Detailed information on the ranks can be obtained – in Russian – on the website of the Higher Attestation Commission[1] which is responsible for conferment in the most cases.
The Russian degrees are a Kandidate Nauk (literally Candidate of Science, now might be considered to be approximately equivalent to American PhD; a Doktor Nauk (literally Doctor of Science, is the highest degree now might be considered to be approximately equivalent to German Doctor habilitatus.
Furthermore, there are Technical staff positions: Research technician (техник), lab manager (лаборант), and related personnel are generally not regarded as faculty, most of them are undergraduate or graduate students.
In order to be eligible for the above listed faculty or research positions, the rank is usually not needed, although much depends on the local regulations at the university.
Generally, the degree confirms an attained qualification of a scientist, whereas the rank, as already said, merely attests his/her ability to function in the specific position.
A Master of Science or a Specialist (a specific Russian form of graduation after 5–6 years of study) can be recruited as an Assistant (lecturer).
The preparation for the defense includes writing thesis (approximately 150-200 pages), which presents the results of his/her own research work, done under a supervision of a professor.
Several papers on the topic should be also published in Russian or peer-reviewed scientific journals accredited by Higher Attestation Commission (VAK), see below.
The right for final decision belongs to the VAK (governmental commission, granting official academic degrees and ranks), but it usually follows the recommendation of the Dissertation Council.
The procedure of "defense" is similar, and at the end VAK grants one the degree of Doktor nauk (Russian = доктор наук).
This rank gives one the right to hold a top faculty position, to be a main examiner, to take part in the university's council, etc.
However, to be eligible for a rank, such a non-lecturing individual must have larger number of the successfully supervised Master works and PhD dissertations, than his/her colleagues really involved in teaching.
It can be conferred to the holders of the Doctor of Science degree for high scientific achievements, with little regard for teaching activity, if such person is not yet a member of the academy.
Unlike at the universities, a conferment of the Docent or Professor rank does not enable to occupy some higher position at the Research center.