Defining Roles:
*These positions are considered academic positions (not faculty) and are not currently in a bargaining unit
Postdoctoral Scholar (PDS) - The appointment meets the below listed requirements and is supported from an external grant that prohibits the individual from being considered an employee (as determined by the Office of Research or other entity), or from a grant whose funding source does not permit collection of a fringe benefit rate, or is being paid a stipend by an agency outside the University. For example, a PDS may include persons supported by training grants or individual postdoctoral fellowships.
- was recently awarded the Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in appropriate field or specialty.
- works under the supervision of a faculty member.
- has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.
- is paid from a University grant that prohibits the individual from being considered an employee (as determined by Sponsored Research or other entity), or from a grant whose funding source does not permit collection of a fringe rate, or is being paid a stipend by an agency outside the University. For example, this includes persons on training grants or postdoctoral fellowships.
*When in doubt about the type of appointment, the unit should reach out to the to the Dean’s Office to help determine if a Postdoctoral Scholar or Postdoctoral Associate makes more sense with the type of award.
Postdoctoral Associates (PDA) – The appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship. It is a transitional position and is viewed as preparatory for an academic and/or research career. The appointee is not part of a clinical training program. The appointee:
- was recently awarded the Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in appropriate field or specialty.
- works under the supervision of a faculty member.
- has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.
- is supported on research funds in return for duties performed to meet the goals for which the funds were awarded and is an employee of the University, paid through the University, with a fringe rate collected on the salary.
- generally, the total time spent in Postdoctoral appointments by a given individual should not exceed four years.
- Part-time PDA appointments are only permitted on an occasional, case-by-case basis with the approval of the Dean.
Research Associates (RA) - The appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship. It is a renewable appointment, and not viewed as preparation for another position. The appointee is not part of a clinical training program. The appointee:
- has earned the PhD or equivalent doctorate in appropriate field or specialty.
- works under the supervision of a faculty member.
- has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.
- is supported on research funds in return for duties performed to meet the goals for which the funds were awarded and is an employee of the University, paid through the University, with fringe rate collected on the salary.
- experience and quality of research may justify appointment or promotion to Senior Research Associate.
Important Note: The unit will be responsible for any visa fees that may be incurred at the time of appointment or reappointment.
Recruitment/Appointment:
Postdoctoral Scholar:
The University of Pittsburgh minimum salary will be set at the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (NIH NRSA) minimum annual salary and adjusted annually. As of July 1, 2025, the NIH minimum salary requirement for Postdoctoral Scholars is $62,232. Initial appointments should normally be no longer than two years in duration.
This type of appointment may start with the commitment of the unit to be a host institution for a Postdoctoral Scholar. Once awarded there are two ways the fellowship can be paid out 1. Fellowship paid to the scholar directly (individual direct billed for their benefit coverage) or 2. Funding routed through Pitt (individual’s insurance premiums deducted from monthly pay).
The university’s cost for health insurance, transportation, and life insurance will be charged to the host unit’s 02 operating account. These costs must be transferred off of the 02 account and could be appropriately supported by the institutional allowance funds provided by some fellowship programs or by RDF funds controlled by PIs or units. The unit is responsible for transferring the funds.
The unit does not need to post on Talent Center for a Postdoctoral Scholar position within the unit. The unit should still provide the following documents to Faculty Actions Manager in Perceptive Content for review/approval.
- Chair’s cover letter
- acknowledging cost (university’s portion of selected level of coverage) and that department is willing to pay it
- providing the name of the PI or faculty member hosting the PDS
- CV
- Draft offer letter (recommend copying Principal Investigator [PI] and Unit Head, include PhD contingency paragraph if applicable)
- Award letter
- Account number should be provided in the Notes section of Perceptive Content
Once approved by the Dean’s Office, the Dean’s Office will release the offer letter for signature with the Authorization to Release Records form. They will upload signed offer letter and authorization to the existing Perceptive Content packet and assign to Dept Payroll for processing.
*Part-time positions need approved by the Dean’s Office prior to appointment.
Postdoctoral Associates:
The University of Pittsburgh minimum salary will be set at the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (NIH NRSA) minimum annual salary and adjusted annually. As of July 1, 2025, the NIH minimum salary requirement for Postdoctoral Associates is $62,232. Initial appointments should normally be no longer than two years in duration.
If the proposed salary for the position is less than $70,344, you do not need permission to post. You can move straight to entering the requisition on Talent Center.
If there is a request to have a salary greater than $70,344, the Department Chair or Postdoc "Supervisor" would need to reach out to the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Recruitment for salary approval. Once approved, you can continue with the steps below.
- Post position on Talent Center using either the template for Postdoctoral.Postdoctoral.Associate and go through the normal recruitment process.
- Once you have selected your finalist, submit the below materials to Faculty Actions Manager in Perceptive Content for review/approval.
- Chair’s cover letter, that addresses and confirms funding for the duration of the position
- CV
- Draft offer letter (with PhD contingency paragraph if applicable)
- Include requisition number in the Notes section
- Once approved by the Dean’s Office, the Dean’s Office will release the offer letter for signature with the Authorization to Release Records form. They will upload signed offer letter and authorization to the existing Perceptive Content packet and assign to Dept Payroll for processing.
*Part-time positions need approved by the Dean’s Office prior to appointment.
Research Associates:
We recommend following NIH salary guidelines when appointing Research Associates similar to a PDA or PDS, however the university’s required minimum is $47,476. If the proposed salary for the position is less than $70,344, you do not need permission to hire. You can move straight to posting the position on Talent Center.
If there is a request to have a salary greater than $70,344, the Department Chair or Postdoc "Supervisor" would need to reach out to the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Recruitment for salary approval. Once approved, you can continue with the steps below.
- Post position on Talent Center using either the template for Research Associate.Research.Associate and go through the normal recruitment process.
- Once you have selected your finalist, submit the below materials to Faculty Actions Manager in Perceptive Content for review/approval.
- Chair’s cover letter, that addresses and confirms funding for the duration of the position
- CV
- Draft offer letter (with PhD contingency paragraph if applicable)
- Include requisition number in the Notes section
- Once approved by the Dean’s Office, the Dean’s Office will release the offer letter for signature with the Authorization to Release Records form. They will upload signed offer letter and authorization to the existing Perceptive Content packet and assign to Dept Payroll for processing.
*Part-time positions need approved by the Dean’s Office prior to appointment.
Early Termination:
If the unit needs to terminate a Postdoctoral Scholar, Postdoctoral Associate, or Research Associate contract early for any reason, they need to reach out to the Dean’s Office (dsfacultyaffairs@pitt.edu) as soon as possible to discuss options and next steps.
Additional Resources:
Guidelines for Research Associates | Office of the Provost | University of Pittsburgh
Postdoctoral Fellows Employment Classification | Office of the Provost | University of Pittsburgh
Postdoctoral Classifications and Benefits | Postdoctoral Training | University of Pittsburgh
Welcome | Postdoctoral Training | University of Pittsburgh
Updated January 2026