Definition of a Postdoctoral Fellow

Adapted from the Association of American Universities Committee on Postdoctoral Education Report and Recommendations (http://www.aau.edu/reports/postdocrpt.html):

1. The appointee was recently awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D., DVM) in an appropriate field; and
2. the appointment is temporary; and
3. the appointment involves substantial research or scholarship; and
4. the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career; and
5. the appointment is not part of a clinical training program; and
6. the appointee works under the supervisor of a senior scholar; and
7. the appointee has the freedom, and is expected, to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.

Length of Appointment

The maximum length of a postdoctoral appointment is five (5) years.  All postdoctoral employees are subject to annual reviews and renewals.

Minimum Salary

Currently, the minimum salary for postdocs is $30,000.

Employment Status

Postdoctoral employees are classified as temporary, EPA (Exempt from the State Personnel Act) employees.  As temporary employees, postdocs are not required to participate in any retirement system.  Postdoctoral employees do have the option of participating in a 403b annuity program.  Information about this option is available at:  http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/hr/benefits/403b.asp

The postdoctoral appointment and salary should reflect the FTE of the appointment, which could be full-time or part-time.  The conditions of their employment should be clearly stated in their appointment letter.

University Policies for Rights, Responsibilities, Research Misconduct, Conflict of Interest, Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, Grievances

Postdoctoral employees are governed by the same rules as graduate students in areas of rights and responsibilities and grievances.  However, postdoctoral employees are governed by the same rules as EPA employees in areas of research misconduct, conflict of interest, intellectual property and technology transfer.

Postdocs Who Are Not Paid by the University

“No-pay” appointments can be made in the Human Resources system for postdoctoral employees who are not paid directly through the NC State University payroll system but get a fellowship directly from the sponsoring agency.  The no-pay appointment will give postdocs access to the gym, the library, and other campus facilities.

Exit Survey

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is interested in obtaining feedback from postdoctoral scholars before they leave the university.  OPA uses this information to improve services offered to postdocs as well as track the employment trends postdocs encounter once they leave their postdoctoral assignment.  The exit survey (http://ceres.cals.ncsu.edu/surveybuilder/Form.cfm?testID=6653) should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.  All responses to this survey will be kept confidential.  Thank you for your participation and for helping OPA enhance its offering to current and future postdocs!