Academic Career Pathways (ACP)
The purpose of the Academic Career Pathways (ACP) scheme is to recognise and reward outstanding contributions and celebrate academic achievement through promotion and/or pay progression. See the full Guidance on ACP.
Appointment and Promotion to SRA
Promotion to SRA for researchers already employed in the Department will be assessed by the Head or a Deputy Head of Department and a Senior Member of the Faculty Board. They will make their recommendation for approval by the Faculty Board. The Human Resources Division will not process contracts for SRA status without this approval. The full paperwork outlined below needs be sent by the PI to reach the Secretary to the Faculty Board (departmental-secretary@cst.cam.ac.uk) electronically at least two weeks before the date of the meeting. Cases missing this deadline will need to wait until the following meeting. Advance notice that a case will be coming would be helpful before that, for the purpose of planning the agenda, if possible. Consult the list of the meeting dates for the current year for the faculty board. Where appointments to SRA for incoming researchers fall outside of the date of a Faculty Board meeting, these will be approved by the Head or Deputy Head of Department and the Chair of Faculty Board, with their delegated powers.
Senior Research Associate (grade 9) is for researchers with at least three years experience as a postdoctoral Research Associate, or equivalent. A Senior Research Associate may have full operational responsibility for a major project or research facility and may hold research grants in their own right. They will have demonstrated a high level of competence and an independent standing as researchers. The role profile of an SRA on the University's HR site may help to give guidance on the types of responsibilities expected of someone working at the level of an SRA. The case studies below of Research Associates in the Computer Lab who have been promoted to Senior Research Associate may also be helpful.
Faculty Board has approved the ruling that SRAs can be a co-investigator on a grant and in exceptional circumstances they can be a principal investigator, provided there is mentoring from a senior academic as a co-investigator. This is subject to the approval by the Head of Department.
Paperwork required for the appointment or promotion to SRA is as follows:
- A case for promotion/appointment to SRA by the relevant Principal Investigator. The PI must be a member of academic staff. The case should include the proposed effective date of the promotion (normally a date following the approval of Faculty Board) and confirmation that funding is available. Dates for appointment to SRA will fall in line with the recruitment process for that role.
- Two references (one may be a senior academic within the Department, and at least one external). The reference letters should explicitly address the SRA's status as an independent researcher and explain their contribution to the field. The referees should not be close collaborators of the proposed SRA. References should be requested by the PI and returned directly to them or in the case of appointment to SRA, references will be requested through the normal appointment process.
- Up-to-date CV of the person to be appointed / promoted, including publications.
- In the case of appointment to SRA, any other paperwork requested in the appointment process should be included.
See also the case studies of Research Associates who have been promoted to Senior Research Associate.
Senior Researcher Promotion
Details of the 2024 process are available on the HR website.
Reward Schemes
See the links to the various reward schemes.