Investigators
Faculty who spend the majority of their time in extramural-funded research with the intent to develop independent research programs are assigned to the Investigator track and appointed with the intention of promotion to associate professor or professor with tenure according to school policy. This is a tenure track, and faculty recruited for appointment at the level of associate professor or professor will normally have tenure at their current institution. Occasionally, based on unique circumstances, appointments of recruited faculty at the level of associate professor are made without tenure, allowing for tenure conversion at a later date.
For more information, view the Information Guide for Appointments, Promotion and Tenure (PDF).
Investigator Ranks
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Professor
Recruit & Appoint
Start the Pre-Search Process
Before initiating a faculty search, you must follow the process detailed here to obtain approval and receive a search number.
Conduct the Search
Learn how to use Northwestern's new Faculty Recruiting System to conduct a search.
Get Offer Letter Approval
The dean's office must approve your offer letter before you send it to your finalist.
Accepted Offer Final Steps
Follow these steps after a candidate accepts an offer in order to finalize the appointment.
Appointment Actions for Current Investigators
Reappointment
Information on faculty performance review and the annual reappointment process
Promotion & Tenure
Propose faculty for promotion/tenure review in the annual promotion cycle
Change to Appointment
Process changes of basis, category, career track or tenure status
Secondary Appointment
Grant a secondary appointment to a faculty member whose primary appointment is in another Northwestern school or Feinberg department
Honorific Appointments
Nominate a faculty member for an endowed professorship or emeritus appointment
Transfer
Transfer a faculty member to your department from another Northwestern school or Feinberg department
Leave of Absence
Process a paid or unpaid leave for a current faculty member
Departures
Retirement, resignations, terminations and death