Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

About

The University of Pennsylvania Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship is a prestigious program aimed at providing opportunities for postdoctoral research to all disciplines within the university’s academic community. Designed to support early career postdoctoral scholars interested in faculty and research careers, this program strengthens the career pathway in higher education through teaching, research, and service. It cultivates a pool of exceptional candidates for future careers in either academia or industry. Recipients receive research fellowships, faculty mentoring, travel and research funding, and academic networking opportunities within their respective schools, fostering their professional development and research independence.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the fellowship program mandates that candidates possess US citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA recipient status. Additionally, prospective applicants must fulfill specific educational criteria: graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania or other academic institutions are eligible if they have either completed their Ph.D. requirements or anticipate fulfilling them by the fellowship’s commencement. Postdoctoral scholars from external institutions qualify if they have obtained their doctoral degree within the preceding two years. Professional applicants, encompassing those with degrees such as M.D., D.M.D., V.M.D., or J.D., are eligible within one year of concluding their post-degree professional training.

Individuals currently holding positions as postdocs, residents, or fellows at the University of Pennsylvania or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are ineligible for participation in this program. Individuals currently in a faculty position at any institution of higher education and international applicants are ineligible to apply.

Appointments

Consistent with the University’s postdoctoral trainee policy, appointments are for one year. Renewals to the second and third year of the program are made annually and will be based on satisfactory performance and mutual agreement between the fellow and the postdoc’s primary mentor. Annual reports on the postdoc’s progress are required.

Awards

The current 2024-2025 stipend rate begins at $66,300 in year one, with $2,000 increases in years two & three. Additionally, the fellow will receive annual allowances for research and travel-related expenses of $7,000. The University and CHOP also provide a benefits package to their respective fellows. Successful candidates will receive highly mentored scholarly and research training and have access to courses and workshops provided by partners on campus to enhance their research skills and prepare them for faculty positions in a major university.

The program is designed to provide postdocs with time to focus on research and publishing activities that will enhance their career prospects for either a faculty appointment in an academic institution or an appointment in other sectors of the economy such as industry, government, or nonprofit organizations. Start dates will be arranged in consultation with the faculty mentor and will begin as early as July 2025.

Application Procedure

The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program is open to all areas of study at Penn. Individuals interested in the program should review the application requirements below:

1. Online application form, which includes:
   • A curriculum vitae, including publications, education, and teaching history (if applicable), awards, honors, public service, and current and pending funding, if any.
   • A dissertation abstract. The abstract should concisely summarize your dissertation, including the research question, methodology, key findings, and significance of the work. Applicants without a dissertation abstract should refer to the Penn Dissertation Formatting Guide.
   • A personal statement, no longer than three pages, single-spaced with one-inch margins. Must address all the following elements in the following order:
     • Review your previous research accomplishments.
     • Outline your proposed research plan and future research goals, emphasizing how your background and experiences will contribute to your field of study.
     • Describe your commitment to pursuing an academic or research-focused career, highlighting how your educational, research, and firsthand experiences will contribute to your discipline and the university overall.

2. Three letters of reference from people acquainted with your work, including one letter from your thesis advisor.
3. A letter from a Penn or CHOP faculty member with compatible research interests who you have contacted and who has agreed to function as a mentor for the duration of the fellowship.

Roles and Responsibilities

The University of Pennsylvania acknowledges that postdoctoral fellows are trainees operating in an apprenticeship mode as they prepare for future roles in industry or academia. The mentorship offered by faculty mentors plays a pivotal role in this preparation. Postdoctoral fellows are typically expected to function responsibly and independently. Independent thinking and action are essential elements for cultivating successful research careers.

Responsibilities of postdoctoral fellows include the following:

• Reside in the Philadelphia area unless their research program has global implications. Any remote work arrangement needs review and approval by the university, school, and faculty mentor.
• Participate in the intellectual life of the department, school, and university by attending and engaging in department meetings, seminars, colloquia, conferences, etc.
• Focus primarily on research endeavors leading to publications or other significant contributions such as patents.
• Identify and pursue training and professional development activities.
• Schedule regular meetings with mentors to review and document research and professional achievements.
• Collaborate with faculty mentors to complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP) upon arrival, outlining both short-term and long-term research goals.
• Utilize the provided templates for IDPs tailored to life or biomedical sciences, social sciences, and humanities for guidance.
• Annually submit a copy of the IDP to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.
• Participate in scheduled professional and social programming with Provost Postdoctoral Fellows across campus.
• Offer programmatic feedback upon request, such as through surveys, to ensure continued engagement and success in the postdoctoral fellowship program at Penn.
• Adhere to the obligations and expectations as outlined in the university’s policy for postdoctoral appointments.

Responsibilities of faculty mentors include the following:

• Prior to writing a letter of support, the proposed mentor should meet or engage with the applicant to determine compatible research, scholarly, or creative work interests with the applicant and agree to serve as a mentor.
• Provide a recommendation letter for the application. The letter in the applicant’s submission should provide details on the research project, research goals, and plans for mentoring.
• In consultation with the postdoctoral fellow, develop an Individual Mentorship Plan (IDP) shortly after their arrival on campus. This includes defined expectations for scholarly work to be completed.
• Provide a mutually agreed-upon timeline for implementing the fellow’s proposed goals or plan.
• Schedule annual meetings to review IDP and review fellow’s accomplishments.
• Submit annual reports on the postdoc’s progress to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research by the postdoc’s renewal date.
• Respect the postdoctoral fellow’s individuality, working style, and career goals, and be aware that the rate of progress of PDTs will vary.
• Provide support and guidance in the fellow’s work while allowing a high degree of autonomy to cultivate research independence.
• Maintain an atmosphere in which the postdoctoral fellow feels comfortable to approach you for advice or discussion of differences.
• Establish clear plans for how projects will be divided when fellows complete their training.
• Serve as a bridge to assist the postdoctoral fellow in establishing a visible, active presence in the department, school, and with colleagues.
• Meet regularly (for example, once a month) to establish and foster a career development plan and to assess important aspects of the postdoctoral trainee’s progress.
• Encourage the postdoctoral fellow to attend orientations, training, and professional development activities. Facilitate professional development opportunities when available.
• Assist the postdoctoral fellow in networking with mentors from variegated backgrounds and disciplines, thereby facilitating a comprehensive and multifaceted experience.
• Serve as a professional resource, advise them about the job market, and help facilitate connections.
• Promote ethical standards for conducting research, including compliance with all institutional and federal regulations.
• Accord full recognition of the postdoctoral fellow’s contributions to scholarship, including appropriate authorship of published work.
• Support the postdoctoral fellow’s use of the full benefits available to them, including personal time off.

Applicants may send mentors to this direct page with instructions.

Responsibilities of the school and/or department include the following:

• Provide adequate workspace within the first week, which should include a private office, shared office space, or a private cubicle with a name/office plate. This space should include a desk, chair, computer (laptop or desktop), and a light fixture.
• Onboard and assist in establishing a Penn presence (ID card, email address, etc.)
• Welcome the postdoctoral fellow and provide information about departmental meetings, colloquia, seminars, other events, and essential matters.
• Add the postdoctoral fellow to the appropriate department, center, and school website and listservs.
• Provide contact information for administrative staff in the department.
• Provide information about department business and administrative practices.
• Provide information about stipends and benefits. Ensure that stipend amounts are updated on an annual basis.
• Administer the postdoctoral fellow’s research and professional travel funds.
• Commit to providing a successful training environment for the postdoctoral fellow.
• Work with the postdoctoral fellow and mentor to assign teaching responsibilities if part of the fellow’s responsibilities.

Please note that schools and faculty mentors are responsible for reappointments, including issuing reappointment letters to the postdoc and copying the Office of the Vice Provost for Research before the renewal date.

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