Postdoctoral Appointment Offer Letter Template
Domestic Postdoctoral Scholar
[Use letter head]
Template version 002 03/26/2020
[Sponsoring Professor name]
[Sponsoring Professor Title]
[Sponsoring Professor address]
[Sponsoring Professor phone number]
[Sponsoring Professor email]
Dear Dr. [postdoc candidate name],
We are pleased to offer you an appointment as a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar in the [Insert Department
Name] Department at the University of Kentucky. The following is a summary of terms and conditions
that will apply to your appointment:
Title:
Postdoctoral Scholar
Effective Dates:
[Insert Start Date] through [Insert End Date]
Sponsoring Professor:
[Insert Sponsoring Professor name]
College
[Insert College]
Department
[Insert Department]
Lab/Unit
[Insert lab name and or unit name]
This appointment is contingent on possessing a doctoral degree. If you received or will receive your
doctoral degree within one year of your appointment start date, please note that the University of Kentucky
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs must receive official confirmation that you have completed all requirements
for your doctoral degree prior to your appointment start date. Acceptable evidence includes a copy of the
diploma, a copy of the transcript, or a statement from the university’s registrar or graduate school attesting
to the completion of degree requirements.
This offer of employment is contingent upon your successful completion of all pre-employment
requirements. This includes a national background check and a COVID-19 vaccination OR a religious/
medical exemption.
Responsibilities & duties
[Insert a brief description of the research project(s)]
[Insert expectations and any additional duties]
[Insert any training requirements]
[Insert how postdoc candidate will be evaluated]
Compensation
Template version 002 10/20/2021
This appointment is a full-time appointment with an annual rate of [Insert annual salary – salary minimum
is $47,476 but you are free to set the salary above this amount] to be supported by [Insert funding
source(s)].
Benefits
This appointment is eligible for a variety of benefits listed in section VII. Benefits in the University of
Kentucky Administrative Regulations 5:1 (https://www.uky.edu/regs/ar5-1) and include University of
Kentucky Employee Health Plans, Life Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance, 15 days of vacation leave
per fiscal year (July 1
st
to June 30
th
) prorated based on start date, 1 day of sick leave per month, Holiday
leave, and other optional benefits. Please note that you must enroll in benefits within thirty days of the
start date of your appointment.
Appointment length
There is a possibility of an appointment extension based on available funding and performance.
Remember, per Administrative Regulation 5:1, Postdoctoral Scholar appointments are limited to 5 years,
including any past postdoctoral experience in the United States. Based on the information you have
provided in your CV, your experience is as follows:
Past postdoctoral experience in the U.S.:
[Insert years and months of experience]
Eligible postdoctoral time remaining:
[Insert years and months remaining]
Research and Intellectual Property
This appointment is subject to all applicable University of Kentucky policies, including the policies and
procedures governing Research and Intellectual Property. Please refer to University of Kentucky
Administrative Regulation chapter 7 (https://www.uky.edu/regs/administrative-regulations-ar).
Professional Development
You are encouraged to take advantage of the University of Kentucky programs that support your
professional development such as those provided by The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in the Graduate
School (https://www.uky.edu/postdoc/).
We are extremely excited to have you join our [Insert Department name] as a Postdoctoral Scholar and
look forward to working with you. If you have any questions or would like additional information
regarding this appointment, please contact [Insert departmental contact name] at [contact information].
[Insert salutation]
________________________ Date: _____________
[Insert Sponsoring Professor name & title]
Template version 002 03/26/2020
________________________ Date: _____________
Date: _____________
[Insert Department Chair name]
[Insert Department Chair title]
________________________
[Insert College Dean name]
[Insert College Dean title]
Please sign below to indicate you have reviewed and accept the above described terms of this appointment.
Date: _____________ ________________________
[Insert candidate name]
