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Review Process - Tenure Track and Tenure

Contemporaneous with the strengthened review of intramural science, the NIH has implemented a new tenure program, the major features of which are:

  1. A requirement that all new tenure-track positions be established only after discussion among senior scientists in an institute and a recommendation to establish the position from the BSC;
  2. A requirement that a national search be performed for all new tenured or tenure-track scientists;
  3. A requirement that each institute's promotion and tenure committee review all tenure and tenure-track appointments.
  4. The establishment of a new, NIH-central tenure committee to advise the Deputy Director for Intramural Research, NIH about all tenure candidates.

The Board of Scientific Counselors plays an important role in the tenure process. The Board:

  1. Will be consulted as part of the process of establishing new tenure-track positions;
  2. Reviews tenure-track candidates at approximately the midpoint of their tenure-track appointments with an eye toward making recommendations concerning continuance in the tenure-track and concerning changes in resources;
  3. Review candidates being considered for tenure and make recommendations concerning advancement.