The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, led by Ms. Rachel Begley, provides employment related activities such
as appointment letters for postdoctoral trainees. Your appointment may occur as one of several categories:
Postdoctoral Scholar
A Postdoctoral Scholar is a special class of employee of the University eligible to participate in a special healthcare benefit plan, but not eligible to receive other University benefits including the retirement plan and Benelect. The Postdoctoral Scholar is engaged in research projects funded by grants obtained by others at the University and receives a University salary. Postdoctoral Scholars are to be appointed with a salary at least equivalent to the current NRSA year 0 postdoctoral salary.
Postdoctoral Fellow
A Postdoctoral Fellow receives training while engaged in research projects funded by grants he/she has personally applied for and obtained from either governmental or nongovernmental sources. A postdoctoral fellow is not an employee of the University. The postdoctoral fellow is also eligible to participate in a special healthcare benefit plan but is not eligible for other University benefits.
Research Associate
Individuals with an MD or PhD may also be hired as a Research Associate. A Research Associate is an employee of the
University eligible to receive University benefits. A Research Associate may be reappointed to a maximum of three years,
after which the appointee is terminated or placed in a different classification. Note that the RA position does not explicitly
require mentoring and is a regular staff position with appointment letters processed by Human Resources.
Independent Development Plan
Postdoctoral positions are a transition to independence. Both the trainee and the mentor need to communicate often about
research and career goals. Case has adopted the use of an Independent Development Plan as a way to ensure these conversations
take place at least annually. The IDP is prepared by the trainee, highlighting research goals, presentations and skills
training and then discussed together periodically. We strongly suggest that trainees complete this process within
three- six months of appointment and re-visit the IDP at least annually. Please
see http://www.cwru.edu/provost/
gradstudies/postdoc.html for more information and instructions.
You may also want to review the NRSA Stipend Levels for 2005.
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