Applicants in this category must be engaged in academic research or teaching, and must have a qualifying offer of employment. The offer may be from a university or institution of higher learning offering the individual a tenure-track teaching position or a permanent research position. The offer of employment may also be from a department, division or institute of a private employer which is offering the applicant a permanent research position. If the offer of employment is from a private employer, the employer must establish that it employs at least three persons in research positions and that it has documented achievements in the academic field. “Documented achievements” could be shown through such evidence as patents, research grants awarded by prestigious organizations, or other prizes and honors granted to the employer.

The applicant must demonstrate that s/he has at least three years of experience in teaching or research. Experience in teaching or research which was gained while working toward a graduate level degree may be counted, provided that the applicant actually completed the degree and that the teaching duties included full responsibility for the courses taught, or that the research conducted has been recognized in the academic field as outstanding.

Outstanding teachers or researchers must be recognized internationally. This may be shown by presenting evidence that the individual meets at least two of the following six criteria (the more, the better):

1. Receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field
2. Membership in associations in the field which require outstanding achievements of their members
3. Published material in professional publications written by others about the applicant’s work in the academic field
4. Participation as the judge of the work of others in the same or an allied academic field
5. Original scientific or scholarly research contributions
6. Authorship of scholarly books or articles in scholarly journals with international circulation in the academic field

 
This information is intended for clients of Jackson & Hertogs only. This is not intended to provide legal advice to non-clients of this firm. Nor will we respond to inquiries from non-clients. You should seek your own legal counsel in these matters.