation actions related to the above positions outside the Division of Research (DOR), the VPR has delegated these approvals to Brian Payne, Director of Classification and Compensation. For positions within DOR, the VPR or designee will still approve all requests.
Memos need to be addressed to the Vice President for Research, Dr. Jack Baldauf. If the request is outside the Division of Research, it will still list Dr. Jack Baldauf, but the HR Generalist will route the request to Brian Payne for designee approval. We ask that Dr. Baldauf is still listed on the memo in case Brian Payne is out and Dr. Baldauf is the one to sign the salary memo.
Title Code | Title | Pay Grade | Recommended Education and Experience | FLSA |
---|---|---|---|---|
8544 | Research Assistant | 5 | Appropriate bachelor’s or equivalent combination of education and experience. | Exempt |
8545 | Research Associate | 7 | Bachelor’s and 2 years’ relevant professional experience* | Exempt |
8554 | Senior Research Associate | 9 | Bachelor’s and 4 years’ relevant professional experience* | Exempt |
Research Specialist Track
Title Code | Title | Pay Grade | Recommended Education and Experience | FLSA |
---|---|---|---|---|
8556 | Research Specialist I | 10 | Bachelor’s and 4 years’ related experience* | Exempt |
8551 | Research Specialist II | 11 | Bachelor’s and 6 years’ related experience* | Exempt |
8552 | Research Specialist III | 12 | Bachelor’s and 8 years’ related experience* | Exempt |
8557 | Research Specialist IV | 13 | Bachelor’s and 10 years’ related experience* | Exempt |
8553 | Research Specialist V | 14 | Bachelor’s and 12 years’ related experience* | Exempt |
As a note, departments can post System-wide Pay Plan research positions within the lower and middle band range.
Research Scientist Track
Title Code | Title | Pay Grade | Recommended Education and Experience | FLSA | TAMU Minimum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8630 | Postdoctoral Research Associate | Commensurate | Appropriate PhD** | Exempt | $50,000.00 |
8627 | Assistant Research Scientist | Commensurate | Appropriate PhD and relevant professional experience.** | Exempt | TBD |
8628 | Associate Research Scientist | Commensurate | Appropriate PhD and 3 years’ relevant professional experience.** | Exempt | TBD |
8634 | Research Scientist | Commensurate | Appropriate PhD and 6 years’ relevant professional experience.** | Exempt | TBD |
8637 | Senior Research Scientist | Commensurate | Appropriate PhD and 8 years’ relevant professional experience.** | Exempt | TBD |
As a note, the above titles are excluded from the System-wide Pay Plan and do not have an assigned pay grade. The Classification and Compensation office is in the process of gathering market data for research titles. For titles with a TBD, please contact the Class & Comp office at 979-845-4170 or by email at hrcomp@tamu.edu. Departments may set higher rates based on industry and these must be on file with HROE Class & Comp.