To be mailed on department letterhead

Date

PI Name

Department of ______

Postdoctoral Candidate Name/Address

Dear Dr ______:

It is with great pleasure that I offer you the position of Postdoctoral Associate within the Department of ______. This is a temporary, one-year appointment anticipated to begin______and continue through______. [If applicable, insert: This offer and any subsequent extensions are contingent upon your ability to obtain the requisite form of employment authorization from the US Department of Homeland Security, and upon Duke’s ability to obtain any required deemed export licenses.]

This appointment is contingent upon you meeting all requirements for the position [if applicable, insert: including completion of your PhD]. In addition, this offer is contingent upon successful completion of Duke University’s standard background check.

As a new employee, you will be subject to a 90 day orientation and evaluation period during which your performance will be evaluated and your paid time off (except for holidays) will not be available to you. [For international appointees, insert: We have every expectation that you will succeed, but if you have questions about how receiving anunsatisfactory performance evaluation during the orientation and evaluation period may affect your visa status, please contact Duke Visa Services.]

Your rate of pay will be $______per year. This position may be renewed beyond the first year contingent upon the availability of additional research funds and your first year's performance. You will be eligible for annual increases beginning July 1 of each year based upon funding, evaluation of your performance, and university compensation guidelines. Renewal of this postdoctoral appointment may not exceed five years except under limited extraordinary circumstances. Yearly renewal is subject to availability of funding and to performance. You will receive an annual performance evaluation and self-assessment. This will help you to identify your long-term career goals and options and your short-term needs for improving current performance. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to begin your Individual Development Plan, or IDP.I will assist you in your career development and mentor you during this next important step in your career.

You will be involved in the department's research activities as follows:______

You will be based in an office/lab located: ______

Details of your eligibility for benefits, such as insurance, retirement, and vacation/sick leave, may be found at the Office of Postdoctoral Services under Policies. Please contact your departmental HR/Business Manager, ______, or Molly Starback, Director of the Duke Office of Postdoctoral Services, if you have questions about benefits.

IMPORTANT POINTS REGARDINGBENEFITS ELIGIBILITY FOR POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATES:

  • Postdoctoral Associates must enroll for benefits within the first 30 days of employment.
  • Note that you may choose for your health insurance coverage to be effective on your first day of employment/eligibility, but if you choose this option, you will be responsible for the total pre-tax premium for that month (Duke’s contribution plus the employee portion of the premium). You may also choose for your coverage to be effective on the first day of the month following your first day of employment/eligibility. If you choose this option, you will be responsible only for the employee portion of the premium.
  • You are eligible to participate in the Duke Savings for Retirement Plan, but note that no employer contribution is made to this plan.
  • Please note that if you are awarded an external fellowship or are appointed to a NIH F32/T32 training grant or similar, your employment and benefits status may change. For an outline of these changes, view the Postdoctoral Policyand FAQat the Office of Postdoctoral Services.

We look forward to having you as part of our team. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. If you accept this offer, please sign and return this letter to me as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

______

Principal Investigator/Sponsor Department Chair

I accept the terms of this appointment as outlined above.

______

Postdoctoral Appointee Name Date

Cc:Office of Postdoctoral Services