“Postdoctoral scholar” describes an individual holding a doctoral degree or equivalent terminal degree who is engaged in a temporary and defined period of formally mentored research or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of their choosing. These positions may also include mentored instruction, although it should not constitute the majority of the appointment. At the time of appointment, hiring documentation must include an articulated program of mentoring with an identified mentor. With each contract renewal, the incumbent’s mentor will need to certify that the incumbent has an active individual development plan as evidence of active mentorship.
Qualifications
Postdoctoral appointments require a doctoral degree or equivalent terminal degree in the field.
Classification, Rank, and Title
Postdoctoral appointments have the classification of “postdoctoral scholar.” The category for a postdoctoral appointment is “postdoctoral scholar.” The rank for a postdoctoral appointment is “postdoctoral scholar.” The title for a postdoctoral appointment is “postdoctoral scholar.”
Appointments and Contract Renewals
Generally, postdoctoral appointments are structured as one-year renewable contracts and are limited to three years. Upon approval of Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, appointments may be extended up to an additional two years beyond the three-year maximum.
Postdoctoral scholars are faculty appointments in the faculty bargaining unit represented by United Academics. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the University of Oregon and United Academics governs the terms and conditions of employment for postdoctoral scholars.
Postdoctoral Appointment Pay
Note, this does not apply to Postdocs that are supported by externally funded fellowships and do not have an employment relationship with the university.
Unit administration in areas that hire Postdocs must establish a unit-level salary floor that is no less than the Research Associate floor in the CBA ($50,013 for 12-month appointments; $40,919 for 9-month appointments (as of July 1, 2025)). A template for units to use has been provided below. There are two broad approaches that units may follow:
- Following the NIH NRSA salary floor (so long as it meets/exceeds the CBA salary floor);
- Following the CBA salary floor;
Under both approaches, units must provide an increase to base salary of at least 2% annually. This may be done at the time of appointment renewal, the start of the fiscal year, or another date determined by the unit, which is consistently applied. Importantly, the 2% minimum increase applies to all appointments, regardless of if they are on or above a particular step or at or above the unit salary floor. Units may provide increases larger than 2% so long as it is done so consistently within the unit or on a consistent basis of documented merit. Regardless of the increase amount, a Faculty Pay Action form must accompany the increase request and/or renewal. On the renewal or salary increase request, in the remarks or comments, include the following statement (with merit) “pay is consistent with documented merit and unit postdoc pay practices” or (without merit) “pay is consistent with unit postdoc pay practices."
Unit Salary Floor Template and Process
- Select the appropriate template (NIH | CBA);
- Customize and complete the template as appropriate;
- Submit the template to VPRI for review;
- Once reviewed, VPRI will transmit to Office of the Provost for posting;
- Revise as needed or within 90 days of ratification of a new UA CBA.
Externally Paid Postdoctoral Appointments
Postdoctoral scholars who are funded externally and have no employment relationship with the university may be given courtesy faculty appointments at the discretion of the university. In these cases, the appointment type would be “courtesy,” and the title would be “postdoctoral fellow.” Courtesy postdoctoral appointment requests must also include an articulated program of mentoring with an identified mentor. Courtesy faculty appointments are not represented by United Academics because they are not UO employees. Postdoctoral fellows who do not qualify for employee benefits may elect self pay coverage.
Procedures
Units wishing to make appointments in the postdoctoral rank should follow the University of Oregon recruitment guidelines found on Human Resources - Recruitment website.
The provost or their designee may make exceptions to this guidance that are consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement based on the individual circumstances of the appointment and the interests of the university.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is S.B. 214?
S.B. 214 provides alternative retirement benefits to postdoctoral scholars in positions that meet a specific legal definition, which is as follows:
“1) A public university listed in ORS 352.002 or the Oregon Health and Science University may classify a position as a post-doctoral scholar position if the position: a) Requires a doctoral or equivalent degree; b) Provides a temporary and defined period of employment with the university; and c) Provides clinical or academic research training under formal mentorship.
"2) As used in this section, “formal mentorship” means a training and mentoring program that: a) Is set forth in writing; b) Is directed by a faculty member of a public university listed in ORS 352.002 or the Oregon Health and Science University; and c) Teaches professional research skills needed to pursue the post-doctoral scholar’s anticipated career path in accordance with the requirements necessary for the funding of sponsored research projects that include funding for post-doctoral scholars.”
When did S.B. 214 go into effect?
S.B. 214 applies to postdoctoral scholars hired after January 1, 2018. Postdoctoral scholars hired after January 1, 2018 will be placed in the Blended OPE Rate Faculty/Staff B.
What is the retirement benefits package that postdoctoral scholars receive?
Information about retirement benefits can be found at the Human Resources - Benefits website. The university will match employee contributions, up to 4% of salary, to the Optional Retirement Program. These contributions vest immediately. If a postdoctoral scholar accepts another position at an Oregon institution, they will be able to re-elect into PERS or ORP.
Does S.B. 214 create any restrictions on the kinds of funds that can be used to pay for postdoctoral scholars?
No. Postdoctoral scholars on 12-month appointments will generally be funded using research grants, but other funds including startup funds may also be used. When non-grant funds are used to pay postdoctoral scholars, the activities assigned must be consistent with those typically assigned grant-funded postdoctoral scholars.
I am working on a new grant proposal. What OPE rates should I budget for my postdoctoral scholar?
Grant budgeting information can be found on the Sponsored Project Services website. Detailed information about OPE rates can be found on the Budget and Resource Planning website. Postdoctoral scholars will be placed in the Faculty/Staff B rate.
Can a postdoctoral scholar teach?
Yes, however in all cases instruction should constitute no more than half of job duties. Postdoctoral scholar positions with more than minimal instruction (e.g. more than one course per year) should have 9-month appointments. These positions will be eligible for the normal faculty retirement plan. All 12-month postdoctoral positions must comport with the definition in S.B. 214 of postdoctoral scholar, which is focused on providing clinical and academic research training. Consequently, for 12-month postdoctoral scholars, the instructional duties of postdoctoral scholars must be very minimal (e.g. up to one course, or equivalent, per year) and be consistent with the mentoring plan and career aspirations of the incumbent. These positions will be eligible for the postdoctoral scholar retirement plan as defined in S.B. 214.
Regardless of the appointment type, all teaching must be mentored. Non-tenure-track positions involving un-mentored teaching should be classified as career, pro tem, or visiting instructors or lecturers
Do we still have postdoctoral teaching scholars whose main duty is to teach?
No, all postdoctoral scholar positions must have research/scholarship as a substantial portion of their position descriptions. Non-tenure-track positions involving un-mentored teaching should be classified as instructors, be they career, pro tem, or visiting.
Can a postdoctoral scholar hold separate multiple appointments while a postdoctoral scholar?
No. Postdoctoral scholars should hold only one appointment (postdoctoral scholar) while employed at the UO. Any teaching should be incorporated into their postdoctoral appointment, assuming it meets the criteria described in the FAQ above.
Contract renewal requires an individual development plan. Where can I find resources to write one?
Information for postdoctoral scholars and their mentors for creating an individual development plan can be found on the Division of Graduate Studies website.
What are the minimum salaries that postdoctoral scholars must be paid?
Postdoctoral scholars are subject to the salary floor set in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 26, Section 5.
Are postdoctoral scholars eligible for merit or across-the-board increases?
No. Postdoctoral Scholars are not eligible for merit or across the board salary increases under the CBA but will receive an increase to base salary of at least 2% annually consistent with their units Postdoctoral Scholar Salary Floor policy.
When do postdoctoral scholars get raises?
It depends on what is specified in their units Postdoctoral Scholar Salary Floor policy (see above). For units that follow the NIH NRSA salary floor, the NIH typically increases the floor for each step annually. Postdoctoral scholars will receive a raise in their pay to the new NIH floor effective the July 1 following an NIH floor increase. These raises will not be implemented retroactively. For more information, see the Human Resources - Operations website.
How do I request an extension beyond the 3-year limit?
Requests for extensions should be routed through Human Resources - Operations. Requests may be included in the ‘internal comments’ section of the annual renewal RTO. After initial review, Human Resources - Operations will forward the request to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. The postdoctoral scholar’s unit should initiate the request.
During my time at the University of Oregon, I have been a postdoctoral scholar as well as a courtesy postdoctoral fellow with an outside fellowship. Does all this time count towards my time limit?
No. The 3-5 year eligibility clock for a postdoctoral scholar appointment pauses while a postdoctoral fellow is supported by an externally funded fellowship.
I have worked part-time as a postdoctoral scholar. How do you count the time in this instance?
The time as a postdoctoral scholar is counted in calendar months; any month during which you were employed as a postdoctoral scholar counts as one month towards your time limit.
During my time at the University of Oregon, I have also been a pro tem instructor. Does this time count toward my time limit?
It depends. Any time during which you were working exclusively as a pro tem instructor or otherwise not employed as a postdoctoral scholar does not count toward the time limit. However, your time working as a postdoctoral scholar, even part-time, counts towards the 3-year/5-year limit. Note that after January 1, 2018, postdoctoral scholars may not be concurrently employed as instructors.
I have had different kinds of appointments at the University of Oregon and I am not sure exactly when I was a postdoctoral scholar. How do I find out?
You can find your appointment history on DuckWeb.
I took family leave during my postdoctoral appointment. Does that time count?
No. The clock stops when you are on FMLA or OFLA leave or if you are on leave as described in Article 32, Sec. 23 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
I am working on a second postdoctoral appointment for a different mentor at the University of Oregon. Does the clock start over?
No. The limit applies to all of your time as a postdoctoral scholar or fellow at the University of Oregon.
Why do we have this time limit?
Postdoctoral positions are training positions, not permanent positions. It is important that people move on from these positions when their training is complete.