Overview
This page is for principal investigators and department staff who hire and support postdoctoral scholars at Syracuse University. Each section links to the templates, guides, and contacts on the Postdoc Affairs SharePoint site. Those materials require an SU login; email postdocaffairs@syr.edu for access or with any questions.
Hire
Guidance for the full hiring process, from assessing the need for a position through approvals, the search, and the appointment letter, plus letter templates and a step-by-step FAQ.
- Hiring a Postdoc: letter templates and the hiring process (SharePoint; SU login required)
- Frequently Asked Questions: step-by-step Q&A (SharePoint; SU login required)
- Trainings: how-to guides (SharePoint; SU login required)
Manage
Support for onboarding, benefits, payroll, and system access throughout a postdoc's appointment.
- Resources: onboarding, benefits, payroll, and process documentation (SharePoint; SU login required)
- Who to Contact: system access, benefits, and PIN changes (SharePoint; SU login required)
Reappointment
Templates and guidance for extending a postdoc's appointment.
- Hiring a Postdoc: reappointment letter template (SharePoint; SU login required)
- Frequently Asked Questions: extending an appointment (SharePoint; SU login required)
Visiting Scholars
Contacts and templates for hosting a visiting scholar. The right contact depends on the scholar's current status.
- Who to Contact: visiting scholar contacts by status (SharePoint; SU login required)
- Frequently Asked Questions: inviting a visiting scholar (SharePoint; SU login required)
Visa & Immigration
Visa and immigration resources for postdoctoral appointments, including the J scholar English proficiency requirement and STEM OPT extension.
- Visa & Immigration: visa and immigration resources (SharePoint; SU login required)
- General information for research scholars at SU can also be found here.
General FAQs
Helpful how-to guides and templates can be found here.
A candidate’s employment is contingent upon the background check clearing and cannot start prior to a successfully cleared background check.
The Office of Postdoc Affairs facilitates the process and questions related to immigration status for postdocs who require visa sponsorship. The Office of Postdoc Affairs can be reached via email at postdocaffairs@syr.edu.
Yes – SU postdocs are represented by SEIU. Questions regarding representation should be directed to the union representative.