Policies & Salary

1. Employment Eligibility

Before an offer can be finalized, PIs must ensure the candidate meets these core university standards:

• Doctoral Degree Verification: Candidates must have successfully completed all requirements for their doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, etc.) before their official start date. Documentation is required during the hiring process. 
   
• Experience Verification: Salary minimums are determined by total years of research experience gained after the doctoral degree was completed. 
   
  • How to calculate: We follow standard academic practice (see Stanford’s guidelines): experience includes any professional research role held post-degree, regardless of the institution or previous job title.
     
• 5-Year Term Limit: The total duration for any individual in a postdoc rank at Lehigh is five years.

2. Research Classifications & Progression

Lehigh research personnel are organized into categories based on the intended duration of the role. PIs should consult these ORSP guidelines.

• Short-term Research Appointments (Postdoctoral Research Associate): These are temporary training roles intended for professional apprenticeship. Appointments are limited to a maximum of 5 years.
   
• Long-term Research Appointments (Research Scientist): If a researcher is needed beyond the 5-year limit, they must be transitioned into a long-term staff classification. This involves an HR reclassification process and may impact salary and benefit structures.
   
• Full-time Status (1.0 FTE): Postdoc positions are typically expected to be full-time. Any part-time appointments (less than 1.0 FTE) should consult with the Postdoctoral Affairs Office.
   
• Renewal Notice: Most appointments are for one year. PIs should initiate the renewal process 90 days prior to the current contract end date to ensure continuity of pay and benefits.

3. Budgeting for Annual Increases 

While the university sets the mandatory salary floor, PIs are responsible for budgeting annual growth. We recommend including a 3%–5% annual adjustment in grant proposals to account for cost-of-living and performance increases.