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First and always, make sure to confer with your department administrator regarding internal deadlines and processes that assist you in meeting campus requirements.

Selection

This is up to you and your department. No search is required. If an open search is done, the usual “jobsatcu” posting is done (ask your departmental administrator regarding that process).  Advertising your search is also up to the department, but here are some options.    

Use this flyer to help recruit, it gives the candidate an idea of what will be available in the way of community support.  Postdoc Recruitment.pdf

Hiring Process

Negotiation of terms:

1.  You need to be aware of the policy that now governs postdoctoral appointments at UCD, and make an offer commensurate with the policy.   revised Policy for Research Postdoctoral Fellows-Trainees April 2013.pdf

2.  Also, the benefits page can be used to recruit or inform incoming postdocs of perks here.  Share the PDO website with them so they can peruse what's available.  UCD Postdoc Benefits

3.  You are responsible for setting the appropriate minimum salary level that will result in approval. (A salary that is higher than the minimum for experience level will always meet approval.  No ceilings, only bottom lines.)  Here is the current salary/stipend scale based on years of experience:  UCD Postdoctoral Stipend-Salary at Initial Hire.pdf

4.  You need to set a realistic start date. Factors that will affect that decision:

1. Approvals for Postdoctoral Fellow hires are now entered into the Dean's Postdoc Action Reports.  Submission of paperwork to the Postdoctoral Office must meet certain deadlines, based on the desired effective date of hire.                   PDO Submission Deadlines.pdf
2. Visas sometimes take many weeks to months to reach fruition.  Begin the Letter of Offer and hiring packet process early in order to meet the desired start date. 
3. The selected candidate may not obtain his/her degree in as timely a way as expected.  It may be wise to submit for a "provisional" appointment:  required provisional appointment parameters

NOTE:  IF the candidate is not able to begin work on the original start date given in the offer letter, an addendum to that letter must be submitted to the PDO once the actual start date has been determined.  (Signatures showing agreement needed.)

          Addendum to the Postdoctoral Letter of Offer             

Preparation of Hiring Packet:

Please see that all of these items are forwarded to the departmental administrative staff person for submission to the Postdoctoral Office.   Paperwork is scanned and submitted electronically to Valerie.Saltou@ucdenver.edu

• Required
  • Ask your dept admin to prepare the letter of offer on letterhead.  You must use this template:  PD OFR LTR TEMPL 1-2012.docx   
  • Job Description (YOU must provide this.) Template OPTIONAL:  PD JOB DESC TEMPL.doc 

             Direction on Writing Job Descriptions for Postdoctoral Fellows.pdf

  • Selected candidate’s CV
  • Background check verification from HR (Ask your dept administrator about this process.) The BGC is waived if person is coming on a new visa.
• Conditionally required 
  • Statement of Appointment (SOA) - IF position is funded on an NIH training grant (T-32)
  • IF candidate has not yet received diploma, either:
    • A letter from the graduate school conferring the degree confirming “completed” status, or
    • Provisional language in the Letter of Offer regarding expected receipt of Proof of Degree  (Contact either the PDO coordinator or your departmental administrator for appropriate language and timing.)
• Optional
  • Proof of Degree - official transcript or diploma (Always welcomed.)
  • In the case of a provisional appointment, this becomes a required submission.

Waiting Period

• Once the packet is submitted to the PDO, it is signed by the Dean of the Graduate School and entered into the Dean’s Postdoc Action Report cycle, and the signed offer letter is returned to the department for obtaining employee signature.  (Typical turn-around is two - three days.)
• If a visa is needed, the offer letter and any other documentation needs to be sent to ISSS (the International Students and Scholars Services office).  Turn around may be several months.
• Once all documentation has been received or returned to the PDO, the hire can be approved in the University’s Human Resources system. 
• In the case of a foreign national, a Social Security Number must be obtained, so the first actual paycheck may be delayed.     

At any point in this process, please contact the Postdoctoral Office Coordinator, Valerie Saltou, with any questions: 303-724-2930 or Valerie.Saltou@ucdenver.edu