For Prospective Postdocs

According to the National Postdoctoral Association, a postdoctoral scholar (or postdoc) is “an individual holding a doctoral degree who is engaged in a temporary period of mentored research to acquire the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of their choosing.”

At the University of Maryland, an individual with a postdoctoral appointment:

• Has been awarded a doctoral degree (or equivalent) within the past five years
• Will pursue a full-time program of advanced training and research under the direction of a faculty member with an appointment in an academic department or organized research unit
• Will be supported by campus research grants or contracts, by fellowships administered by the campus, or by other external sources
• May not have more than six years of postdoctoral experience at the University of Maryland
• Cannot have held or hold a tenure-track professorial appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, or professor)

Time spent as a postdoc can prepare scholars for a career in academia, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector. For many, especially those in the physical and life sciences, postdoctoral work is a critical step in securing future employment.

The Postdoc Opportunities Board offers some great advice for scholars considering applying to postdoc positions, at the University of Maryland and elsewhere.

The National Postdoctoral Association offers extensive resources and webinars on many aspects of postdoc life, from understanding employment benefits to setting career goals. We encourage you to explore these resources to gain a clearer sense of what you can expect from a postdoc position, where your own priorities lie, and what types of questions you might want to ask as you consider a particular postdoc position.

The University of Maryland is a member of the Postdoc Opportunities Board, a consortium of 18 institutions aiming to improve access to open postdoc positions. Many postdoc opportunities at UMD are shared on this board.

You can search for current UMD job postings on the university’s HR website here. This page also contains additional information about UMD’s benefits package.

The University of Maryland offers some postdoctoral fellowships, such as the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which seeks applicants whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in higher education and at the University of Maryland.

We encourage you to explore the rest of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs’ website to learn more about the resources and services available to postdocs, such as support for postdocs’ career and professional development, mentorship opportunities, and postdoc communities on campus.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs’ Postdoc Manual contains further details about some of the policies and resources at UMD, as well as about life in College Park.

The university’s HR website provides some housing resources for faculty and staff (which includes postdocs) here.