Policies and Guidance
- Postdoctoral Appointment Policy (from the Georgia Tech Policy Library)
- Conflict Resolution Pathways for Postdocs (PDF)
Salaries for Postdoctoral Positions
- The minimum salary for postdoctoral positions is $50,000 per year through July 31, 2023.
- As of August 1, 2023, the minimum salary for postdoctoral positions will be $52,000 per year.
- The NIH stipend rates for NRSA fellows may also be used as suggested guidance (e.g., FY2023 rates here).
- All grant proposals that support postdoctoral positions are strongly encouraged to include a 3% annual escalation for the salaries of postdocs.
Summary Table of Postdoctoral Appointment Types
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Term of Appointment Recommended |
Postdoctoral Fellow 1-3 years; 5 years maximum |
Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar 1-3 years; 5 years maximum |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow 1-3 years; 5 years maximum |
Compensation/Stipend (Paid by) |
Postdoctoral Fellow Salary (Georgia Tech) |
Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship stipend (Direct from sponsor or via Georgia Tech) |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Salary (Georgia Tech) |
Compensation/Stipend Minimum |
Postdoctoral Fellow Set by EVPR/Provost (see Salaries section above) |
Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Set by sponsoring agency |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Set by EVPR/Provost (see Salaries section above) |
Tax Reporting Form |
Postdoctoral Fellow W-2 | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar 1099 |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow W-2 |
Tax Withheld by Georgia Tech |
Postdoctoral Fellow Federal and state | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar None for U.S. citizens and permanent residents |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Federal and state |
Georgia Tech Worker’s Compensation Insurance |
Postdoctoral Fellow Yes | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar No |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Yes |
Background Check |
Postdoctoral Fellow Required | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Required |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Required |
Health Insurance Eligibility |
Postdoctoral Fellow USG Employee | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Student health insurance plan |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow USG Employee |
Retirement Benefits |
Postdoctoral Fellow TRS or ORP (with employer match) | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Not eligible |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow TRS or ORP (with employer match) |
Annual Leave |
Postdoctoral Fellow 14 hours/month | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar (Specified by sponsoring agency) |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow 14 hours/month (None if on a 9-month academic year contract) |
Sick Leave |
Postdoctoral Fellow 8 hours/month | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar (Specified by sponsoring agency) |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow 8 hours/month |
BuzzCard |
Postdoctoral Fellow Required | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Required |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Required |
Access to Georgia Tech Services* |
Postdoctoral Fellow Yes | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Yes |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Yes |
Ethics and Haven Training Module |
Postdoctoral Fellow Required | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Required |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Required |
Eligibly to be PI on an Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Postdoctoral Fellow Yes | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Yes |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Yes |
Eligibly to be PI on Research Grant |
Postdoctoral Fellow Can be Co-PI, if school chair or unit director approves | Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar Not Eligible |
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow or Brittain Fellow Can be Co-PI, if school chair or unit director approves |
*Including access to the Employee Assistance Program, Library, Parking and Transportation, Office of Postdoctoral Services programs and services, etc.
Quick Reference Guide
- Academic and Research Faculty Definitions: Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook, Section 2. Faculty Governance
- Appointment Procedures/Academic (Brittain Fellows and Other Academic Postdocs): Faculty Affairs
- Appointment Procedures/Research (Postdoctoral Fellows and Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholars): Research Faculty Hiring
- Benefits Eligibility: USG Policy on Employee Categories (PDF)
- Benefits Plans and Forms: Georgia Tech Office of Human Resources
- Conflict Resolution: Conflict Resolution & Advocacy
- Ethics: USG Ethics Policy; Georgia Tech's Code of Ethics
- Export Control: Office of Research Integrity Assurance: Export Control
- Granting Grading Privileges: Faculty Affairs Banner Access; SACS-COC Faculty Credential Guidelines (PDF)
- Grievance Pathways: Grievance Pathways document (DOCX)
- Health Insurance Plan Available to Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholars and J-1 Exchange Visitors: Georgia Tech Voluntary Student Plan
- Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and Mentoring Resources: Postdoctoral Services
- International Scholars (Visas, Tax Information, etc.): Office of International Education (J and F visas) / Global Human Resources (Fs from other institutions, H1-B, and other visas)
- PD/PI Eligibility: Research Administration Policies and Procedures, Section 2.1.1 PI/PD Eligibility
- Performance Evaluations: Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook, Section 3.1.2 Faculty Salaries and Evaluations
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Compliance Policy: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Compliance Policy
- Scientific or Other Scholarly Misconduct: Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook, Section 5.7
- Time Away from Work Policy: Policy Library: Time Away from Work Policy
- Visiting Non-employee/Affiliate Access and Intellectual Property Agreement: Office of Human Resources: Affiliates