Postdoctoral Fellows

The Office of Postdoctoral Studies serves postdoctoral fellows within the Medical School. Our focus is to connect you with the abundant resources at your disposal to become a successful, independent research professional. We also coordinate with the U-M Postdoctoral Association to serve as a voice for postdoctoral fellows on campus as well as in university and nation-wide policy discussions.

If you are a prospective postdoctoral fellow, find more information here.

New Postdoc Orientation

Please register to attend a monthly orientation session designed for newly arrived postdocs.

At orientation, you will gain valuable information specific to postdoctoral fellows including learning objectives, benefits and payroll, how to get the training you need, how to navigate Ann Arbor, and different ways to get involved in the postdoc community. The U-M Postdoctoral Association also gives a short presentation on how they can help you get the most out of your time here at Michigan.

Prior to Orientation, please review the Postdoc Handbook.

Postdoc Resources

Admin Resources

Navigating Your Training

Individual Development Plan

Medical School Office of Research

Avoiding Lab Misconduct E-learning Module

U-M Postdoc Handbook

UMMS Postdoctoral Compact details expectations for mentors and appointees.

U-M Standard Practice Guide

Career Development

Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Career & Professional Development has events, resources, and one-on-one advising to assist postdocs with their career navigation and development.

National Postdoctoral Association

Minority Postdoc

Versatile Ph.D. is a resource dedicated to helping you identify and prepare for possible non-academic careers. U-M is subscribed.

Mentoring Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars from the National Postdoctoral Association.

Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty

Pathways to Science for Postdocs to search positions, sign up for information on funding and programs, and join webinars.

Counseling and Support

Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (formerly EAP) is a confidential, no cost service for UMHS faculty, staff, and their families. They offer a wide range of services to assist with health, relationships, work, and more.

Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office (FASCO) is a University of Michigan program that offers a number of services designed to help staff, faculty, and their immediate family members with personal difficulties encountered at both work and home.

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution Policy

Postdoctoral Ombuds for Dispute Resolution is a confidential, impartial, informal, and independent resource for dispute management that servies postdoctoral fellows at the University of Michigan. Contact Darlene Ray-Johnson at rayj@umich.edu or 734-936-1647.

U-M Medical School Dispute Resolution Officer oversees the mediation of disputes or disagreements regarding equity and fair treatment that may have an impact on evaluation or research activities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the Medical School. The officer is impartial and conversations are confidential. Contact Mary O’Riordan, Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at oriordan@umich.edu or 734-763-3531.

Go to Administrator's Toolkit

Employment and Benefits

The University of Michigan extends benefits to all postdoctoral research fellows. These benefits may include: paid or unpaid periods of excused absence, adherence to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), access to on-site child care, child care information resources, and access to dependent coverage for health insurance.

Academic Human Resources offers the most comprehensive overview of postdoctoral benefits. See also the University of Michigan Benefits Office and Tax Information.

University Policies (SPGs) set expectations for individual and organizational behavior for employeers and departments, and apply to the entire institution. Take time to discover what policies are relevant to your role by reviewing the Postdoctoral Research Fellow Standard Practice Guide.

Find information on Postdoc Maternity and Paternal Leaves here.