The purpose of postdoctoral positions is to train individuals to assume independent research roles, and thus they are inherently temporary. Postdoctoral training at Washington University is limited to five (5) years, including postdoctoral time at other institutions. Relevant postdoctoral experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching assistantship, previous faculty career, or other time spent in an academic- and research-oriented field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree.
The OPA Faculty Advisory Committee may grant exceptions to the five-year term limit for justified, extenuating circumstances. This is a benefit provided only to current postdoctoral appointees. The OPA Faculty Advisory Committee is unable to review requests from incoming or recently hired postdoctoral appointees. Only one extension is allowed per postdoctoral appointment.
If the faculty advisor and the postdoctoral appointee discuss the possibility of staying beyond the end date provided by the extension, they should consider a staff or faculty appointment with full benefits after this date.
Requesting an Extension
A request for extending the postdoctoral appointment should be submitted to the OPA at least three (3) months in advance of the current end date. The following documents must be included in the request:
- A postdoctoral appointment extension request, signed by the postdoctoral appointee, the faculty supervisor, and the department head (or division chief for Internal Medicine).
- A letter written by the postdoctoral appointee* explaining in detail the extenuating circumstances that require an extension of a postdoctoral appointment and the measures being taken to address them. The letter should be addressed to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postdoctoral Affairs.
- A letter written by the faculty supervisor* indicating the reason for the extension, why additional postdoctoral training is necessary instead of a promotion, a mentoring plan to achieve the goals of the extended period, and a commitment to fund the postdoctoral appointee for the entirety of the extended period. The letter should be addressed to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postdoctoral Affairs.
- A current copy of the postdoctoral appointee’s CV.
* The letters should be different, not a copy of the other.
Justifying an Extension Request
The OPA Faculty Advisory Committee will base their decision on the information provided in the four documents required, so please provide as much detail as possible, especially in the letters. Include the following information:
- Specific reasons why the postdoctoral appointee needs to remain in a postdoctoral position instead of receiving a promotion.
- Indicate any applicable academic, personal, family, or medical issues that may apply.
- Explain if current scientific or academic training is significantly different than previous experience.
- If the postdoctoral appointee has changed supervisors, indicate the circumstances and timing.
- A brief mentoring plan.
- Describe the training and professional development goals that would be accomplished during the months of the extension.
- Indicate the steps and timeline to accomplish these goals.
- Explain how the postdoctoral appointee’s career plans will be impacted by this extension.
- Assurance that the faculty supervisor has enough funding to pay for the postdoctoral appointment compensation during the extended period.
- If funding becomes unavailable, at least a 60-day notice must be given to end the appointment.
Review Process
The OPA Faculty Advisory Committee will review the request for extension. Failure to detail the reasons for the request completely and accurately will delay the Committee’s review and possibly result in a denial of the request. The OPA Director will contact the postdoctoral appointee and their faculty supervisors if additional information is needed.
A written response will be communicated to the postdoctoral appointee and their faculty supervisor within 30 days of the latest information submitted.
Direct any questions to Dr. Paola Cepeda, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, at postdoc@wustl.edu.