Policy on Postdoctoral Term Limits in the College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences
Applies to: Postdoctoral scholars (Postdoctoral Researchers and Postdoctoral Fellows) in the
College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences appointed on or after the date of issue
and their faculty advisors
Issued:
December 15, 2006, following approval of the Council of Chairs and Faculty Council of
the OSU College of Medicine
Revised:
April 30, 2009 (request for extension information and form and four-year notification
procedure revised)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A postdoctoral appointment is intended to be a temporary, transitional period of training that leads to a
long-term career. The National Institutes of Health and the National Academies recommend that
postdoctoral training last no longer than five years.* Because a term limit encourages transition into
the next career stage and guards against an unduly long stay in a training position, a time-limited
postdoctoral appointment is in the best interest of a postdoctoral scholar. Therefore, the College of
Medicine/Office of Health Sciences stipulates that the maximum term of service for a postdoctoral
scholar is five years at The Ohio State University. Postdoctoral scholars who reach the five-year
training limit must either be moved into a regular employee position or separated from The Ohio State
University College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences.

This term of service refers to total time spent at The Ohio State University under the job
code 6500 (Post Doctoral Fellow), 6504 (Post Doctoral Researcher), or 6512 (Post
Professional Researcher) and does not include time spent at other institutions.

To request an extension of appointment of typically no more than 12 months beyond the
fifth year, postdoctoral scholars must submit a Request for Extension of Postdoctoral
Appointment Form, indicating special circumstances (e.g., family, medical, or professional
situations) that require an extended appointment in a postdoctoral training position. This
form must be signed by the postdoctoral scholar, the scholar’s faculty advisor, and the
department chair and submitted to the Director of Postdoctoral Programs for review at least
four months prior to reaching the five-year mark. Requests for extensions will be reviewed
and decided on a case-by-case basis.

The Office of Postdoctoral Programs will track the appointment terms of postdoctoral
scholars in the College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences based on the date of hire at
The Ohio State University. When a scholar has been in a postdoctoral position for four
years, the Office of Postdoctoral Programs will contact the faculty advisor, the postdoctoral
scholar, and the department administrator to remind them of the term limit and to provide
information about job titles which might be potential promotion options at Ohio State.
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* National Institutes of Health:
NIH Statement in Response to the NAS Report: Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral
Scientists (Statement released March 22, 2001), accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-01027.html.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipend and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year
2006, accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-06-026.html.
National Academies:
Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research (2005), pages 4 and 82–86;
accessed at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11249.
Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions,
Funding Organizations, and Disciplinary Societies (2000), pages 3 and 102, accessed at
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=9831.
REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTMENT FORM
College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences (COM/OHS)
Name of postdoctoral scholar:
Name of faculty advisor/PI:
Postdoc’s current department or unit:
Years of prior postdoc experience at other institutions (not counting time at OSU):
Date OSU College of Medicine/Office of Health Sciences (COM/OHS) postdoctoral appointment began:
Start date of first OSU postdoc position if different from date COM/OHS appointment began (will apply if
postdoc held a postdoc position in an area of Ohio State outside of the COM/OHS):
Proposed date when extension will end:
Two attachments must accompany this form:
1. A document that explains the reason(s) for this request and that summarizes the additional training and
career development actions that will be accomplished during the extension period. Examples of
information to include, as applicable:
 Description of why postdoctoral training needs to continue, such as
o Any pertinent medical, family, or personal circumstances
o Change of COM/OHS advisors and/or significant change of research area [include dates and
explanation of the change(s)]
o Funding developments, such as receipt of an individual postdoctoral grant that will continue past
the five-year mark
 Explanation of the additional training planned for the extension period and how the training will help
advance the career of the postdoc
2. A current copy of the postdoc’s CV
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By signing below, the postdoctoral scholar and faculty advisor agree that they have discussed and are in
agreement regarding this extension of postdoctoral training, subject to funding availability. All who sign agree
that this postdoctoral appointment will not extend beyond the date requested.
____________________________________
Postdoctoral Scholar
__________________________
Date
____________________________________
Advisor of Postdoctoral Scholar
__________________________
Date
____________________________________
Department Chair/Director/Dean
___________________________
Date
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Request
 approved
 denied
______________________________________
___________________________
Director for Postdoctoral Programs
Date
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: Please keep a copy for your records and send (1) the original signed form, (2) the document justifying the
request, and (3) the postdoc’s CV to Carolee Barber, Program Manager, Office of Postdoctoral Programs, 1190 Graves
Hall, 333 West 10th Ave.; fax: 292-6226. Submit all documents at least four months prior to reaching the five-year limit.
For office use only:
Date submitted: __________
Date form with decision noted returned to all original signees: __________
Form last updated April 30, 2009