Who is a Postdoc at Stony Brook University?

At Stony Brook, a Postdoctoral Scholar is an individual holding a doctoral degree who is engaged in a temporary period of mentored advanced training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of their choosing.

This definition includes but is not limited to the following SBU job titles:

• Postdoctoral Associate
• Senior Postdoctoral Associate
• RF Fellow

We also have researchers appointed in a number of other job titles who are de facto Postdoctoral Scholars without the word "postdoctoral" in their official title.  If someone satisfies the above definition and the established postdoc duration limits, then Stony Brook considers them a postdoctoral scholar independent of their specific job title.

If you are a doctoral scholar in a mentored, advanced training position working to further develop your professional skills and consider yourself to be a Postdoctoral Scholar, then you are welcome to participate in any of our postdoctoral services, workshops, and activities.

Stony Brook has approximately 300  postdoctoral scholars (postdocs for short) working across Stony Brook's various campuses including in the School of Medicine and Southampton, and just over half are international postdocs on temporary visas.

Departments are responsible for maintaining postdoc Peoplesoft records for who is a Postdoctoral Scholar from their department.  Learn more>

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• When would a research scientist be considered a Postdoctoral Scholar?
  If an individual is hired into the RF Research Scientist job title and their work is consistent with the above definition: they have a doctorate and are here at SBU in a temporary period of mentored advanced training in order to build skills for their chosen career path, then they are a Postdoctoral Scholar. The Postdoctoral Scholar contact code should be added to their Peoplesoft record, and removed at the end of their temporary period of mentored advanced training (typically no more than five years). 
• Would a postdoc fellow who is not an SBU employee be considered a Postdoctoral Scholar?
  If an SBU scholar is supported by a fellowship (typically appointed as a non-employee RF Fellow), has a doctorate, and is engaged in temporary mentored advanced training for the purpose of building skills for their future career, then yes, that scholar would be considered a Postdoctoral Scholar.
• Is someone doing their medical residency at SBU considered a Postdoctoral Scholar?
  No, medical residents are not considered Postdoctoral Scholars, even if they happen to have an MD/PhD.
• Is there a time limit on how long someone can be a Postdoctoral Scholar?

  The commonly accepted period of training for a Postdoctoral Scholar is no more than five years, after which a researcher should transition to a more independent, non-training position. 

  Stony Brook’s policy for those in the specific job titles Postdoctoral Associate or Senior Postdoctoral Associate has mandated time limits (RF: up to 5 years; State: up to 3 years on west campus, up to 4 years on east campus). At the end of those time limits, a researcher in one of these titles who is continuing at SBU must be moved to a new appropriate title, with appropriate authorization. 

  In all cases, the PS contact code should only be applied to a scholar’s Peoplesoft record during the postdoctoral training period, which should be no longer than five years. 

   

• I am not sure if I would be classified as a Postdoctoral Scholar. Where can I get help?
  Please contact the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at postdocs@stonybrook.edu and we would be pleased to help you. But generally, if you consider yourself to be a postdoc, you are welcome to participate in all the offerings from the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.