Investigator-Educator Pathway
Advancing knowledge through research excellence and educational innovation
Team Science
Research and educational excellence increasingly emerge from collaborative teams and interdisciplinary partnerships. This pathway values scholarship that reflects meaningful collaboration, participation in multicenter research, the development of innovative partnerships, and translational impact advancing both scientific knowledge and clinical practice.
Scholarly Impact
Excellence can be demonstrated through a variety of means such as traditional research, educational scholarship, collaborative research networks, implementation science, translational research, or innovative combinations that create unique contributions to knowledge and practice through team-based approaches.
Promotion Requirements:
Expected Time Allocation
Clinical Service: 0% • Research: ≥50% • Teaching & Mentoring: ≥10% • Administrative Service: ≤25%
Assistant Professor
Building One’s Foundation • Years 1-6+
An Assistant Professor Investigator-Educator is establishing their scholarly identity and building toward independent expertise by demonstrating promise through developing research programs, effective teaching, meaningful service contributions, and commitment to collaborative excellence. During this time, they are exploring, learning, and building the foundation for sustained scholarship that makes a difference through innovative research and meaningful partnerships.
Timeline & Expectations
Typical Duration: 5-6 years (minimum 5 years) • Focus: Demonstrate potential and trajectory toward independent scholarship • Key Milestone: Mid-course review in Year 5 (for tenure stream faculty)
Basic Qualifications & Requirements
- Terminal degree (MD, MD/PhD, PhD, etc.) and completed postgraduate training, as appropriate
- Demonstrated experience in advanced study and research
- Evidence of ability to procure independent research funding
- Capability to submit R-level or equivalent grant within 3-year time frame
Scholarly Development
- Establish coherent research or educational program with clear trajectory
- Show sustained productivity in chosen focus area
- Develop funding to support work and career development
- Build professional networks and meaningful collaborations
- Present work at conferences and engage with scholarly community
Teaching & Mentoring Excellence
- Demonstrate effective, innovative teaching with evidence of improvement
- Engage in meaningful mentoring activities across diverse populations
- Participate in curriculum development or educational innovation
- Show evidence of educational impact and learner success
- Integrate collaborative learning approaches into teaching practices
Service & Community Engagement
- Contribute meaningfully to departmental and institutional service
- Participate in peer review and professional activities
- Show increasing sophistication in service contributions
- Demonstrate good citizenship and collaborative spirit
- Engage in team science initiatives and research partnerships
Collaborative Innovation Development
- Demonstrate awareness of translational research opportunities
- Include collaborative approaches or multicenter perspectives in research/education
- Participate in team science training and collaborative initiatives
- Show innovation in research methods or educational approaches
- Contribute to creating collaborative environments for learning and discovery
Associate Professor
Establishing Excellence • Years 5-12+
An Associate Professor Investigator-Educator has established themself as an emerging independent scholar with a coherent body of work that demonstrates growing expertise and impact. Their research or educational innovations show sustained excellence, having gained regional and national recognition. They effectively mentor others, contribute meaningfully to the scholarly community, and demonstrate leadership in advancing collaborative research and innovation.
*Evidence of High-Impact Scholarship: Impact is determined by H-index, number of citations, documented evidence in referee letters, and other measures of scholarly influence and recognition within one’s field.
Timeline & Expectations
Minimum Time: 5+ years as Assistant Professor • Focus: Sustained excellence and emerging expertise with collaborative impact • Recognition: Growing local, regional, and national visibility
Benchmarks
Research Excellence:
- Typically, ≥15 primary data peer-reviewed papers
- Consistent and continuing resources to sustain scholarship from federal, foundation, industry, or other sources
- Demonstrated capability to support active research program (noting that some scholarly themes may not require significant external funding)
Teaching Excellence:
- Usually, 5+ years of significant teaching contributions
- Consistently strong evaluations (≥4 on 1-5 scale or equivalent)
- Evidence of mentoring success with diverse populations
Research Emphasis
Research Independence & Impact
- PI of research program with evident theme and progression
- Increasing trajectory of senior/corresponding author publications
- Oral or poster presentations by PI and mentees at national/international meetings
- Invitations to give seminars and Grand Rounds
- Senior authorship on invited reviews for subspecialty journals or book chapters
External Recognition & Leadership
- Peer reviewer for multiple journals in one’s field
- Invited reviews as senior author in subspecialty journals
- Member of editorial board for relevant journals
- Member of foundation grant review study section committee
- Ad hoc member of NIH/VA/DOD/NSF study section committee
Service & Professional Leadership
- Member of institutional scientific or administrative committees
- Member of national professional society committees
- Administrative role in graduate training programs
- National recognition for excellence in research or education
- Evidence of good citizenship and collaborative spirit in service
Education Emphasis
- Teaching in graduate and/or medical school courses
- Co-mentor on F or K awards or other career development awards
- Supervisor of undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows
- Faculty trainer for T32 or other NIH training programs
- Member of academic national or international education committee
Educational Recognition & Impact
- Institutional or national recognition for education or mentoring
- Evidence of commitment to supporting collaborative learning environments
- Development of new credit-bearing didactic courses
- Creation of high-impact educational content with documented outcomes
- Educational innovations with evidence of effectiveness and adoption
Innovative Educational Excellence
- Development of innovative curricula using collaborative learning approaches
- Mentoring programs supporting emerging researchers across disciplines
- Educational research on collaborative learning and team-based approaches
- Technology-enhanced education or simulation-based training development
- Assessment innovations that promote collaborative learning and excellence
Combined Approach
- Research that informs and enhances educational practice
- Educational innovations grounded in rigorous research evidence
- Publications spanning both research and education domains
- Mentoring that combines research training and educational development
- Service bridging research and educational communities effectively
Unique Synergistic Contributions
- Innovations that advance both research and education simultaneously
- Cross-disciplinary collaborations with measurable impact
- Recognition in both research and educational communities
- Grant funding that supports integrated, innovative approaches
- Leadership roles spanning multiple scholarly domains
Translational Integration
- Research-education integration that advances clinical practice
- Training programs that develop collaborative research-education leaders
- Community partnerships that combine research and education
- Policy influence through evidence-based educational innovations
- Scholarship addressing translational barriers in research and education
Team Science and Collaboration
- Leadership or meaningful participation in multicenter research studies
- Collaborative research networks with sustained partnerships
- Consortium research with documented individual contributions
- Cross-institutional collaborative projects with measurable impact
- Industry-sponsored clinical trials with significant leadership roles
Team Science Leadership
- Development of collaborative research infrastructure or resources
- Leadership in interdisciplinary research centers or initiatives
- Facilitation of research collaborations across institutions
- Coordination of multi-investigator research programs
- Mentoring in team science approaches and collaborative research
Translational Collaboration Impact
- Research partnerships that advance clinical care delivery
- Implementation science collaborations with healthcare systems
- Community-academic partnerships with documented outcomes
- Policy-relevant research conducted through collaborative teams
- International collaborations with significant scientific impact
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Development of novel research methodologies or technologies
- Creation of innovative research tools, models, or platforms
- Pioneering work that opens new research directions
- Cross-disciplinary innovations with measurable impact
- Technology transfer from laboratory to practical application
Commercialization & Translation
- Patents with clear pathway to implementation
- Successful startup companies or commercial partnerships
- Licensed technologies with documented adoption
- Products or services that address real-world challenges
- Evidence of market validation and commercial success
Educational Innovation
- Development of new credit-bearing courses with broad adoption
- High-impact educational content with measurable outcomes
- Educational technologies or platforms with widespread use
- Novel assessment methods or educational tools
- Innovative training programs with documented effectiveness
Professor
Leading Educational Transformation • Years 10-15+
A Professor Investigator-Educator has established themself as a recognized leader whose work significantly influences their field and creates lasting impact on society. Their sustained contributions demonstrate consistent excellence over time, with national and international recognition. They are known for innovative scholarship, exceptional mentoring, and leadership that advances both knowledge and collaborative research in the academic community and beyond.
*Evidence of High Impact Scholarship: Impact is determined by H-index, number of citations, documented evidence in referee letters, and other measures of scholarly influence and recognition within one’s field.
Timeline & Expectations
Minimum Time: 5-7 years as Associate Professor • Focus: Sustained leadership with transformative national/international impact • Legacy: Significant influence on field and next generation of scholars
Benchmarks
Research Leadership:
- Typically, ≥40 total primary data peer-reviewed papers
- Consistent track record of sustained scholarship funding from diverse sources (for tenure stream faculty)
- Editor/Associate Editor of reputable journal
- Permanent member of NIH/VA/DOD/NSF study section
Educational Leadership:
- Typically, ≥10-12 years of significant teaching contributions
- Former trainees achieving independent PI status
- Director-level educational program leadership
- National recognition for educational excellence
Research Leadership & Excellence
- Consistent track record of R01 or equivalent funding over time
- Editor or Associate Editor of reputable journal
- Permanent Member of NIH/VA/DOD/NSF study section committee
- Lecture/Award from National or International Society
- Invited reviews as senior author for high impact journals or book editor
Educational Leadership & Legacy
- Director of graduate program or UPSOM course
- Director or Co-Director of T32 or other NIH training program
- Election to University of Pittsburgh SOM Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators
- Former trainees achieving independent PI status
- Recognition for transformative educational contributions
Administrative & Service Leadership
- Division or Department leadership role
- Institute or Center leader
- Leader of national or international professional society or committee
- National recognition for excellence in research, education, or service
- Chair of standing study section
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Inventor on patents with clear commercial or clinical application
- Development, publication, or commercialization of novel devices, models, or methodologies
- Entrepreneurial success, technology transfer, or commercial impact
- Cross-disciplinary leadership with transformative outcomes
- Vision and strategy that advances institutional and field missions
Collaborative Leadership & Team Science
- National leadership in collaborative research networks or consortia
- Sustained team science impact with documented collaborative outcomes
- Leadership of multicenter studies or cross-institutional initiatives
- Recognition as a thought leader in collaborative research approaches
- Legacy of collaborative scholars and leaders trained under one’s guidance
Institutional & Professional Service
- Leader of scientific or educational professional society
- Chair of standing study section
- Member or leader of institutional education or research committee (e.g., IRB, IACUC)
- Major awards and honors recognizing sustained excellence and impact
- Leadership roles that transform institutions or professional practices
Tenure
Research and Educational Scholarship Excellence – Primary Criterion
Candidates must demonstrate scholarly achievement at the highest level equivalent to traditional research-focused pathways:
- Publication Portfolio: Sustained program of high-impact research publications and/or educational scholarship with documented scholarly influence and national/international recognition
- External Funding: Consistent track record of extramural funding as PI or Co-PI, demonstrating ability to sustain an active, independent research or educational research program
- Scholarly Impact: Demonstrated influence through H-index, citations, and measurable impact on scientific knowledge and/or educational practice
- Editorial Leadership: Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Board member of reputable journals with documented scholarly influence
- Peer Recognition: External validation through awards, invited presentations, permanent study section membership, and consultation roles at national/international level
Excellence in Research and/or Educational Innovation
In addition to meeting scholarship requirements:
- Research Program: Active, productive research program with clear trajectory and sustained impact on scientific knowledge (for research emphasis)
- Educational Innovation: Transformative educational scholarship that advances teaching, learning, or training with documented adoption and impact (for education emphasis)
- Integrated Approach: Evidence of synergistic contributions that advance both research and education simultaneously (for combined approach)
- Collaborative Leadership: Leadership in team science, multicenter studies, or collaborative educational initiatives with documented outcomes
National Recognition & Professional Impact
- Professional Leadership: Leadership roles in national professional societies, study sections, or expert panels
- Research/Educational Recognition: National/international recognition for research excellence and/or educational innovation through major awards, lectureships, or society honors
- Policy Influence: Contributions to scientific policy, educational standards, or practice guidelines through scholarship
- Mentoring Excellence: Track record of mentoring successful independent scholars and researchers
Transformative Impact and Legacy
- Field Advancement: Research discoveries, educational innovations, or integrated approaches that significantly advance the field
- Institutional Leadership: Sustained leadership that positions institution as a leader in research and/or educational excellence
- Scholar Development: Former trainees achieving independent PI status or educational leadership positions
- Innovation Legacy: Creation of programs, methodologies, or resources with lasting impact on research and/or education
- Assistant Professors: Tenure must be conferred within 10 years of appointment to tenure stream
- Associate Professors: Tenure must be conferred within 4 years of appointment to tenure stream
- Alternative Pathway: Promotion to Associate Professor in tenure stream may occur in lieu of mid-course review for exceptional candidates
- Regular Review: Ongoing assessment with clear milestones and mentoring support for sustained scholarly excellence
Documentation Requirements
Tenure candidates must provide robust evidence of scholarly impact through traditional academic metrics (H-index, citations, peer-reviewed publications) and field-appropriate measures (research discoveries, educational innovations, collaborative contributions). Consistent extramural funding as PI or Co-PI is required, demonstrating sustained ability to lead an independent scholarly program. Candidates must demonstrate scholarship at the highest academic standards while creating transformative contributions to knowledge and/or educational practice.