The title of Senior Research Investigator (SRI) is available to senior academic staff who are interested in continuing an association with the Imperial following full retirement from the College or another Higher Education Institution and with whom the College wishes to retain a collaborative relationship.

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Extra guidance and support

Guidance document

This page has been designed to act as a point of reference. For further details please refer to the full SRI guidance.

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Appoint an SRI

Speak to the Staff Hub to get your questions answered or to appoint an SRI.

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Staff Guidance

What will the role involve?
  • You will be able to apply for research grants and contracts as a named principal investigator subject to the regulations specified by the Research Councils, or other sponsors, and university procedures.
  • With the agreement of the Head of Department/Division you will be able to supervise research students, again subject to the normal university procedures governing the appointment of supervisors.
  • You will provide expert advice internally and externally
  • You will publish research and receive support for your research at Imperial. This support may take the form of access to equipment, facilities and resources that will be agreed in advance with the Head of Department/Division.
  • You will be employed for one day per week (0.2 FTE) on a day of your choice. 
Further guidance
  • You are able to apply for advertised roles at Imperial or another HEI on the basis that, if you are in an Imperial pension scheme, you meet the short break in service requirement (normally one month) required by the scheme prior to re-employment. 
  • You are entitled to receive Imperial benefits in line with other staff.  This includes an annual leave entitlement of five holiday days and three mandatory days. 

If you have any queries, please contact the HR Staff Hub.

Managers' Guidance

What you need to know
  • Appointment of a Senior Research Investigator (SRI) may only be made following full retirement from Imperial or another Higher Education Institution. However, they may be employed elsewhere provided their current employer has given permission for them to undertake research with Imperial. 
  • Whilst employed as a SRI, individuals are able to apply for advertised roles at the university or another HEI on the basis that, if the individual is a member of an Imperial pension scheme, they meet the short break in service requirement (normally one month) as required by the scheme prior to re-employment.
  • Contracts are normally issued on an annual basis, as a one year fixed term appointment. Appointments made for two years or longer will incur statutory redundancy pay costs at the end of appointment. There must be a seven day break in service (Sunday - Saturday) between the end of an individual’s current employment and the start of the new SRI contract. Additionally, where the current employment ends in retirement (and the member of staff is in an Imperial pension scheme), the one calendar month break in service mentioned above will apply.
  • Employment will be for one day per week (0.2 FTE) on a day of the SRI’s choice or by a mutually agreed, flexible arrangement.  If an SRI is not being returned in the REF, the stipulation around 0.2 FTE will not apply.
  • To ensure compliance with the pay rate, the salaries of all SRI’s will be reviewed annually.
  • SRIs are included as part of Imperial's annual pay relativity exercise and your department will be required to review the SRI’s contribution along with other staff in the normal manner.
  • SRIs may be given an Emeritus title but may not be offered association as a Distinguished Research Fellow or Visiting Professor/Reader
Role and responsibilities of a Senior Research Investigator
  • They will be able to apply for research grants and contracts as a named principal investigator subject to the regulations specified by the Research Councils, or other sponsors, and university procedures.
  • With the agreement of the Head of Department/Division they will be able to supervise research students, again subject to the normal university procedures governing the appointment of supervisors.
  • They will provide expert advice internally and externally.
  • They will publish research and receive support for their research at Imperial. This may be in the form of access to equipment, facilities and resources and will be as agreed in advance with the Head of Department/Division. 
How to appoint a Senior Research Investigator

Before an offer of appointment is made, the Head of Department should agree with the individual:

    • whether they will be able to take leave during their working time or whether this is not possible and instead they will be paid an additional amount in respect of this
    • What research-related activities will be undertaken
    • What support in terms of access to equipment, facilities and resources will be provided

To request appointment, the Head of Department should then contact the Staff Hub and provide them with:

    • an up-to-date copy of the individual’s curriculum vitae
    • a list of publications
    • a supporting statement giving their justifications for the appointment
    • the dates of appointment
    • the preferred annual leave option
    • evidence of eligibility to work (where the individual is not a current College employee or has a restricted entitlement to work in the UK)

Please note that there must be a seven day break in service (Sunday - Saturday) between the end of an individual’s current employment and the start of the new SRI contract.  Additionally, where the current employment ends in retirement (and the member of staff is in an Imperial pension scheme), a short break in service (usually one calendar month) will be required.

If you have any queries, please contact the Staff Hub.