GUIDELINES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS
 

Introduction

Post-doctoral fellowships are temporary appointments designed to provide full-time research opportunities to recent graduates who wish to pursue independent and collaborative research under the supervision of Bishop’s faculty.


1. Requirements for the Status of Post-doctoral Fellow

A post-doctoral fellow’s appointment will be made by the University in compliance with provincial regulations set out by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, which defines a post-doctoral fellow as:

 “… an individual who has received less than five years ago a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) (or an equivalent such as a medical speciality diploma) and has decided to pursue full-time the development of his expertise in research for a period fixed by him and the institution he works for. Exceptionally, the five year period can be extended to a limit of ten years if the trainee has stopped his activities for personal purposes such as raising a family for a period that should be at least of an entire year after obtaining his doctoral degree"[1].

2. Duration of Post-doctoral Fellowships

Appointments are for a limited period of time, normally from a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years. A post-doctoral appointment may be terminated at any time on the recommendation of the faculty supervisor with just cause. A leave of absence may be granted by the Vice-Principal’s Office for maternity or parental reasons, or for health reasons.

3. Post-doctoral Appointment

Faculty holding research funds may hire a post-doctoral fellow, with the Vice-Principal’s approval. They are responsible for the recruitment and selection of post-doctoral fellows and for coordinating their appointments.

 Post-doctoral appointments require the approval of the chair of the department, the dean and the vice-principal. Departments should consider the availability of resources (research supervision, facilities, office space, etc.) prior to offering post-doctoral appointments.

4. Post-doctoral Registration

All post-doctoral fellows must submit the Registration Form for Post-doctoral Fellows and the required documents to the Vice-Principal’s Office to be admitted at Bishop’s.

When the appointment is approved, a letter of agreement should be drawn up by the supervisor and the vice-principal and signed by the post-doctoral fellow, the supervisor and the vice-principal.

The letter of agreement should include:

• the purpose of the post-doctoral appointment;
• the name and department of the faculty supervisor;
• the duration of the fellowship;
• the nature of the funds available to the post-doctoral fellow;
• the modality of pay;
• the benefits;
• the office location and travel funds available; and
• the teaching duties and student research supervision, if applicable.

Registered post-doctoral fellows will obtain an I.D. student number and will be issued an I.D. student card by the Registrar’s Office. A copy of the letter of agreement should be forwarded to the Admissions Office.

No tuition fee or registration fee are applied.

5. Terms and Conditions of Post-doctoral Appointments

Post-doctoral fellows have a specific full-time status and are not considered employees or academic appointees.

Post-doctoral fellows are funded from a variety of sources, secured either by themselves or their faculty supervisor. Compensation for post-doctoral fellows must meet a $25,000 minimum stipend.

All post-doctoral fellows are required to comply with all applicable University policies.

Any issues or conflicts that may arise, including cause of failure on the part of the post-doctoral fellow or supervisor to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations should be dealt with in the same manner as similar issues would be dealt with for graduate students.

A post-doctoral fellowship may include the supervision of students and minimal teaching or responsibilities. If not included in the fellowship, post-doctoral fellows with full responsibility for teaching a course should be compensated over and above their fellowship at the standard rate, subject to the collective agreement.

6. Privileges for Registered Post-doctoral Fellows

• Post-doctoral fellows have the same rights as those granted to Bishop’s students.
• Post-doctoral fellows have full borrowing privileges in Bishop’s libraries by a way of a valid I.D. card.
• Post-doctoral fellows will have access to sports facilities upon presentation of their I.D. card.  Student fee applicable.
• Post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to participate in staff development seminars and courses open to faculty.
• Post-doctoral fellows have access to services provided by the Ombudsperson.
• Post-doctoral fellows have access to Student Services. Fees are applicable.
• Post-doctoral fellows may have a parking permit, Student fee applicable.
• Post-doctoral fellows may have access to health insurance.

7. Certification

The University will issue a Certificate of Post-doctoral Study to recognize the completion of a post-doctoral fellow’s appointment.

Approved by Senate on March 27, 2006