Post Doctoral Training @ UNM

PostDoc @ UNM

A postdoctoral fellow is a person engaged in a period of special study and/or research at the postdoctoral level. The postdoctoral fellow (PDF) is a trainee, which is a unique category of employment at UNM, distinct from staff, faculty and students enrolled in a degree-granting program. Being a trainee, each PDF must have an identified faculty mentor (advisor). It is the responsibility of the institution, college, department and faculty mentor to supervise, encourage and foster the education of the PDF in a manner consistent with PDF's career goals. PDFs will be appointed through the Faculty Contracts Office.
 

An individual may be appointed as a PDF for no more than three years at the University of New Mexico. At the conclusion of three years employment is terminated. If the PDF is to remain a UNM employee, he or she must to through the normal UNM competitive hiring process for a staff or faculty position.

During the period of appointment, the PDF is considered an exempt employee and generally has a forty (40) hour work week, though the PDF is paid a salary which is not based upon the number of hours worked.

A PDF is permitted to also be hired to teach as a part-time instructor. This will be handled as a separate hiring, subject to the normal UNM hiring process. In total, the PDF's FTE cannot exceed 125% (100% if funded entirely with federal funds).

Due to the unique and temporary nature of their employment, PDFs are considered employees at will. Because of this classification, PDFs are allowed to terminate employment without advance notification, although mutual consideration between the PDF and the faculty mentor should make this an infrequent occurrence. Similarly, the University may terminate the employment of a PDF without advance notice. Again, the relationship between a faculty mentor and the PDF would usually preclude such an event.

The following benefits will apply to each PDF:

• Fifteen (15) days annual leave per year or 10 hours per month (which does not carryover year to year; nor can unused leave be paid at termination).
• Fifteen (15) days sick leave per year or 10 hours per month (does not carryover year to year).
• UNM holidays.
• UNM Employee Insurance (health, dental, life and vision): A PDF must be at least 50% FTE with a contract of no less than nine months to be eligible for health benefits.
• Courses available through Human Resources Employee Training or the Teaching and Research Center.
• Discounts available to faculty and staff, which do not incur additional fringe benefits charges.
• Flexible spending plan.
• 403b Tax Shelter Annuity plans.

The hiring department will maintain leave records, leave balances will not appear on payroll earnings statement.
If fringe benefits are not an allowable cost on the contract or grant paying PDF's salary, the department shall identify another allowable source of funds (usually unrestricted) to pay the University's portion of the fringe benefits.
No other employee benefits apply. A PDF must have at least a 50% appointment to be eligible for benefits. If a PDF is appointed for less than full-time (1.0 FTE), benefits will be pro-rated.