2.5.D. Searches and Waivers of Search

As is the case for other faculty lines, it is expected that a rigorous and comprehensive search normally will be conducted for new appointments in the Research Line. (The Office of Academic Affairs’ Guide to Faculty Searches provides information on policies and procedures related to searches; see also University Faculty Handbook  Chapter 2.7.3.)  While this is the goal, as a practical matter, a specific programmatic need may be best fulfilled by personnel already affiliated with Stanford.  In some cases, such individuals may have started new areas of investigation during fellowship training or as Research Associates or Senior Research Scientists that contribute to the research of a clinical program or multidisciplinary need.  In other cases, potential candidates who are affiliated with Stanford may already be sponsored by grants especially focused on a specific area of research and programmatic need, or there may be apparent practical problems in maintaining funding and substituting a new faculty member or investigator.

The Vice Dean for Academic Affairs will consider waivers of search for appointments in the Research Line of internal candidates on a case-by-case basis.  Under certain circumstances, a waiver of search may be pursued when convincing evidence is presented that a candidate internal to Stanford not only meets the criteria for the position but that he or she would have emerged as a leading candidate had a national search been conducted.  Search waivers for junior faculty appointments are granted only in extraordinary circumstances.  There may be rare programmatic reasons that warrant a search waiver; inquiries should be addressed to the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs.

Under other circumstances, a determination may be made that a national search is the most appropriate way to proceed in filling the position.  When the search is launched, the advertisement should not be tailored to fit a special candidate or candidates.  Furthermore, the search committee should be instructed that although the credentials of internal candidates may be more easily assessed than those of others, its members are still obliged to consider by all appropriate means the credentials of candidates having no prior association with the University. This obligation should be made clear to any internal candidate who holds or has held a non-faculty Stanford appointment.