Senior Investigator Appointment Mechanisms

Title 42 - Mechanism of Choice

Title 5 General Schedule

Commissioned Corps

SBRS

NIH Personnel System Titles

Senior Investigator Visiting Scientist

Medical Officer, Research Physicist, Research Chemist etc., as specified in the governing classification standard,

Various

Senior Investigator

Appointment Type

Indefinite appointment, up to 5 years with renewal(s) available.

Permanent

Reserve Corps: all newly appt. officers and those not assimilated in the Regular Corps (limited tour or career).

Regular Corps: officers who are assimilated after completion of 4 years of active duty (limited tour or career).

Indefinite

Program Provisions

VP: Tenured employment of experienced foreign scientists who are not permanent residents.

D: Resident aliens.

Citizens may be appointed under this program on an exceptional basis, e.g., for decertified SBRS employees or retired Corps officers.

Tenured employment of established independent investigators who have substantial research accomplishments and have been given a long-term commitment of salary, personnel and research resources.

Tenured, uniformed mechanism for career employment of 11 categories of health care investigators who have substantial research accomplishments and have been given a long-term commitment of salary, personnel and research resources.

Tenured employment of established independent investigators who have substantial research accomplishments and have been given a long-term commitment of salary, personnel and research

Grade Structure

Positions are ungraded but are normally equivalent to the GS-13 or above.

Positions are graded at GS-13, 14 or 15 level based on OPM classification standards and peer review criteria.

Rank of 05, or 06 is based on the officer’s credentials rather than the position.

Positions are ungraded but are normally equivalent to the GS-15 or above.

Qualifications

Doctoral level degree (MD, DDS or Ph.D.) and additional years of postdoctoral experience relevant to the position.

Doctoral level degree (MD, DDS or Ph.D.) and additional years of postdoctoral experience relevant to the position.

Must be licensed or registered in a health profession and present additional education and experience relevant to the position.

Doctoral level degree (MD, DDS or Ph.D.) and additional years of postdoctoral experience relevant to the position that is equivalent to the GS-15 level or above.

Type of Service

Civilian positions in the excepted service.

Civilian positions in the competitive service.

Uniformed health professionals.

Civilian positions in the excepted service.

Citizenship

D: US citizens and resident aliens

VP: nonresident alien with a valid employment-authorized visa.

US citizens

US citizens

US citizens or citizens of allied country

Base Pay Rates

CLINICAL SCALE

Tier 1: $125,304 - $154,935

Tier 2: $154,936 - $183,347

Tier 3: $183,348 - $200,000*

*Subject to approval by the NCC and the Director of NIH

Tier Ranges specified in NIH T42 Pay Model. effective 12/21/04.

DC locality:

• GS-13: $69,054 - $89,774
• GS-14: $81,602 - $106,086
• GS-15: $95,987- $124,783

For Clinical Physicians:

• GS-13: $77,587 - $93,965
• GS-14: $89,272 - $110,989
• GS-15: $96,492 - $124,783

Special Salary Rates may be payable to Bio. Math. Stats., Engineers and other occupations. See Title 38 Payscales

Pay Grade:

• 0-5: $49,424 - $83,970
• 0-6: $$59,288 - $102,906

Pay Range: $85,140* - $171,900**

*Based on base pay for GS-15/1 (non-nlocality)
*Rates exceeding the NIH must be approved by the Director of NIH (up to EX-II) or the Secretary of HHS (above EX-II)

Supplemental Pay Mechanisms

Recruitment or retention incentives of up to 25% of base pay.

For Physicians PCA (Physicians Comparability Allowance)
Maximum amounts:

• $14,000 for less than 2 years government service;
• $30,000* for 2 or more years of government service

*Amounts above $20,000 must meet mission-specific criteria.

3Rs: Recruitment or relocation bonuses or retention allowances of up to 25% of base pay

PSP ( T. 38 Physician Special Pay) For Physicians and Dentists who see patients at least 10% of official time. Pay factors for Physicians*:

• Full-time Status: $9,000
• Length of Service: $4,000 (2 yrs.) - $18,000 (15 yrs.)
• Board Certification:
  • $2,000 (first specialty)
  • $500 (second or subspecialty)
• Geographic Location: $17,000 (Radiology only)
• Scarce Medical Specialty: Maximum for specialty:
  • Anesthesiology: $40,000
  • Radiology: $40,000
  • Nuclear Medicine: $30,000
  • Pathology: $20,000
  • Primary Care: $15,000
  • Phys. Med. & Rehab.: $15,000
• Exceptional Quals.: $15,000
• Executive Responsibility:
• Service Chief: $4,500 - $15,000
• Chief of Staff: $14,500 - $25,000 (Cannot be paid with SMS for the same work hours)

*Dentist special pay also is available. (Click on the link to view rates.)

BAS: $2,103

BAH: varies

For Physicians:

• VSP: $5,000- $12,000
• BCP: $2,500 - $6,000
• ISP: $12,000 - $36,000
• MRB: $12,000 - $33,000

Other occupation or position-specific "special pays" may be payable. See Commissioned Corps Bulletin Vol. XVII, No. 1, dated January 2005

3Rs<: Recruitment or relocation bonuses or retention allowances of up to 25% of base pay

Aggregate Annual Pay Limitation -

EX-1 (currently ) except in cases where the NCC and the Director of NIH or designee have approved a higher rate.

EX-1 equivalent (currently ), except for physicians receiving T. 38 PSP, whose pay is limited to $200,000.

None specified

EX-1 (currently ).