Offer Template for NTE Team Scientist at Ranks of ACADEMIC FT Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor (5/12/15)
typically at Lurie Children’s Hospital, RIC, or Stroger Cook County Hospital, and no salary from NU
(Remove this header and insert electronic letterhead or print on letterhead.)
DATE
NAME, DEGREE(s)
ADDRESS
Dear Dr. XXXXX:
We are delighted by your interest in a position on the faculty of the Department of XXXXX in the
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM). This letter sets forth the terms that will
govern your appointment at Northwestern University and employment by [insert organization]. Nothing
in this letter is intended to override the terms established by the existing Northwestern University
Faculty Handbook (http://www.northwestern.edu/provost/docs/faculty-handbook-2015.pdf).
Faculty Appointment
You will be proposed for appointment to the full-time faculty as an XXXX Professor of XXXX for an initial
term of three (3) years, effective [date]. Your appointment will be on the non-tenure-eligible team
scientist track, with your primary domain of activity being [select one: research or education]. Your
faculty appointment, including your title and term of appointment, is subject to approval [for Assistant
Professor: by the Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine and Provost of the University OR for
Associate and full Professor: by the Appointment, Promotions, and Tenure Committee of the medical
school, the Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine, and Provost of the University]. [I am OR We are (if
more than one individual signs this letter)] excited at the prospect of your acceptance of this role and
anticipate no problems obtaining the necessary approvals.
Your faculty appointment is renewable at the discretion of the Chair of XXXX and the Dean of the
Feinberg School of Medicine. Procedures for renewal of your faculty appointment and the conditions
governing appointment and promotion on the team scientist track are set forth in the Feinberg School of
Medicine’s Information Guide for Appointments, Promotion and Tenure; you should review this carefully.
Your position in the Department of XXXXX is contingent upon your maintaining this appointment in good
standing at all times.
During the term of your appointment, you will be subject to the terms of the Northwestern University
Faculty Handbook as well as all other Feinberg School of Medicine and University policies. As a Feinberg
School of Medicine faculty member, you will also be expected to abide by Northwestern University’s
Policy on Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, as well as Feinberg’s Disclosure and
Professional Integrity Policy, both of which are located on the FSM Office for Regulatory Affairs website
(http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/compliance/resources/coi-and-prof-integrity/coi-policypage.html).
FirstName LastName, Degree(s)
Date
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Prior to commencement of your appointment, you will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship,
permanent resident status, or documentation of a valid visa that permits your employment at
Northwestern, and this position is contingent upon compliance with Form I-9 completion timelines and
confirmation of employment authorization by E-Verify. Maintenance of appropriate work authorization
is required as a condition of your continued appointment at Northwestern. Appointment to the faculty
is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check. You may be required to complete
forms in order for the University to conduct this check.
Office space, secretarial support, and necessary office equipment will be provided by the department [or
where appropriate: from resources assigned to the Division of XXXXX]. [If applicable, include information
about research space as well.]
Education and Teaching Responsibilities
All faculty members of the Department of XXXX participate in the educational programs of the
department and medical school, which may include teaching service, training, preceptorship, mentoring,
etc. It is an important principle of the department that we are all committed to participate in teaching
programs for our students, housestaff, and fellows. [FOR FACULTY IN THE RESEARCH DOMAIN] You will
be expected to contribute to the educational mission of the department and school by [insert specific
teaching duties and educational roles for this candidate].
[FOR FACULTY IN THE EDUCATIONAL DOMAIN] All faculty entering the team scientist track in the
educational domain are expected to contribute their skills, expertise, and effort to the development,
leadership, and evaluation of educational programs. Your responsibilities will include [describe
educational activities, leadership roles, etc.].
To assist you in building your educational program, the department will provide the following resources:
[describe as appropriate].
Student education is an important mission of the medical school, and it is an expectation that all faculty
will contribute to Feinberg’s educational mission. The medical school is committed to the principle that
educational relationships should be one of mutual respect between teacher and learner. To that end, it
is expected that faculty members will abide by the principles outlined in the guide to a Safe and Healthy
Learning Environment (http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/education/current-students/importantinformation/safe-healthy-environment/).
[IF APPLICABLE] Research Responsibilities and Support
[FOR FACULTY IN THE RESEARCH DOMAIN] All faculty entering the team scientist track in the research
domain are expected to contribute their skills, expertise, and effort as key collaborators—typically as coinvestigators, but potentially as Principal Investigators—in obtaining, sustaining, and implementing
programmatic research at Northwestern. You will be responsible for contributing to research programs
through the provision of expertise in the area(s) of XXXXX. [Describe as appropriate.]
To assist you with your research activities, the department will provide the following resources:
[describe as appropriate]. Please note that there are also many Northwestern Core Support Services
and personnel available to assist you in your research endeavors. These include the various core
facilities [list relevant cores] as well as the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences
FirstName LastName, Degree(s)
Date
Page 3 of 4
(NUCATS) Institute.
You will be expected, eventually, to cover a significant portion of your salary through participation in
funded research programs, typically as a co-investigator but also, potentially, as a Principal Investigator.
Your reappointment, mix of professional activities, and/or compensation level will be subject to your
ability to meet the department’s requirements for contributing effort to programmatic research.
Compensation and Benefits
Annual Salary
In your role as a team scientist, you will have a guaranteed minimum salary of $XXXXX per year from
[insert organization] for the first three (3) years [modify as appropriate] you are on the faculty, assuming
satisfactory performance and satisfactory discharge of the administrative duties you assume. Your
compensation will be paid in accordance with standard payroll procedures, and will be subject to all
applicable withholdings. In order to maintain your faculty appointment you must remain employed in
good standing at [insert organization], unless an exception is requested of and approved by the medical
school.
As a member of the team scientist track, you will be expected to participate in funded research or
educational programs sufficient, eventually, to cover a significant portion of your base salary, the
method of which is negotiated yearly with your Division Director [if relevant] and the Chair.
[OPTIONAL] In addition to the base compensation detailed above, you will receive a signing bonus of
$XXXXX payable to you in the form of a loan during your first month of employment. This loan will be
forgiven over the course of your first X years at [insert organization]. Forgiveness of the principal and
interest will be reported as taxable income in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and will be
factored into the evaluation of your total compensation (i.e., excluding the impact of imputed interest,
the amortization of this forgivable loan will add $XXXXX per year to your compensation). If you leave
[insert organization] prior to completing X years, you will be required to pay back a prorated amount of
the principal and interest of this loan.
Moving Expenses
Moving expenses up to one month’s gross salary ($XXXX) [or specific dollar amount] will be provided to
assist in your relocation to Chicago. You are expected to obtain estimates from movers, and accept the
lowest reasonable bid. Copies of estimates and reasonably detailed invoices must be submitted to the
department to obtain reimbursement. [OPTIONAL: We expect that you will need to return to Chicago to
find a home, and we, of course, will cover those travel costs.] Some or all of the reimbursed moving
expenses may be considered taxable income to you in accordance with applicable law.
Benefits
As an academic full-time XXXXX Professor, you will be eligible to receive a tuition benefit through
Northwestern University. Should you be interested in details of the benefits, more can be found on
Northwestern University’s website at www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits. The University must retain
the right to modify or rescind any portion of its benefits packages at any time. [add in details of other
FirstName LastName, Degree(s)
Date
Page 4 of 4
plans as appropriate] You will be eligible for benefits according to the terms of applicable plans as they
may exist from time to time.
The proposal described in this letter is subject to and made in reliance on the accuracy and
completeness of information you have provided regarding your prior education, training, and
employment history.
We are extremely enthusiastic about your joining the faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine and believe that you have all the skills and attributes to have a highly successful and
enjoyable career with us.
Sincerely,