UO provides guidance on changes for postdoctoral scholars

The UO Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation has released additional details on changes to appointment guidelines and related questions on postdoctoral scholars.

UO units that have either 12-month or nine-month postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to review the information, which was posted to the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs website. An announcement detailing the changes was sent to senior leadership by Cassandra Moseley, senior associate vice president for research and innovation Sept. 8.

This year the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 214, which will make it easier for Oregon universities to recruit postdoctoral scholars and bring in more federal funding. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, creates an alternative retirement plan that will allow postdocs to receive up to a 4 percent university salary match on retirement contributions they make.

The new updates explain which positions will qualify for the postdoctoral retirement plan, clarify the circumstances under which postdoctoral scholars can teach, and detail how floors and raises work for 12-month postdoctoral scholars.