The Appointment Process
There are three critical steps that must be taken in order to register your postdoctoral appointment at Western:
Step 1: Reach an agreement in principle with a faculty researcher
As a general rule, to become a postdoctoral scholar you must first contact a researcher at Western who shares your research interests and can therefore serve as your faculty supervisor or faculty research mentor.
Items for discussion:
- Compensation
- Time off (holidays, sick days)
- Travel costs or moving expenses
- Teaching opportunities
Be sure to discuss the different appointment types (PDF or PDA) with your supervisor/mentor and discern which is most appropriate. You will also need financial support. Typically, there are three potential sources of financial support for Postdoctoral Scholars:
- a fellowship from an external agency;
- a fellowship or salary paid through a professor's grants or contracts; or,
- a fellowship or salary paid by a research unit of the University.
Step 2: Complete the online appointment process
- Initiate an appointment by completing the Postdoctoral Scholar Appointment Form
- Upon completing the form, your supervisor/mentor will be alerted to this proposed appointment via email and be prompted to confirm additional details (duration, salary etc.)
- An email will be directed to you upon your supervisor’s authorization summarizing the details of your appointment and delivering an official e-letter detailing your incoming appointment
Step 3: Sign and submit your contract
- You are required to sign either a Postdoctoral Fellow Agreement or a Letter of Appointment, arranged by your incoming home department, depending upon the nature of your appointment. This must be completed prior to the commencement of the appointment.
- Submit your agreement or letter, proof of your Ph.D. degree and, if applicable, your Canadian Work Permit, to SGPS (SSB 4180)
- SGPS will validate and forward your appointment confirmation and supporting documents to Human Resources for processing. This process can take 1‐5 days.
Most services available to scholars at Western cannot be accessed until this process is complete.
For an overview of the transition to this appointment process, please view Postdoctoral Appointment Process at Western (.ppt).
Reappointment
In order to renew your Postdoctoral Scholar appointment, you will need to complete the above appointment process. Please note, however, that the maximum period that an individual can be appointed as a Postdoctoral Scholar at Western is five years.
