Research JCAT Sub-Working GroupJuly 16, 2014
Current and Proposed Research JCATs to CUPA code crosswalk structure
Prior to September 2009, CUPA provided salary survey respondents general research titles that were utilized for salary survey matching. In September 2010, CUPA introduced a three tier research title structure (entry, intermediate and senior levels) that encompassed the functional areas of natural/physical and social/behavioral sciences, which remained in place for approximately two survey years. In September 2012, CUPA introduced a multifaceted research title structure for salary survey reporting based on the JCAT taxonomy utilized by the North Carolina and Georgia university systems.
The current CUPA research code structure has provided respondents a logical approach to matching their research professionals with the salary survey descriptions. This logical approach is based on the current research code structure that groups research professionals into a functional area (I.e. physical, life, social and medical sciences) coupled with a tiered job title (I.e. research assistant, associate, scholar, senior scholar and principal scholar). The coupling of the functional area with the job title is intended to produce the most concise salary survey matches. However, the output of this approach has generated some concerns that potentially require a holistic solution.
The first concern is the inconsistent utilization of the research JCATs by the 17 UNC system institutions. Case in point, 15 of the 17 UNC system institutions utilize research JCATs 470X02 – 470X16 that present to be unique to an academic discipline / college. While 10 of the 17 UNC system institutions utilize research JCATs 470X30 – 470X99, which captures the research functional area coupled with a three tier job structure (I.e. entry, intermediate and senior). A possible solution is to eliminate the gap between how the research JCATs are utilized by the UNC system institutions by standardizing the application of research JCATs. The elimination of this usage gap through a standardized application would consolidate the chief features of the research JCATs into a cohesive structure that identifies the relevant research discipline / functional area with a tiered job title structure (I.e. research assistant, associate, scholar, senior scholar and principal scholar). Therefore, all UNC system institutions would utilize the same research JCATs, and should capture even more accurate salary market data.
The next concern pertains to the limited functional areas (I.e. physical, life, social and medical sciences) currently provided to the CUPA survey respondents. These functional areas are utilized to slot research employees into a general functional area. The concern with the general, limited functional areas is that the salary survey results are all inclusive rather than specific to the area of research. For example, the salary of a crop sciences researcher is compared with a biochemistry researcher (both fall into the life sciences), which do not share the same salary market point. Therefore, a possible solution may be to broaden the functional areas from four (4) to ten (10) functional areas, which would separate out life and Biological sciences and provide an ‘other’ category. With broader functional area options, the salary survey results should be more representative of that particular salary market point.
Below are diagrams of the current and proposed research JCAT to CUPA code crosswalk structures, which better illustrates the aforementioned:
Current Research JCATs to CUPA Code crosswalk structure
JCAT / Sub-CAT / Category Name470 / 02 / Research Professional, Biological Sciences
470 / 03 / Research Professional, Conservation / Forestry
470 / 04 / Research Professional, Medical
470 / 05 / Research Professional, Life Sciences
470 / 06 / Research Professional, Physical Sciences
470 / 07 / Research Professional, Astronomy / Physics
470 / 08 / Research Professional, Atmospheric / Space
470 / 09 / Research Professional, Chemistry / Materials Sciences
470 / 10 / Research Professional, Geosciences / Environmental
470 / 11 / Research Professional, Social Sciences
470 / 12 / Research Professional, Economics
470 / 13 / Research Professional, Mathematics / Computing / Statistics
470 / 14 / Research Professional, Engineering
470 / 15 / Research Professional, Architecture/Design
470 / 16 / Research Professional, Education
470 / 30 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate)
470 / 31 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Agricultural / Food
470 / 32 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Biological Sciences
470 / 33 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Conservation / Forestry
470 / 34 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Medical
470 / 35 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Life Sciences
470 / 36 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Physical Sciences
470 / 37 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Chemistry / Materials Sc
470 / 38 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Intermediate), Geosciences / Environmental
470 / 39 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Senior)
470 / 40 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Senior), Agricultural / Food
470 / 41 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Senior), Biological Sciences
470 / 42 / Research Professional, Research Asst Natural/Physical (Senior), Life Sciences
470 / 43 / Research Professional, Research Asst Social/Behavioral (Intermediate), Social Sciences
470 / 44 / Research Professional, Research Asst Social/Behavioral (Senior), Social Sciences
470 / 49 / Research Professional, Physical Sciences, Asst Research Scientist
470 / 50 / Research Professional, Agricultural / Food, Asst Research Scientist
470 / 51 / Research Professional, Biological Sciences, Asst Research Scientist
470 / 52 / Research Professional, Life Sciences, Asst Research Scientist
470 / 53 / Research Professional, Physical Sciences, Assoc Research Scientist
470 / 54 / Research Professional, Conservation / Forestry, Assoc Research Scientist
470 / 55 / Research Professional, Mathematics / Computing / Statistics, Assoc Research Scientist
470 / 56 / Research Professional, Physical Sciences, Research Scientist
470 / 57 / Research Professional, Agricultural / Food, Research Scientist
470 / 58 / Research Professional, Biological Sciences, Research Scientist
470 / 59 / Research Professional, Life Sciences, Research Scientist
470 / 60 / Research Professional, Chemistry / Materials Sciences, Research Scientist
470 / 61 / Research Professional, Mathematics / Computing / Statistics, Research Scientist
470 / 62 / Research Professional, Research Field Technician
470 / 99 / Research Professional, Other
The above Research JCATs then map to five (5) CUPA* research titles:
1.) Research Assistant
2.) Research Associate
3.) Research Scholar
4.) Senior Research Scholar
5.) Principal Research Scholar
*Note: Research JCATs have a 470 prefix (E.g. 470X01)
The five (5) CUPA* research titles then branch out into four (4) functional categories:
1.) Life Sciences
2.) Physical Sciences
3.) Social Sciences
4.) Medical Sciences
The above referenced aspects (Research JCATs, five CUPA Research titles, and four functional categories) crosswalk into the below CUPA structure:
470290 / NEW / Physical Sciences, Research Assistant470425 / NEW / Social Sciences, Research Assistant
470650 / NEW / Medical Sciences, Research Assistant
470700 / NEW / Life Sciences, Research Assistant
470300 / NEW / Physical Sciences, Research Associate
470430 / NEW / Social Sciences, Research Associate
470660 / NEW / Medical Sciences, Research Associate
470710 / NEW / Life Sciences, Research Associate
Snapshot of the Proposed Research JCATs to CUPA Code crosswalk structure
JCAT / Sub-CAT / Category Name470 / 01 – 05 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Biological Sciences
470 / 06 – 10 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Clinical Sciences
470 / 11 – 15 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Computing
470 / 16 – 20 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Engineering
470 / 21 - 25 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Life Sciences
470 / 26 – 30 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Medical Sciences
470 / 31 – 35 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Physical Sciences
470 / 36 – 40 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Social Sciences
470 / 41 - 45 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Combination or Unknown
470 / 95 - 99 / Research Professional, Research Asst / Specialist, Other Sciences
These research JCATs are then mapped to five CUPA research titles with descriptions:
1.) Research Assistant / Research Specialist
2.) Research Associate
3.) Research Scholar
4.) Senior Research Scholar
5.) Principal Research Scholar
These five (5) CUPA research titles with descriptions are then branched out into ten (10) functional research categories:
1.) Biological Sciences
2.) Clinical Sciences
3.) Computing
4.) Engineering
5.) Life Sciences
6.) Medical Sciences
7.) Physical Sciences
8.) Social Sciences
9.) Other Sciences
10.) Combination or Unknown
The proposed CUPA crosswalk would look something like this:
470010 / NEW / Biological Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist470060 / NEW / Clinical Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist
470110 / NEW / Computing, Research Assistant / Specialist
470160 / NEW / Engineering, Research Assistant / Specialist
470210 / NEW / Life Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist
470260 / NEW / Medical Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist
470300 / NEW / Physical Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist
470360 / NEW / Social Sciences, Research Assistant / Specialist
470400 / NEW / Combination or Unknown, Research Assistant / Specialist
470950 / NEW / Other, Research Assistant / Specialist
Related Matters
· Either crosswalk structure lacks alignment with the JCAT and CUPA title taxonomy. Alignment of such would eliminate confusion in the application JCATs for classification and compensation purposes.
· Currently, CUPA doesn’t provide a general description of work that can be used for survey matching for research jobs. Adding this to the either crosswalk structure is greatly needed, and would improve the accuracy of matches. Moreover, this feature would also assist with bridging the usage gap between UNC system institutions.