Position Statement:
Postdoctoral Fellows
Approved by SSR Board of Directors, February 2002
Although specific postdoctoral position titles may differ across and even within institutions, a postdoctoral fellow is here defined broadly as an individual who has earned a Ph.D., MD, DVM, or equivalent doctoral degree and performs research under the supervision and support of a faculty mentor. These positions should not be permanent and should extend no more than seven years. They involve training, as well as research, and prepare the individual for a professional career.
SSR is committed to supporting attempts to improve the postdoctoral experience. A postdoctoral trainee should have a salary that reflects the skills and experience of the trainee, a research experience that equips the trainee for a range of career opportunities, and benefits that include health care coverage.