Titles

The title of a Postdoctoral Researcher appointment is determined by the requirements of the funding agencies.

Postdoctoral Scholar
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Scholar” when (1) the agency funding the salary requires or permits the appointee to be a University employee, or (2) whenever University discretionary funds are used to support the position.  In their capacity as Postdoctoral Researchers, Postdoctoral Scholars are University employees.

Postdoctoral Fellow
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Fellow” when the Postdoctoral Researcher has been awarded a fellowship or traineeship for postdoctoral study by an extramural agency and the fellowship or traineeship is paid through a University account. In their capacity as Postdoctoral Researchers, Postdoctoral Fellows are not University employees.

Postdoctoral Fellow – Paid Direct 
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Fellow – Paid Direct” when the Postdoctoral Researcher has been awarded a fellowship or traineeship for postdoctoral study by an extramural agency and the agency pays the fellowship or traineeship directly to the Postdoctoral Researcher, rather than through the University. In their capacity as Postdoctoral Researchers, Postdoctoral Fellows – Paid Direct are not University employees.