Postdocs can be appointed for one year at a time and for up to five years, depending on prior experience. Information on appointments can be reviewed in the postdoctoral policy.

What training is required by the university for postdoc appointments?

Postdocs should complete the responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. There will be training required for specific kinds of research and they should discuss with their faculty mentor as well as explore the offices relavant to their research (e.g. IRB, Biosafety, etc).

How can I get started on a research project that involves community members?

The Community Engagement Research Core (part of ITMAT) is a resource at Penn that offers “consultation on community engagement, training in participatory research methods, and assistance with community translation activities”.

What is PennERA?

PennERA (electronic research administration) is a suite of web based applications to manage research administration tasks including proposal development, proposal tracking, human subjects and/or lab animal management, and idenitfying funding opportunities through the SPIN database.

How can Penn support growth in my skills as a researcher?

Nature Masterclasses is an institutional wide resource available to anyone with a Penn Key. Online classes from Nature Journals offer professional development in a range of topics related to research such as identifying funding opportunities, writing a grant proposal, managing data, and presenting your research.

What do Postdocs need to do in their first week at Penn?

Start by reviewing information on the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs’ website and reading through the onboarding section. Postdocs should also reach out to their departmental BA to get school specific information on their appointment and position as well as meet with the faculty mentor to establish goals for their research and training.

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