Sample Appointment Letter for Postdoctoral Fellows
Dear (name of postdoctoral fellow):
On behalf of (College/department name) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison I am pleased to confirm your employee-in-training appointment as a Postdoctoral Fellow.
You will be collaborating with (name of Professor) working on (project description).
This is a (percent of appointment) percent time appointment with a full-time annual stipend rate of $(annual rate) beginning (begin date). The source of your fellowship is (source of fellowship/traineeship). I anticipate that the appointment will continue at least through (end date), contingent upon your meeting the terms of the fellowship (or traineeship) (copy attached) OR they have been provided directly to you by (source of fellowship/traineeship).
This appointment includes the benefits described in the attached Fact Sheet. Please contact (name of department benefits coordinator) as soon as possible for more information about your benefit options. Although your appointment as a Postdoctoral Fellow (or Trainee) is not considered employment, your stipend may be taxable as income. See the attached sheet for more information.
If you will need a nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S. to begin your fellowship, you will have to obtain a J-1 visa. If you are currently in the U.S. in a different nonimmigrant status, you will need to change to J-1 before beginning the fellowship. Your department will coordinate this with International Faculty and Staff Services.
You will be permitted to take (X) weeks off with pay per fiscal year for personal reasons. You also will be permitted to take up to (X) weeks off with pay per year if you or an immediate family member is ill.
Please visit the university's postdoctoral scholar web page at http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gspd/ for information about professional and career development, networking, and resources available to postdoctoral scholars.
We look forward to a mutually rewarding working relationship with you. If you have any questions or concerns about your appointment with us, please do not hesitate to contact me (or name of person responsible for postdocs in the department).
Sincerely,
Professor
Enclosures
(Benefits Fact Sheet)
(Postdoctoral Fellows/Trainees Tax Information Sheet)