Policies & Compliance
Policies & Compliance
Postdoctoral appointments at GW are governed by University policies and procedures that establish expectations and requirements throughout the postdoctoral appointment. These policies address areas including appointment terms, compensation, leave, benefits, professional conduct, performance management, and other aspects of the postdoctoral experience.
These policies guide Postdoctoral Fellows, Principal Investigators, and administrators and should be reviewed throughout the appointment as questions or changes arise.
Where the terms and conditions of a funding source differ from University policy, the requirements and restrictions of the applicable funding source may apply. Postdoctoral Fellows and those managing postdoctoral appointments should consult the relevant policy and funding requirements when making decisions about an appointment.
- Postdoctoral Fellow Definition
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) define a postdoc as an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their chosen career path.
At GW, postdoctoral associates and postdoctoral scholars (collectively referred to as postdoctoral fellows) design, organize, and conduct specialized and advanced experiments using established scientific protocols, troubleshoot and design new protocols, summarize findings and publish results in research journals, under the general supervision of a faculty member.
In some cases, postdoctoral fellows assume responsibility for general scientific operations in the lab, and/or provide supervision and guidance to laboratory staff, students, and other researchers.
- Appointment Length Policy
Postdoc appointments, both postdoctoral associates and scholars, have limited terms of up to five years at GW. If a postdoc has spent time in a postdoc role at another institution or in another field, the total time of training at GW will be limited to five years.
The initial appointment for a postdoc must be at one year to allow for benefits eligibility.
A temporary status is incompatible with the objectives of a postdoc position for which mentorship is a key component.
Following the five-year training period at GW, a postdoctoral appointee must transition into a non-postdoc position at the university or another organization.
In extraordinary circumstances, extensions can be considered to the five-year term limit by seeking approval from the postdoc’s supervisor. Requests for extensions must be submitted to postdocsupport
gwu [dot] edu (postdocsupport[at]gwu[dot]edu).- Definition of the Postdoctoral Period
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) define a postdoc as an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their chosen career path.
- Full-Time Appointment Policy
Postdoctoral appointments are generally full-time exempt appointments with the expectation that they will work 40 hours per week. Part-time positions, no less than 75 percent effort, may be approved but will require managers to work with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) to ensure any exemptions are appropriate. Requests for part-time appointments must be submitted to postdocsupport
gwu [dot] edu (postdocsupport[at]gwu[dot]edu).- Salary Minimum and Maximum Policy
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs establishes the annual salary range for postdoctoral appointments, including the minimum, midpoint, and maximum compensation levels.
All newly hired postdoctoral associates and postdoctoral scholars must be appointed at or above the current George Washington University minimum salary. GW's minimum salary is based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award (NRSA) Year 0 stipend level.
While GW updates its minimum salary for new appointments to align with the current NIH NRSA guidance, existing postdoctoral salaries are not automatically adjusted when NIH publishes updated stipend levels. Salary increases for current postdoctoral associates are administered through the university's annual merit process.
- Teaching Policy
Teaching Policy in development
- Postdoctoral Vacation Payout Policy
Vacation Payout Policy in development
- Postdoctoral Fellows as PI's Policy
Eligibility for Postdoctoral Fellows to serve as Principal Investigators is determined by the applicable School in accordance with its policies and requirements.
- Postdoctoral Fellows As Dissertation Committee Members
Each School determines whether Postdoctoral Fellows may serve as members of dissertation committees, in accordance with the School’s applicable dissertation policies and requirements.
- Additional Policies