Postdoctoral associates and Postdoctoral scholars are scientists in training who carry out a research program under the guidance of a research mentor.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines a postdoc as “an individual with a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, or the equivalent) who is engaged in a temporary period of mentored research and/or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing.”
- Postdocs are persons who have earned a PhD, MD, DSS, or equivalent doctoral-level degree. Postdoctoral candidates must provide proof of degree by a copy of the diploma or an authorized official transcript showing the completion of the degree. In cases where a postdoctoral candidate has defended the dissertation and is waiting for proof of degree completion, an authorized transcript and letter from the university with the date of the successful dissertation defense may serve as proof of degree completion.
- Depending on the position, the postdoctoral candidate may have no more than 0-3 years of previous postdoctoral experience.
- Postdocs are engaged in full-time scholarly research and training under the supervision of a faculty member or senior scholar, also referred to as the mentor.
- Postdocs participate in lab meetings, give presentations, and prepare manuscripts on their findings for publications in close collaboration with the mentor.
- The postdoc position is not part of a clinical training program.
