Question/Difference

Postdoctoral Scholar

Research (EPA) Employee

Employment Status

Temporary appointment (5 years or less)

Not employees; trainees

Mentoring expected

Substantial research/publications/ scholarship expected

At-will appointment

Permanent EPA employees

Subject to grievance procedures and guidelines related to permanent employees

At-will or fixed term appointment

Recruitment

Open recruitment not required

Have to post for 10 business days

Qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate/terminal degree awarded within the past 5 years

Typically requires masters degree; contingent upon job responsibilities

Salary

60% of minimum starting salary for assistant professor in same discipline as set forth in HR faculty pay ranges https://www3.acs.ncsu.edu/hr/secure/epa/epasalrange.pdf                                                          (~$33,000 for most postdoc positions)

Entry-level research positions starting pay ranges between $34,000 and $40,000

Based on experience and job responsibilities

Health Insurance

Cost to employer:  ~$218 per postdoc on the postdoc health insurance plan

Cost to employer:  ~$411 per EPA employee on the State health plan

Leave

Postdocs earn one day per month of sick leave (12 days for 1.0 FTE)

Postdocs earn one day per month of annual leave (12 days for 1.0 FTE)

Annual leave is not paid out when postdoc leaves the university

EPA employees earn one day per month of sick leave (12 days for 1.0 FTE)

EPA employees earn two days per month of annual leave (24 days for 1.0 FTE)

Annual leave is paid out when employee leaves the university

Annual review

Subject to annual performance reviews

Documents that can be utilized in the review process found on Office of Postdoctoral Affairs’ website:  http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/postdoctoral-affairs/faculty-resources.html

Highly encouraged for EPA employees

Provost sends out annual letter with expectation that all employees will receive an annual performance review

Discontinuation of appointment

Contingent upon funds availability

For reasons regarding workplace performance, discontinuation at the discretion of the Vice Chancellor, Dean or Vice Chancellor’s designee

Permanent positions; may be subject to budget cuts

For reasons regarding workplace performance, discontinuation at the discretion of the Provost, Vice Chancellor and/or Dean and severance pay is related to notice period

Discharge for cause may involve a hearing and grievance procedures

Retirement

Postdoc elects to participate in a voluntary retirement program (cannot be vested in TSERS or ORP  since appointment is less than 5 years)

Participates in state retirement program and will become vested after 5 years of service

Regulation/Policy

Postdoctoral Scholars Regulation:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/research/ research_admin/REG10.10.8.php

EPA Employment Policy:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/employment/
epa/POL05.15.1.php