Appointment Descriptions

Postdoctoral appointments offer recent (5 years or fewer) advanced degree recipients a period in which to extend their education and professional training. Many disciplines are increasingly requiring postdoctoral experience as a prerequisite for professional placement and tenure track faculty positions.

May be appointed by & affiliated with a department or other academic unit, center or institute. These appointees & appointments have the following attributes:

1.  Appointee was recently awarded Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field (5 years or fewer),
2.  works under the supervision of a faculty member or senior scholar, and
3.  has the freedom, and is expected, to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship, which were obtained during period of appointment.
4.  Appointment is temporary,
5.  involves full-time research or scholarship,
6.  is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, and
7.  is not part of a clinical training program. Postdoctoral appointments are distinct from those of students, staff or faculty.

• P99805 (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
• P99792 (Externally Funded Postdoctoral Fellow) (1)
• P99803 (Teaching Scholar) (2)

The initial postdoctoral appointment is normally for one year. In general, appointment renewals will be for one year, with the maximum total term of appointments for Postdoctoral Appointees being five years. This maximum term includes cumulative postdoctoral research experience.

Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

Yes. 

In order to become a postdoc, the candidate of interest must have his/her PhD; depositing the Ph.D. for defense at a later date is not sufficient. 

Proof of degree completion may be provided by a copy of the diploma, or an authorized transcript showing the completion of the degree (with an English translation if necessary).

If the dissertation has been successfully defended, but the degree not yet awarded, a letter from the applicable university’s registrar or graduate dean should be obtained, stating the date on which the degree will be conferred. The letter should be on the letterhead of the degree granting institution and contain the typed name of the signatory.  If the letter is not written in English, it must be accompanied by an official English translation.

If ending eligibility time on J1, OPT (Optional Practical Training), or CPT (Curricular Practical Training), University may apply for H1b.

(17-month extension)

(1) An Externally Funded Postdoctoral Fellow is paid directly through the granting organization. An example of this would be a Fulbright Scholar. 

(2) The position of Teaching Scholar exists at Notre Dame and may be used in the case of Ph.D. graduates who will have only teaching responsibilities.

(3) A new appointment for less than 3 months will not be benefit eligible.

The Research Associate appointment provides for a short-term, training and developmental research position for scholars who do not hold the Ph.D. This is a paid, benefit eligible position.

Positions which more appropriately meet the criteria of a staff position may be appointed through the Office of Human Resources. Limited duration staff positions (which may be more consistent with grant funded research programs) are possible.

P99804

Not eligible for H1b.

The Visiting Scholar is a non-faculty research position in departments, centers and institutes; Scholars (generally) pursue their own research or scholarship. Examples may include an individual from industry or commercial research laboratory or a writer from a major newspaper. 

Individual must be visiting from an outside institution or organization; must be a recognized expert in his or her field, and the source of salary funding for the individual must not be the University of Notre Dame.

A guest faculty appointment is also available through the Provost’s Office. The Guest Faculty appointment should be requested when the visitor currently holds a faculty position at another academic institution and may be appropriate if the individual holds faculty-like credentials elsewhere (outside the academy).

Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

Visa types: B1, WB, J2 (rarely), J1

Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

International appointee applies for visa based on length of appointment at ND, country of citizenship, previous visas, or if receiving support from home country;

See Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

A Senior Research Associate may be compensated through a contract with their home institution. Notre Dame Research works with the Office of the General Counsel to establish the agreement.

A new appointment for less than 3 months will not be benefit eligible.

Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

International appointee applies for visa based on length of appointment at ND, country of citizenship, previous visas, or if receiving support from home country.

May be appointed by & affiliated with a department or other academic unit, center or institute. These appointments have the following attributes:

1.     All research for the dissertation has been completed, but the dissertation has yet to be defended and submitted and

2.      works under the supervision of a faculty member or senior scholar, and

3.      Appointment is temporary of 12 months or less, and

4.      involves full-time research or scholarship

Human Resources Benefit Summary (link to HR website)

International appointee applies for visa based on length of appointment at ND, country of citizenship, previous visas, or if receiving support from home country.

If on J1 visa, must provide proof of financial support.

The Research Fellow position is a short-term, non-renewable appointment for scholars who have completed all research for the dissertation but have yet to defend and submit and anticipate receiving their PhD degree within 12 months.  Once degree is conferred it is anticipated that the scholar will move to a Postdoctoral Research Associate Appointment.

A new appointment for less than 3 months will not be benefit eligible.