Senior Research Fellow

Position

Senior Research Fellows are highly experienced researchers who conduct research and research-related activities at a senior level, either independently or in a leadership role as part of research teams.  Senior Research Fellows produce publications in professional quality assured journals, monographs, refereed conference proceedings and intellectual property from their research.  Senior Research Fellows may be involved in commercial research activities and may be involved in knowledge-transfer to industry and/or the community.

A Senior Research Fellow contributes to University planning and/or governance and serves the relevant profession and/or academic discipline and contributes to the wider community.

It is expected that academic staff will be routinely at work on campus so they are available to assist students and for students to see the University as a place of active scholarship.

Expectations

Teaching, assessment and curriculum development

Senior Research Fellows may assist with teaching for personal development, as agreed with their Principal Investigators and Heads of Departments.

Research and/or commercialisation of research and/or advancing professional practice and scholarship activities

It is expected that Senior Research Fellows:

1. either produce quality assured publications within the field or discipline, either individually or as part of a group resulting in advancing knowledge within the profession/discipline; or for performance staff, contribute to advancing artistic practice through performance as a soloist or a director, as evidenced by published scholarly or critical reviews by acknowledged experts in the field
2. obtain research funding, being awarded nationally or internationally competitive external research grants and/or being awarded grants from industry

Meeting these objectives will be demonstrated by:

1. attending and presenting papers at academic conferences, both nationally and internationally
2. attending and presenting at national hui or wānanga and/or international indigenous conferences
3. forming effective research collaborations within the Department, School, Division, or outside the University.  Collaborations outside the University may be within the community, regional, national and/or international
4. engaging in scholarly activities including editing journals and other publications, membership of an editorial board, acting as a referee
5. mentoring the development of research students and new and emerging researchers
6. contributing to the commercialisation of research (new intellectual property, products and services; knowledge-transfer)
7. making scholarly contributions to the advancement of professional practice
8. attracting and successfully supervising postgraduate students.

Service to the University and the community

It is expected that Senior Research Fellows:

1. make a significant contribution to administration in their Department or School, eg:  Doctoral convenorship; and contribute to University planning and/or governance
2. represent the Department through contributions to committees, working parties etc within the Division, or the wider University (including the Māori Strategic Framework)

Meeting these objectives will be demonstrated by:

1. fostering collegiality within the Department/School
2. sharing knowledge with the community outside the University and contribute to local and national communities through involvement in the development of policy, practice, and cultural activities (eg: iwi/Māori development)
3. contributing to the research environment
4. contributing to the profession/discipline
5. transferring knowledge and technology to the community, industry or commerce, as appropriate
6. having service contributions of significance and distinction that are recognised as such by the University, if they have been in the role for several years.

Other

It is expected that Senior Research Fellow:

1. take an active interest in the activities relating to the Department
2. meet all compliance and reporting requirements
3. work collegially with staff and students in the Department, School, Division and the University.

Employment conditions

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent doctorate in appropriate field normally required.  Masters degree minimum or relevant postgraduate qualifications.
• For clinical positions within the Health Sciences Division it is normally expected the individual is registered with the appropriate registering body.
• Demonstrated capacity for independent research and a strong record of publications in refereed journals.
• May be transferring knowledge to the community and industry for the development of products and services that benefit society.

Authority to appoint

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Dean in Health Sciences)

Find out more about authority to appoint academic staff

Confirmation path

Not eligible.

Salary scale

• Senior Lecturer scale (Non Medical/Dental) (steps 1 to 6)
• Senior Lecturer scale (Medical/Dental) (steps 1 to 6)
• Senior Lecturer range beyond the bar (Non Medical/Dental) (steps 1 to 3)
• Senior Lecturer range beyond the bar (Medical/Dental) (1 step only)

View all salary scales

Performance and salary review (Senior Research Fellows below the bar)

Annual review of performance required. Senior Research Fellows progress one step on salary scale through to the top of the scale, subject to being assessed as performing at a satisfactory level.

Find out more about performance and salary review

Performance review (Senior Research Fellows beyond the bar)

Biennial review of performance required. Senior Research Fellows on the non-medical/dental scale progress one step on salary scale through to the top of the scale, subject to being assessed as performing at a satisfactory level.

Find out more about performance and salary review

Promotions (Senior Research Fellows below the bar)

Senior Research Fellows may apply for the following promotions:

• Additional salary step(s) within the Senior Lecturer salary scale; or
• Senior Research Fellow beyond the bar; or
• Research Associate Professor; or
• Research Professor.

Find out more about promotion

Promotions (Senior Research Fellows beyond the bar)

Senior Research Fellows beyond the bar may apply for the following promotions:

• Research Associate Professor; or
• Research Professor

Find out more about promotion

Research and Study Leave

Eligible with more than four years' continuous service.

Find out more about research and study leave

Employment agreements

Senior Research Fellows usually are covered by the:

• Academic Staff Collective Employment Agreement OR
• Academic Staff Individual Employment Agreement

View all employment agreements

Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF)

Evidence Portfolio required.

Visit the Research Integrity Office to find out more about the PBRF.

Other information

The Senior Research Fellow position also includes Senior Research Fellow beyond the bar.  Senor Research Fellows within the range beyond the bar are expected to perform at a higher standard than Senior Lecturers below the bar.  For example, Senior Research Fellows beyond the bar will be expected to make a significant contribution to the research environment and normally will have international standing in the advancement of knowledge and/or professional practice.

Useful information

• Conference leave policy
• Support for teaching
• Support for research
• Support for commercialisation of research