Below are details about postdoc appointment letters.

Section 1. Appointment Letters

Postdoctoral Scholar (FP01) Appointment Letters. The appointment letters for postdoctoral scholars (FP01) shall include the effective dates, salary, work schedule, name and contact information of a supervisor, and notification that health insurance is available (for appointment of 50% or greater) and has deadlines for enrollment. 

NFSA Postdoctoral Fellows (FP02) and non-NRS Postdoctoral Fellows (FP03) Appointment Letters. The appointment letters for postdoctoral fellows (FP02 and FP03) shall include the effective dates, stipend, work schedule, name and contact information of a supervisor, and notification that health insurance is available (for a University of Iowa appointment of 50% or greater) and has deadlines for enrollment.

General Guidelines. Postdoctoral scholars’ and fellows’ letters will also indicate that the University Benefits Office may be contacted for additional information regarding benefits associated with the appointment. Sample offer letters are included in Appendix A.

a. Length of Appointment

Postdoctoral Research Scholars and Postdoctoral Research Fellows are temporary appointment classifications at The University of Iowa. Postdoctoral positions must be a minimum of one year to allow for adequate training time. For appointments of less than one year, a fixed term staff position or similar appointment is appropriate. For an exception to this minimum, please contact the Associate Dean of Administrative Affairs or Senior HR director in the Graduate College.  The postdoctoral experience at the University of Iowa will not extend beyond five years except under unusual and well-justified circumstances that directly affect completion of essential training milestones.

To extend the length of the appointment, the department must send a request with justification for an extension at least 3 months before the end of the current appointment to the Associate Dean of Administrative Affairs in the Graduate College. Requests must clearly describe (1) outstanding training or research outcomes, (2) why they were not reasonably achievable within the standard timeframe, and (3) how an extension will prepare the postdoctoral scholar or fellow for the next appropriate career step. If there are delays that were particular to the specific lab or this postdoctoral research scholar or fellow, this should also be provided in the justification. This could include research challenges (e.g., grant delays, gaps in funding, staffing, collaborator delays, travel delays) or personal circumstances (e.g., personal health issue or family member’s health issue, birth or adoption of a child, visa delays, etc.). 

The request for extension requires approval from both the Associate Dean of Administrative Affairs and the Dean of the Graduate College.

b. Postdoctoral Scholars and Fellows are trainees

Newly appointed postdoctoral scholars or fellows with previous postdoctoral experience may not require the maximum length of appointment to complete the professional training component. If no professional training need exists, a different staff or faculty job classification should be used. 

c. Percentage of Appointment as a Postdoctoral Scholar and Postdoctoral Fellow

Standard appointments for postdoctoral appointees include 50 percent, 75 percent, 80 percent, and 100 percent. Appointments other than these require prior approval from the Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs and the Senior HR Director in the Graduate College. The appointing department or unit should not use non-standard appointments to avoid paying minimum salaries or salary increases as required. 

d. Non-standard appointments

Requests for appointment percentages other than those identified in the preceding paragraph should be directed to the Associate Dean of Administrative Affairs and the Senior HR director in the Graduate College.