New Research Faculty Onboarding

The Office of Faculty Development is committed to helping you navigate your first steps as a new faculty member so you can get your research program up and running as soon as possible.

Onboarding Process

Below, you will find a detailed to-do list broken down by timeframe, outlining the essential tasks and milestones to ensure your successful integration into UTSW. From pre-arrival preparations to ongoing professional development, we are committed to providing you with the support and resources you need to thrive in your new role.

How Tos

Below are essential guidance and resources for our new faculty.

• Build a Lab Website

  If you wish to create and manage your lab website yourself or with the help of a lab member, please log into Taleo and complete the Lab Member Training.

  If you prefer the website created for you, please web@utsouthwestern.edu the Digital team at or create a SN ticket.

  A lab website is required to be a full faculty member in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (except Clinical Psychology).

• Build Faculty Profile

  On your start date, a blank faculty profile will go live in the Faculty Directory. All faculty members can log into Profile+ with their UTSW credentials to create their profile.

• Hire Staff

  Work with your Department Administrator regarding the procedure for posting positions and interviewing/hiring.  More information about the position review process.

• Join Graduate Faculty

  Please visit Joining the Graduate Faculty.

• Purchase Equipment

  Work with your Department Administrator or Lab Manager to purchase equipment. All purchases should be made through UTSW procedures.  Some large equipment, such as fridges, freezers, microscopes/rigs may have long lead times. Ask department admins to setup demos of microscopes if needed.

  Create an inventory of lab items. Include equipment, reagents, supplies, consumables, etc with vendor/catalog information.

• Recruit Postdocs
  • Connect with Postdoctoral Affairs Office for posting postdoc positions
  • Please visit Recruiting Postdocs
• Recruit Students
  • Please visit Recruiting Students
  • A lab website is required on the Research Labs website
• Secure Lab Animals
  • iacuc@utsouthwestern.edu IACUC to be assigned online trainings
  • Setup TOPAZ access
  • Start and submit Animal Protocol via TOPAZ. Protocol won’t get reviewed or submitted until you are on campus. Ask recent hires to share their protocol if procedures/organisms are similar.
  • Submit ARC space request form
  • If you are bringing animals from your current institution, you can bring them in under a holding protocol. They will go into quarantine for ~4 weeks. Please contact ARC.
  • Request Animal Facility access: ADAPT Login > ARC Access Request

Training

To ensure a smooth transition and to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for success, we have listed required and essential trainings below.

• New Employee Orientation (In Person)

  New Employee Orientation provides employees with valuable information about UT Southwestern, our mission, our vision, and available resources. See FY24 schedule

• Animal Research (IACUC)

  All research projects conducted by faculty, students, or employees that involve live vertebrate animals require prior review and approval by the IACUC.

• Animal Research Center (ARC)

  Please see ARC Training Resources

• Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

  HRPP offers both required and optional training opportunities in a multitude of formats.

• Lab Safety Training

  The Office of Safety and Business Continuity offers a variety of courses designed to provide safety training to all UT Southwestern Medical Center employees, students, and faculty. Please see program-specific trainings.

Approvals Required

We understand the importance of ensuring that all research endeavors adhere to ethical standards, regulatory requirements, and institutional policies. We will guide you through the necessary steps and procedures for obtaining approvals.

• Animal Research (IACUC)

  Starting the IACUC Protocol Submission Process

  All animal research activities must be described, reviewed, and approved by the IACUC prior to initiation. Information regarding the IACUC Protocol can be found on the IACUC webpage.

  Familiarize yourself with TOPAZ, the web-based software application for IACUC protocol management.

• Human Research (HRPP)

  All human subject research conducted by UT Southwestern faculty, staff, or students on behalf of UT Southwestern is overseen by the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

• Stem Cell Research (SCRO)

  The Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee provides oversight for research on human embryos, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) at UT Southwestern.

• Radioactivity & Research

  Radiation use approval is required prior to working with radiation. Please see Radiation Safety.

• Recombinant DNA

  Use of recombinant DNA for protocols require approval. More information.

• Biohazard

  Use of biohazard materials requires approval. Please see general information describing biological materials used on campus.

Quick Links

To facilitate your integration into our UTSW community, below are additional helpful resources.

• Clinical Research
• Faculty Corner
• Faculty Directory
• Graduate School
• Lab Manager Forum
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
• Institutional Review Board
• Library Databases and ejournals
• Mentoring Responsibilities of Faculty
• Newsroom
• Occupational Safety
• Office of Technology Development
• Organization of the Graduate School
• Phone Directory
• Postdoctoral Scholars
• Research Core Facilities
• Research Labs
• Research Portal
• Research Support
• Safety and Business Continuity
• Saftey Communications and Alerts
• Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA)
• Stem Cell research oversight

Contact Us

FacDev@UTSouthwestern.edu the Office of Faculty Development.