Postdoctoral Associates

Postdoctoral associates are employee-trainees who:

• Receive salaries funded by research grants,
• Are employed as academic or staff personnel, and
• Work under a principal investigator whose research proposal is funded by the government or other external entity.

This usually occurs when the individual’s training is accomplished through the performance of obligations on a sponsored contract. The appointments of such individuals will show an appropriate percentage of employment in the PHR System and a salary payment.

New Graduate Student Orientation

#NewGradTerps Orientation 2025-2026

We are so happy to welcome you to your first semester as a GradTerp!

The Graduate School is hosting our campus-wide Graduate School New Student Orientation asynchronously through ELMS-Canvas.

Transcripts and Diplomas/Degree Certificates

Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards

Approximately 4,000 UMD graduate students also serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. The Graduate School recognizes the outstanding contributions that these GAs provide to students, faculty, departments, administrative units, and the University as a whole. The Graduate School awards approximately 80 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards annually, which represents roughly the top 2% of campus GA's in a given year. The AY 25-26 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award winners will receive a credit for mandatory fees in the Spring 2026 Semester.

International Graduate Students

TerpTax

UMD Postdoc Opportunities

The President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

This Program encourages women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers and is coordinated by the University of California (http://ppfp.ucop.edu/info/) through a common application process.

PROMISE AGEP Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity

Decision and Enrollment

Postdoctoral Appointments

A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary one designed to give individuals an opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor and to prepare for careers in higher education, government, industry, and other sectors of the economy. For many, postdoctoral work is a critical step in securing future employment.

An individual with a postdoctoral appointment at UMD:

Faculty & Staff