by Ike » Mon May 30, 2005 9:52 am
The way institutions use this title vary, but one thing is generally common, and that is the fact that in the eyes of many, only people who could not hack the real t-t position settle for Research Assistant Professor (RAP). I have seen it used for glorified postdocs except that they are paid more than postdocs. However, almost without exception, they have to pay their own salaries from external grants or loose the job. So the best generalization will be that RAPs are supported on soft money NEVER on hard money.
Many use it as a way to build publications and a decent grant portfolio and then split. Many though not all have few if any regular faculty responsibility such as teaching, committee work and student advising, instead spending most of their time on research just like postdocs normally do.
I think it can be a way to get your foot in the door, get some great experience, devote time to research, amass many publications and then find a regular t-t position. Though you can be promoted on the research track all the way to full research professor, there is always this nagging, discomfort that you are some kind of second class faculty in the department.
At academic medical centers and medical schools, they do not bother to put research in the title, they just call you assistant professor, but in essence it is the same thing - the part where you are partially or wholly supported on soft money that YOU must bring in. In some cases, these are t-t positions but you must still pay all or part of your salary. I did my postdoc at a major public medical school in the Northeast. For those who are productive and do not want to relocate, all you need is a good grant and they change your title to assistant professor, or the director of the division will write a letter of support that you will be given junior faculty status if you are applying for a grant that requires that. SO many of my colleagues simply got "promoted" from postdoc to assistant professor when they got their first grant. Since the group is very well funded, they sometimes change titles to assistant professor with the understanding that your salary will be paid for 2 - 3 years from current funding after which you have to bring in your own salary or loose the job. But in non-medical environments, they tend to put research in the title (RAP).
I hope this has been useful. Good luck.