Postdoc Eligibility
At Washington University in St. Louis, we welcome postdoctoral candidates from all around the world, backgrounds, and identities. Candidates to a postdoctoral appointment must demonstrate evidence of:
- Conferred doctoral degree or satisfaction of all doctoral degree requirements. Click here for more info.
- Less than 4 years of previous postdoctoral or on-the-job training and experience at other institutions (so that the appointment has 1-year duration as a minimum and to comply with our 5-year term limit policy).
- Satisfaction of all requirements to work in the U.S.
Scholars with more than 5 years of postdoctoral or on-the-job training and experience are not eligible to join Washington University as postdoctoral appointees and should look for positions more appropriate for their level of training, expertise, and independence.
Satisfaction of Doctoral Degree Requirements
As degree conferrals are scheduled only 2-3 times a year, candidate eligibility as a postdoctoral appointee at Washington University is primarily based on the satisfaction of all doctoral requirements. However, there is an extra consideration to keep in mind when the doctoral degree has not been conferred as of the time of signing the offer letter.
To be offered a postdoctoral appointment at our institution, it is sufficient to provide evidence that all the requirements to earn a doctoral degree have been met, including successful dissertation defense and filing. An example of such evidence can be a letter from the graduate school of the degree-conferring institution attesting (1) that all requirements have been satisfied (including successful dissertation defense and filing), and (2) that the degree will be conferred on the next conferral date.
Previous Postdoctoral Experience
Washington University has defined a 5-year term limit for postdoctoral appointments including previous experience at other institutions. Relevant postdoctoral experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching assistantship, internship, residency, clinical duties, previous faculty career, or other time spent in an academic-, health-, or research-oriented field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree.
Clinical training does not count as previous postdoctoral experience.
Scholars with more than 5 years of postdoctoral or on-the-job training and experience are not eligible to join Washington University as postdoctoral appointees. They may, however, be eligible for other staff or faculty positions.
Completing a Postdoctoral Appointment
Once the 5-year term limit is reached, current Washington University postdoctoral appointees must transition to positions inside or outside academia more appropriate for their level of expertise, and move forward with their careers, whether at Washington University (promotion) or at a different institution, company, or industry.
Human Resources has information summarizing the benefits status when leaving the University.