Post Doc Appointments

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions are considered term appointments. As of 11/30/17, HR is working to update the Procedures for Hiring Postdoctoral Fellow Positions.

Key Points

Recruitment (2 ways to recruit and hire):

1. Post the position to the UH job site and competitively recruit according to the same post and fill policies as other university staff positions.
2. Hire directly by the department. Ensure the following:
   • Candidate meets all qualifications for the job (education and experience).
   • Official certification of the Ph.D. is obtained.
   • Offer amount is within the new hire range. If not, obtain prior approval from HR Compensation.

Offer Letters and Reappointment Letters

• Initial Offer: The offer letter must have a start and end date. The end date cannot exceed an assignment period of three years (36 months).
• Reappointment to same position: If the appointment needs to continue beyond the end date on the offer letter, provide a reappointment letter to the postdoctoral fellow. Maintain a copy in department records and send a copy to the HR Compensation team. If the project is not complete at the end of the 3-year period, an exception may be requested to extend the appointment to no more than 2 additional years for a total of no more than 5 years.
• Changes during appointment period: If there are any changes to the appointment, such as FTE changes, before the assignment end date, a new offer letter must be prepared. Note: consult with HR Immigration before making changes for employees who are on an H-1B visa.
• Rehire in new postdoctoral position: Once the initial assignment has ended, the postdoctoral fellow may be hired in a different postdoctoral position or an hourly postdoctoral position. The total time in all postdoctoral assignments cannot exceed three years. A new offer letter is required. The salary offer must be within the new hire range. If not, obtain prior approval from HR Compensation.