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Hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow
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· Last Updated 3 weeks 2 days ago
In 2003, CHOP adopted a formal definition for a postdoctoral fellow:
A Postdoctoral Fellow is an individual with a terminal degree seeking a formal, supervised research training experience and, generally, with less than 5 years of relevant training after the receipt of the terminal degree.
Please take note:
- Except in rare circumstances, PhD researchers with more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience should NOT be hired as a postdoctoral fellow
- Postdocs must be transitioned to new roles (e.g., promoted to Research Associate Scientist) or terminated after 5 years of fellowship training, unless approved for a limited fellowship extension
- A postdoc is a limited period of advanced, full time research training; that research training experience includes active participation in career and professional development activities
- The postdoctoral fellow job title is reserved for doctoral researchers undertaking advanced research training with guidance from a faculty mentor leading to research independence.
- This job title should not be used for other time-limited, post-graduate research positions (e.g., early-stage clinicians performing research prior to transitioning into residency programs).
For more information, please search for “postdoc policy” on CHOP PolicyManager. Questions may be directed to the Office of Academic Training and Outreach Programs at [email protected].
While our office does NOT handle the postdoc hiring or onboarding processes, there are resources available to support you.
- To create a job requisition, log into the HR Service Portal on @CHOP and select "Talent Acquisition/Recruiting" from the Service Catalog; once your requisition is finalized, Human Resources will post your position to CHOP Careers, and other job search engines.
- Contact the Office of Immigration and Visa Services for immigration- and visa-related questions for international fellows.
- Mentors can post their position on the Penn Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs website. Click on the "Post A Postdoc Position" link in the Open Positions section of the webpage. Please note: Mentors must post their position directly as only faculty are granted access to this feature.
- Send a request to the Academic Training Team to distribute your complete, formatted job ad to local postdoc and grad offices for distribution via their relevant E-mail lists.
- Join our recurring postdoc recruitment programs, including the Gateway to Pediatric Research Program, by contacting atop [at] chop.edu (atop[at]chop[dot]edu).
For additional guidance related to creating an open requisition, visit the CHOP HR Service Portal (Log in Required).
Academic Training staff is available to meet with postdoc candidates during their interviews to discuss:
- The perks of performing a fellowship at Children's Hospital
- Postdoc-led community groups, including the CHOP Postdoc Alliance (CPA) and Postdocs for Progress in Science, among others
- Professional development resources, including short courses and tuition support
- Career exploration and secondary mentorship programs designed specifically for postdocs
- The postdoc annual review process
- How the CHOP-Penn relationship benefits postdocs
- Other questions related to fellowships, employee benefits, and the Philadelphia area
To request this support, email Olivia Chesniak at [email protected] or [email protected].
Effective July 1, 2025, salaries/stipends for postdoctoral fellows and NIH training grant fellows are to be in alignment with the CHOP postdoctoral fellow salary/stipend minimums outlined below. Use relevant and applicable professional experience as a guide to determine starting salary level.
Salary Guidelines FY26 (Effective July 2025 - June 2026)
| Years of Experience | FY25 CHOP Minimum Salary |
|---|---|
| 0 | $67,000 |
| 1 | $68,289 |
| 2 | $68,814 |
| 3 | $69,339 |
| 4 | $69,864 |
All existing postdoctoral fellows advance to the next salary level upon completion of their annual evaluation and if their faculty mentor recommends the postdoc for promotion to the next fellowship level (NIH training grant fellows may see stipend advancement at the date of their reappointment). A response of "yes" to the question, "Do you agree to increase your postdoctoral fellow's salary/stipend to the next CHOP postdoctoral fellow salary/stipend level according to his or her years of experience (as dictated by CHOP's Postdoctoral Fellows Policy)?" means automatic approval of the reappointment and step up to the next salary/stipend level.
Please Note: The CHOP postdoctoral fellow salary /stipend scale serves as the minimum salary required for postdoctoral fellows; postdocs may be hired at higher salaries to ensure the offer is competitive with other institutions. Stipends for NIH training grant fellows may also be supplemented as allowable by the NIH.
It is required that fellows are paid according to their total years of postdoc experience, including fellowships at other institutions.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you need assistance evaluating the appropriate salary level for your incoming fellow (e.g., if the fellow's applicable professional experience is not typical of most postdocs).
Past Postdoctoral Salary / Stipend Minimums at CHOP
The past postdoc salary/stipend minimums below are being shared for reference only.
Salary Guidelines FY25 and FY24
| Years of Experience | FY 25 CHOP Minimum Salary | FY 24 CHOP Minimum Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $66,300 | $65,000 |
| 1 | $66,810 | $65,500 |
| 2 | $67,320 | $66,000 |
| 3 | $67,830 | $66,500 |
| 4 | $68,340 | $67,000 |
Prior to FY24, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia aligned its minimum postdoc salaries with the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends. Please visit the NIH website for more information.
The Office of Academic Training and Outreach Programs administers a postdoc-specific annual review process based on five key competencies that reflect areas of training and skill development that postdocs should address during their fellowships:
- Research Skill Development and Productivity
- Communication Skills
- Leadership and Management
- Professionalism and Career Development
- Mentorship
Importantly, Postdoctoral Fellow Annual Reviews do NOT occur on the same timeframe as standard CHOP employee reviews. Each fellow is required to initiate their annual review on the anniversary of their hire date, with a mentor review of their submission and 1:1 meeting to follow soon after.
We strongly suggest that you review these competencies and the review process with your fellow upon hire. You can view a blank PDF version of the Annual Review form here (CHOP Network access required).
NOTE: Active postdoc mentors will be able to access the Annual Review system using their Active Directory credentials at https://postdoc.research.chop.edu.
The Office of Academic Training and Outreach Programs has created a comprehensive guide designed to support fellows as they navigate their CHOP fellowships.
The Postdoctoral Fellow Manual (CHOP Network access required) includes key resources of value to fellows and their mentors, including information on:
- Policies, facilities, funding resources, benefits information, and administrative support Information
- Resources for managing your health and wellness while thriving in a world-class research environment
- Information on local resources from housing and transportation to recreation and local attractions
Be sure to share the Postdoctoral Fellow Manual with your incoming fellows or anyone that might benefit from this information.
