Definition of a Postdoc

Before beginning postdoctoral training, postdocs will receive an offer letter or letter of appointment from the primary investigator who will be his/her mentor. The letter will describe the type of funding available.

The source of funding dictates the salary and benefits that each postdoc will receive. Postdocs should retain a signed copy of the appointment letter for their records. Policies on sick, vacation and parental leave are also tied to the grade of appointment, mentor and lab policies.

Postdoctoral Trainees are Officers of Research at the University. There are four grades of appointment as Postdoctoral Officers of Research:

Postdoctoral Research Scientists/Scholars (PDRS) are recent recipients of the doctorate, or its professional equivalent, who may be appointed for full- or part-time service for a term of up to twelve months, renewable for a total period of service in a postdoctoral rank of up to three years. Extensions for up to an additional two years may be made with the prior permission of the Provost. Officers appointed in this rank are paid a salary through the Office of the Controller or by an affiliated hospital or institute.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows (PDF) are either recent recipients of the doctorate, or its professional equivalent, who have won awards (usually from external agencies) to continue their training at the University or individuals of greater experience who have won awards permitting them to retrain themselves in a new discipline or specialty. PDFs may be appointed for full- or part-time service for a term of up to twelve months, which is renewable for a total period of service in a postdoctoral rank of up to three years. Extensions for up to an additional two years may be made with the prior permission of the Provost. In contrast to postdoctoral research scientists and scholars, these fellows are generally not paid a salary. Instead, they usually receive fellowship stipends, either through the University’s Office of the Controller or directly from an external funding agency. 

Postdoctoral Clinical Fellows (PCF) are recent recipients of the doctorate, who come to the University to gain additional clinical training after completing their residency, or individuals of greater experience who wish to change clinical specialties. PCFs may be appointed for full- or part-time service for a term of up to twelve months, which is renewable for a total period of service in a postdoctoral rank of up to three years. Extensions for up to an additional two years may be made with the prior permission of the Provost. These fellows may simultaneously hold appointments as officers of instruction in the rank of assistant in clinical (department). Depending upon the source of funding, one of these appointments will be full-time and the other, part-time. When the fellow receives a stipend, the appointment as a postdoctoral clinical fellow is full-time and the assistant in clinical (department) is part-time. The reverse is true when the individual is paid a salary. 

Postdoctoral Residency Fellows (PRF) hold the doctorate of Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Dental Surgery and are enrolled in programs at affiliated hospitals and institutes for the purpose of obtaining additional clinical training before embarking on independent careers as physicians and dentists. They may be appointed for part-time service for a term of up to twelve months. The appointment is renewable as long as they continue in a training program.