Definition of a Postdoc
Each postdoctoral appointee is a unique employee. Before beginning your training, an offer letter or letter of appointment from the primary investigator for who you will work, should describe the type of funding available. Your source of funding dictates the salary and benefits your will receive. Policies on sick, vacation and parental leave are also tied to your grade of appointment and advisor and lab policies.
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 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.
Salary ranges for Officers of Research at the Medical Center
Salary ranges for Officers of Research at Morningside Heights
For a detailed overview of current benefits for salaried postdocs, please
consult the HR Publication "Benefits Highlights" For postdocs paid through stipends or other sources of funding,
details on how to enroll in a medical plan are provided on the Human
Resources’ Postdoc Medical Overview.