Definition of a Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate
Postdoctoral scholars at the University are classified as either Postdoctoral Associates or Postdoctoral Fellows.
Postdoctoral Associates
Postdoctoral Associates are University employees who are receiving additional training while also performing service for the University, for which they are compensated. Postdoctoral Associates conduct research, teach, or provide service that enhances career skills or allows for opportunities to learn new research or teaching techniques. Funding is provided through the collegiate budget.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Postdoctoral Fellows receive an outside supported fellowship or training award that allows for advanced study or research. Individuals appointed as Postdoctoral Fellows are not considered employees of the University and therefore their responsibilities are defined by the parameters of the fellowship or traineeship.
Recruitment, Retention, and Diversity
The Diversity Recruitment Toolkit is designed to provide faculty and staff with the information and resources they need to support and build a diverse community.
Salary and Benefits
Postdocs are classified according to these job codes:
Postdoctoral Associate 9546
Postdoctoral Fellow 9560
Job codes define level of pay and eligibility for benefits. If you want to find which job code the postdocs you supervise are classified as, and for current information about salary and benefits, go to the UMN People Search webpage and search for their name or Internet ID.
Information on benefits options and enrollment can be found on the Benefits website. For questions related to benefits email benefits@umn.edu or call 612-624-8647 and select option 1. Postdoctoral Fellows can enroll for Health Benefits through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan.
University Policies
The following University policies relevant to postdoctoral research can be found in their entirety at the links provided below: