>Are you implying that a research professor is somehow better than a “regular” professor?

Probably when it comes to understanding and forming opinions on cutting edge research. . .

The only reason why that particular research professor is not “just” a professor is that he was denied tenure at the University of Chicago.

irrelevant - what is the endgame of what you are trying to drive at in this thread?

I’m trying to understand if “most senior research professor of physics at caltech” is supposed to mean something different from “professor of physics at caltech”.