UC Berkeley and Postdocs
a guide to the University of California for potential
postdocs
If you are interested in being a postdoc at the University of California, Berkeley, this guide is for you. It outlines the appointment process and provides important information you need to know before you get here, as well as resources for finding out more about Berkeley.
About Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, enjoys an international reputation for excellence in research. Berkeley is consistently rated among the top institutions in the country, in distinction of faculty, in graduate education and quality of Ph.D. programs, in significance of research and scholarship, and in the amount of funding received for support of research programs.
Berkeley’s faculty of approximately 1,500 includes eight Nobel laureates, 122 National Academy of Science members, 86 National Academy of Engineering members, and 216 Academy of Arts and Sciences fellows. Berkeley enrolls over 9,300 graduate and 23,800 undergraduate students in over 100 degree programs in five colleges and nine schools. Berkeley also hosts over 1,200 visiting scholars from the U.S. and abroad.
Postdocs contribute to the educational and research mission of UC Berkeley. Each year, the campus hosts approximately 1,200 postdocs, who come from all over the world for advanced academic training.
Berkeley is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its extraordinary beauty and remarkable number of cultural, educational, and recreational attractions. Like many popular urban areas, the Bay Area has a high cost of living, something prospective postdocs should consider when planning their stay.
A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary one designed to give individuals an opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The time spent as a postdoc is in preparation for a career progression in academe, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector. For many, especially those in the physical and life sciences, postdoctoral work is a critical step in securing future employment.
A postdoc is an individual who:
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Has been awarded a doctoral degree (or equivalent) within the past five years.
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Will pursue a full-time program of advanced training and research under the direction of a faculty member with an appointment in an academic department or organized research unit.
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Will be supported by campus research grants or contracts, by fellowships administered by the campus, or by other external sources.
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May not have had more than five years of postdoctoral experience, including at other institutions.
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Cannot have held or hold a tenure-track professorial appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, or professor).
Postdoctoral appointment titles differ with respect to compensation, benefits, and taxation. The source of support determines the category of the postdoc. Changing an appointment from one category to another will result in a loss or gain of some benefits. At Berkeley, postdoctoral appointments fall into three categories.
Postdoctoral Scholar – Employee
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Scholar – Employee” when (1) the agency funding the salary requires or permits the appointee to be an employee of the University, or (2) whenever General Funds, Opportunity Funds or other University discretionary funds are used to support the position.
Postdoctoral Scholar – Fellow
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Scholar – Fellow” when the Postdoctoral Scholar has been awarded a fellowship or traineeship for postdoctoral study by an extramural agency and the fellowship or traineeship is paid through a University account.
Postdoctoral Scholar – Paid Direct
An appointment is made in the title “Postdoctoral Scholar – Paid Direct” when the Postdoctoral Scholar has been awarded a fellowship or traineeship for postdoctoral study by an extramural agency and the agency pays the fellowship or traineeship directly to the Postdoctoral Scholar, rather than through the University. Such appointments shall have a “without-salary” status.
Postdoctoral Scholars may be assigned to more than one Postdoctoral Scholar title concurrently depending on University and extramural funding agency requirements.
All postdoctoral appointees must be offered positions by a faculty mentor in writing with the approval of the sponsoring department or Organized Research Unit (ORU). Offer letters must clearly state the length of the appointment, the amount of annual compensation, the category of postdoctoral appointment being offered, and relevant information regarding benefits associated with the offer (see sample letter). Offer letters should be sent at least one month prior to the beginning date of the appointment. Potential postdoctoral appointees must also accept the offer in writing.
All postdoctoral appointments are temporary and typically are for a two-year period. Postdocs may be appointed for up to three years, subject to the availability of funding. With the approval of the cognizant dean, an extension to a fourth year (and more rarely, a fifth year) is possible. This includes previous postdoctoral experience at other institutions.
All postdocs are required to work and be compensated at 100-percent time. Exceptions to less than full-time appointments must be initiated by the postdoc and endorsed by the appropriate university officials.
The campus has a minimum compensation policy for postdocs. Contingent upon the rules of the fellowship and the availability of funds, postdocs whose fellowships pay stipends that fall below the campus minimum may be supplemented by other sources of funds. The current minimum salary policy can be found here. Schools and Colleges may have more specific policies regarding compensation limits.
Health insurance provided to postdocs varies by the type of appointment held, and changing a postdoc appointment from one type of funding to another may result in a change of benefits and possibly a loss of health insurance coverage. You should check that your coverage will be adequate for your needs before accepting an appointment. If you will be using your own health insurance plan, check the coverage your plan will provide, especially if you are from another region of the country or an international postdoc.
If you a citizen of another country, you must have the appropriate visa type, are required to have or obtain health insurance coverage, and are required to have repatriation insurance. Postdocs must arrive with sufficient funds to cover the high cost of living in the Bay Area for several months (including covering the first and last month's rent for housing).
Visa arrangements must be made several months prior to your planned arrival date or visa renewal date. The appropriate visa status is critical to gain or retain an appointment and to remain in the country. You are encouraged to work with your prospective department or ORU staff to coordinate visa requests through the Services for International Students and Scholars Office as soon as possible.
All postdocs receive library privileges and an e-mail account, and are eligible to purchase a campus parking fee-lot permit, use housing services and University Health Services, receive a discounted membership at the Cal Rec Club, and purchase Cal football tickets.
Since issues regarding postdoctoral appointments are often complex, questions regarding postdocs should be directed to the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs Program Director or to your prospective department or organized research institute.
Resources for Potential Postdocs
University
of California, Berkeley
http://www.berkeley.edu/
Visiting
Scholar and Postdoc Affairs
44 Barrows Hall #2572
510/643-9681 (phone), 510/642-3328 (fax)
vspa@berkeley.edu
International
Postdocs
Berkeley International Office
Piedmont Avenue and Bancroft Way (at International House)
510/642-2818
http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu
internationaloffice@berkeley.edu
Health
Insurance
Human Resources - Benefits Office
510/642-1623
Housing
Housing Office
2610 Channing Way
510/642-0706
http://www.housing.berkeley.edu
UC
Berkeley Postdoctoral Association
http://postdoc.berkeley.edu