Sample Appointment Letter for Research Associates
Dear (name of research associate):
On behalf of (College/department name) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison I am pleased to offer you an employee-in-training appointment as a research associate.
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 salary rate of $(annual rate) beginning (begin date). I anticipate that the appointment will continue at least through (end date), contingent upon your training progress, funding availability, program needs, and satisfactory performance.
This position includes the fringe benefits described in the attached Fact Sheet. Please contact (name of department benefits coordinator) for more information about this. Your research associate salary is, in most cases, subject to income taxes (see attached statement).
You will be permitted to take (X) weeks off with pay per fiscal year for vacation and up to (X) weeks off with pay per year for sick leave.
This offer of employment is contingent upon verification of the appropriate identity and work authorization documentation for the position, as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Please see the attachment for the explanation of the Form I-9, Section 1 of which must be completed and returned to the department on or before your begin date. If you do not have the originals of the necessary documents, you must present a receipt, e.g., copy of the letter or form requesting the documents, within three days, and you must present the required document itself within 90 days of your employment date. The law prohibits the University from employing or continuing to employ an individual who has not provided documents with the relevant time period.
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.
If you are on a nonimmigrant visa and are subsequently offered a fellowship or award, you must consult with the International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS) office (265-4000) before accepting the fellowship or award. Accepting a fellowship or award may very well require changes in your immigration status that take time, so the earlier you contact IFSS, the better. Individuals in H-1B status may not be classified as postdoctoral fellows/trainees.
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
Benefit Fact Sheet
Research Associate Tax Withholding Statement
Form I-9, with list of acceptable documents for identity