XV.C.1   Postdoctoral Appointees

Postdoctoral appointments afford recent Ph.D. (and equivalent advanced degree) recipients a period in which to extend their education and professional training. Postdoctoral appointees may be appointed by or affiliated with a department or other academic unit authorized to make non-ladder academic appointments, such as the MacMillan Center and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies. All postdoctoral appointees must have financial support at a level that meets University standards. There are two categories of appointees: postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral associates. The difference in classification arises from the requirements of the funding source. Appointees funded from Yale-administered research grants, contracts, or other University sources in order to provide services related to the supported research are postdoctoral associates; they are employees of the University even though they are considered trainees. Postdoctoral fellows are also trainees, but they are not Yale employees. They may be funded either from training grants to the University or from funding directly awarded to the trainee from an outside source. The postdoctoral fellow classification is used if the funding source requires that the candidate not be an employee of the University. In nearly all other circumstances, appointees are classified as postdoctoral associates. The cumulative time an individual may spend in the two ranks should generally not exceed four years. Extensions to a fifth or sixth year may be granted in exceptional cases by the dean in the case of professional schools and by the cognizant provost for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The total years of postdoctoral appointment may not exceed six years.

The terms of appointment and procedures for postdoctoral appointees are set forth in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments available on the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs Web site. Each new postdoctoral appointment is to be made in writing by a letter from the supervising faculty member describing the details of the appointment. Approval must be obtained from the department chair and from the dean or Provost or their designees. The supervising faculty member is expected to be a mentor to the postdoctoral appointee. He or she must provide training, supervision, and a yearly written evaluation or progress report of the postdoctoral appointee's activities in a manner that is clear and timely. Mentors have the responsibility to provide an educational postdoctoral experience that also seeks to advance the career of the postdoctoral appointee.

The postdoctoral appointee is responsible for: (i) fulfillment of specific research and training objectives; (ii) conformity with ethical research standards of the University; (iii) compliance with all relevant federal, state and municipal regulations that relate to human subjects research, the care and use of laboratory animals, and the use of hazardous materials; (iv) compliance with all relevant University policies; and (v) appropriate recording and documentation of research results. If the appointee will be engaged in other specific activities, such as teaching, these expectations should be stated in the letter of appointment or in a subsequent written communication.

The policies that govern eligibility of postdoctoral appointees to teach are determined primarily by the funding agency that supports the postdoctoral appointee. These agencies include the federal government and other outside agencies as well as Yale departments and programs. Specific policies concerning allowable teaching and other non-research related activities, outside employment, tax implications of stipends, and compensation in addition to the stipend are outlined in detail in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments available on the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs Web site.

A Grievance Procedure for Postdoctoral Appointees is available for individuals who believe they have been treated in a manner inconsistent with University policies, or that they have been discriminated against or have been inappropriately disciplined for misconduct. This procedure can be found in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments in the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs. Complaints of academic fraud or scientific misconduct must be brought under the "Policies and Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Academic Fraud at Yale University."

Benefits for postdoctoral appointees are described in Section XVIII.D.3 .

Postdoctoral appointments afford recent Ph.D. (and equivalent advanced degree) recipients a period in which to extend their education and professional training. Postdoctoral appointees may be appointed by or affiliated with a department or other academic unit authorized to make non-ladder academic appointments, such as the MacMillan Center and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies. All postdoctoral appointees must have financial support at a level that meets University standards. There are two categories of appointees: postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral associates. The difference in classification arises from the requirements of the funding source. Appointees funded from Yale-administered research grants, contracts, or other University sources in order to provide services related to the supported research are postdoctoral associates; they are employees of the University even though they are considered trainees. Postdoctoral fellows are also trainees, but they are not Yale employees. They may be funded either from training grants to the University or from funding directly awarded to the trainee from an outside source. The postdoctoral fellow classification is used if the funding source requires that the candidate not be an employee of the University. In nearly all other circumstances, appointees are classified as postdoctoral associates. The cumulative time an individual may spend in the two ranks should generally not exceed four years. Extensions to a fifth or sixth year may be granted in exceptional cases by the dean in the case of professional schools and by the cognizant provost for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The total years of postdoctoral appointment may not exceed six years.

The terms of appointment and procedures for postdoctoral appointees are set forth in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments available on the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs Web site. Each new postdoctoral appointment is to be made in writing by a letter from the supervising faculty member describing the details of the appointment. Approval must be obtained from the department chair and from the dean or Provost or their designees. The supervising faculty member is expected to be a mentor to the postdoctoral appointee. He or she must provide training, supervision, and a yearly written evaluation or progress report of the postdoctoral appointee's activities in a manner that is clear and timely. Mentors have the responsibility to provide an educational postdoctoral experience that also seeks to advance the career of the postdoctoral appointee.

The postdoctoral appointee is responsible for: (i) fulfillment of specific research and training objectives; (ii) conformity with ethical research standards of the University; (iii) compliance with all relevant federal, state and municipal regulations that relate to human subjects research, the care and use of laboratory animals, and the use of hazardous materials; (iv) compliance with all relevant University policies; and (v) appropriate recording and documentation of research results. If the appointee will be engaged in other specific activities, such as teaching, these expectations should be stated in the letter of appointment or in a subsequent written communication.

The policies that govern eligibility of postdoctoral appointees to teach are determined primarily by the funding agency that supports the postdoctoral appointee. These agencies include the federal government and other outside agencies as well as Yale departments and programs. Specific policies concerning allowable teaching and other non-research related activities, outside employment, tax implications of stipends, and compensation in addition to the stipend are outlined in detail in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments available on the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs Web site.

A Grievance Procedure for Postdoctoral Appointees is available for individuals who believe they have been treated in a manner inconsistent with University policies, or that they have been discriminated against or have been inappropriately disciplined for misconduct. This procedure can be found in University Policies for Postdoctoral Appointments in the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs. Complaints of academic fraud or scientific misconduct must be brought under the "Policies and Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Academic Fraud at Yale University."

Benefits for postdoctoral appointees are described in Section XVIII.D.3 .