Researcher titles include those in the following series: Professional Researcher, Project Scientist, and Specialist. The criteria that distinguish appointments in these series from others include:
- No teaching responsibilities
- Non-student appointments
- Appointments may temporary and include an end date
Each of these series includes a different level of responsibility. The duties of a Professional Researcher will include independent research equivalent to that required for the Professor series. A Project Scientist will perform a research support role, making significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project. Individuals holding a position in the Specialist series are individuals with a technical specialization or specialized expertise.