Research Visitors

The Office for Research and Innovation advises on the process for research visitor appointments and approval, hiring activities are coordinated by the schools and units. 

Please refer to the individual school for submission procedures; Each school may have additional requirements and offer further guidance in this area. 

Research Visitor includes the following titles: 

• Visiting Scholar 
• Visiting Research Collaborator 
• Visiting Pre-doctoral Fellow 
• Research Affiliate 

Definitions

• Visiting Scholar
  An individual sponsored or employed elsewhere, usually by another university, industry or government agency. Visiting Scholars typically hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent terminal degree in their discipline or have received equivalent professional recognition. The sole purpose of such a Visiting Scholar appointment is to conduct research at Drexel.
  
  Visiting Scholars are usually paid by their sponsoring organization. Visiting Scholars are not paid a salary or employed by Drexel.
  
  Visiting Scholars must provide documentation from his/her/their affiliated sponsoring entity at the time of the initial appointment and prior to each reappointment.
  
  In some cases, a living allowance may be provided. Such funding is considered financial aid for living and/or travel expenses and is not tied to services rendered to Drexel. 

• Visiting Research Collaborator 
  An individual who may periodically visit Drexel in order to learn research techniques, use specialized facilities and/or collaborate with Drexel faculty. 
  
  Visiting Research Collaborators must have current, paid employment at the start-up company of an existing Drexel faculty member. Visiting Research Collaborators cannot simultaneously have Drexel faculty, staff or student status. Visiting Researcher Collaborators are appointed for only one year at a time These appointments are renewable. 
  
  Visiting Research Collaborators must provide documentation of paid employment at the Drexel faculty start-up company at the time of initial appointment and prior to each reappointment. 

• Visiting Pre-doctoral Fellow 
  An individual who is a current doctoral degree-seeking graduate student from another institution who is studying at Drexel for a short period, working with faculty to learn research techniques or to use specialized facilities. 
  
  Visiting Predoctoral Fellows are not employed or paid a salary by Drexel, nor do they have Drexel student status. 
  
  Visiting Pre-doctoral Fellows must provide documentation of enrollment at the time of initial appointment and prior to each reappointment. In some cases, a living allowance may be provided. Such funding is considered financial aid for living and/or travel expenses and is not tied to services rendered to Drexel. 

• Research Affiliate 
  Research professionals employed by Affiliated Institutions. Research Affiliates are not paid by or employed by Drexel, although they may be involved in collaborative research with Drexel investigators in Drexel facilities. They typically hold the PhD, MD, or equivalent terminal degree in their discipline or have received equivalent professional recognition. Research Affiliates may be appointed for a term of up to three years; such positions are always dependent upon their continued employment at the Affiliated Institution.  

• Foreign National 
  An individual who is not a United States citizen, permanent resident alien of the United States (i.e., “green card holder”), lawfully admitted temporary resident alien or refugee, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). 

• Living Allowance 
  Funds provided to a Research Visitor to assist in covering the cost of living while resident at Drexel University during the Research Visitor appointment. A Living Allowance is never tied to services rendered to Drexel and is usually paid from non-restricted funds. A Living Allowance may be paid from restricted funding only when explicitly allowed by the sponsor or donor.  

• Research Statement 
  A brief letter from the Sponsoring PI (no more than one page) that details how the Visiting Scholar would contribute to research activity within the department and gain new skills through their collaboration with Drexel faculty. 

• Affiliation/Sponsoring Entity Letter 
  A written statement on official letterhead from appointee’s sponsoring institution that confirms, 1) the appointee’s status per the institution (i.e. employed, retired, student status/expected graduation date, etc.) and 2) the intention of sponsorship throughout the duration of the specified appointment period. 
  
  The letter should include the name and contact information of an individual from the sponsoring institution who can be contacted for verification.