Visiting Scientist Agreements

A Visiting Scientist Agreement (“VSA”) is a legally binding agreement between Yale University and for-profit company wherein the employee of the for-profit company is granted permission by a Yale faculty member to access the intellectual and physical resources of the University for a finite period of time within a specific context (e.g., to “visit” in the laboratory of a Yale faculty member in order to perform a research project). Such permission must not generate costs and liabilities to Yale (i.e., the costs associated with the visit, such as equipment, materials, animal costs, reagents, together with F&A, must be covered by the company, absent unique circumstances), and the relationship must ‘break even” for the hosting faculty member and for Yale in terms of expense, though it is expected that all parties will experience a net benefit from the interaction. The VSA is designed to enable a productive interaction, but not at the financial or intellectual property expense of Yale. As a note, the hosting faculty member is not expected to contribute covered effort in the course of the project.

The following information must be included in a PD for Contracts route to OSP when a VSA is requested:

• Name of visiting scientist
• Name of for-profit company employing the visiting scientist
• Address of company
• Point of contact at company (email, phone)
• Brief description of the research to be conducted
• Name of hosting faculty member
• Name of department sponsoring
• Period of performance of visiting scientist research support / duration of visit / date of anticipated arrival
• Budget reflecting direct and indirect costs associated with the materials/supplies/reagents/animal costs, etc., as well as F&A, that will be incurred in the performance of the research project

All VSAs at Yale are comprised of the same key elements. Sample VSA template.

Faculty members are encouraged to become familiar with basic VSA concepts and terms. Additionally, faculty members who are interested in pursuing a VSA& should contact their OSP contract manager for more information.

Note: Yale shall own the intellectual property developed in the course of the research and arising from the permission granted (See Article 5.2). This is not a negotiable term and should be made clear as early as possible to avoid any misunderstandings. This term is critical to protect the intellectual property of Yale well beyond the scope of the Research.

In addition to the VSA, the visiting researcher will require a formal appointment the Yale Office for Postdoctoral Affairs requires the following documentation from the Visiting Scientist whose employer has entered into a VSA with Yale: