Postdoctoral Information

Postdoctoral Associates/Fellows interested in conducting research in reproductive health and sciences should directly contact a Principal Investigator in the Division of Reproductive Sciences to inquire about opportunities for an appointment in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences.

Postdoctoral appointments enable recent PhD (and equivalent advanced degree) recipients to extend their education and professional training. The opportunity to carry out postdoctoral studies in a research environment such as provided at Yale University can significantly broaden an individual’s expertise, provide a period of more independent scholarship, and help define future career paths. The breadth of the academic community, together with the physical resources in the libraries and laboratories, make Yale University a particularly rich environment for postdoctoral training. In addition to deriving individual benefits, postdoctoral appointees make important contributions to the research mission of Yale University.

There are two categories of appointees: Postdoctoral Fellows and Postdoctoral Associates. The difference arises from the requirements of the funding source. Appointees funded from Yale-administered research grants, contracts, or other University sources in order to provide services related to the supported research are classified as Postdoctoral Associates; they are employees of the University even though they are considered trainees. Postdoctoral Fellows are also trainees, but they are not Yale employees. They may be funded either from training grants to the University or from funding awarded to the trainee from an outside source. Postdoctoral associates and fellows have different benefits.

All incoming postdoctoral associates and fellows must attend a Postdoctoral Orientation that will highlight the most important things you need to know as you start your postdoctoral training. This is provided by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. As part of your professional training at Yale, you are also required to submit an Individual Development Plan to the Office once a year. The other major organization on campus that advocates for postdoctoral scholars is the Yale Postdoctoral Association that offers regular professional development workshops, mentorship training and social events for the postdoctoral community.