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Hiring a postdoc

Administrators and Faculty

Are you hiring a postdoctoral fellow in your department?

The following criteria must be met:

  1. Be awarded a PhD within the five years immediately proceeding the initial appointment as a postdoc
  2. The appointment is temporary, normally no more than six years, including renewals
  3. Normally full-time, involves substantial research and scholarship, and can involve teaching
  4. Preparatory for an academic/research career
  5. Under the supervision of a faculty mentor in the University or at one of its affiliated hospitals
  6. The postdoc has the freedom to publish the results of their research or scholarship during the period of the appointment, and is expected to do so, in conjunction with the faculty supervisor, while respecting the norms of the discipline and giving due consideration to intellectual property issues.

Please make sure to reference the Policy on Postdoctoral Fellows

Expandable List

Appointment Type Notes
CUPE PDF
1 year or greater (or with cumulative service for greater than 1 year as per CBA Articles 18.02 a) and b) of Collective Agreement)		 Paid through McMaster payroll, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
CUPE PDF
Less than one year		  Paid through McMaster payroll, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
One year or greater		  Employed in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
Less than one year		  Employed in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
One year or greater		 PDF is 100% directly paid by external agency, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
Less than one year		 PDF is 100% directly paid by external agency, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Banting PDF
2 Years – Non-CUPE		 Funded by Tri-agency, $70,000 annual income (T4)

A postdoc can receive financial support in various forms, including fellowships, research contracts, and part-time teaching.

Annual minimum salary levels can be found on at Human Resources. Part-time appointments are calculated proportionally.

If the postdoc funding is coming from an external granting agency, their regulations must be observed.

Supervisors are responsible for benefit costs associated with the appointment.

To hire a postdoctoral fellow contact your HR service centre representative. Your representative will be able to give you all current appointment letter templates for postdoctoral fellows.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Do you want to become a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster?

The following criteria must be met:

  1. Be awarded a PhD within the five years immediately proceeding the initial appointment as a postdoc
  2. The appointment is temporary, normally no more than six years, including renewals
  3. Normally full-time, involves substantial research and scholarship, and can involve teaching
  4. Preparatory for an academic/research career
  5. Under the supervision of a faculty mentor in the University or at one of its affiliated hospitals
  6. The postdoc has the freedom to publish the results of their research or scholarship during the period of the appointment, and is expected to do so, in conjunction with the faculty supervisor, while respecting the norms of the discipline and giving due consideration to intellectual property issues.

For more information on postdoctoral fellowships at McMaster please reference the Policy on Postdoctoral Fellows.

Expandable List

Appointment Type Notes
CUPE PDF
1 year or greater (or with cumulative service for greater than 1 year as per CBA Articles 18.02 a) and b) of Collective Agreement)		 Paid through McMaster payroll, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
CUPE PDF
Less than one year		  Paid through McMaster payroll, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
One year or greater		  Employed in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
Less than one year		  Employed in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
One year or greater		 PDF is 100% directly paid by external agency, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-CUPE PDF
Less than one year		 PDF is 100% directly paid by external agency, not employed in Faculty of Health Sciences
Banting PDF
2 Years – Non-CUPE		 Funded by Tri-agency, $70,000 annual income (T4)

A Postdoc can receive financial support in various forms, including fellowships, research contracts, and part-time teaching.

Annual minimum salary levels can be found on at Human Resources. Part-time appointments are calculated proportionally.

Postdoctoral Fellows are hired by the faculty supervisor through McMaster’s Human Resources Department. Postdocs are considered employees of McMaster University. Prospective Postdocs can check the McMaster job postings for openings, or contact a researcher at the university directly to discuss a Postdoc appointment. Faculty members contact information can be found on their departments website.

LMIA Exempt Work Permit Request

LMIA Exempt Work Permit Request – Department Administrators

If you are hiring a postdoctoral fellow from outside of Canada that needs a work permit, you will be required to submit a request for an LMIA Exempt work permit request.

Please complete the LMIA Exempt Request Form and send it to postdoc@mcmaster.ca with all of the required documentation.

Required documentation includes:

  • Copy of the signed offer letter for the postdoc
  • Copy of the postdoc’s CV
  • Proof the postdoc has completed a PhD
  • Copy of the postdoc’s passport
  • Credit card information for the $230.00 employer compliance fee

If a postdoctoral fellow receives a contract extension, or if their work permit is scheduled to expire while they are at McMaster, this process will need to be repeated as they will need a new IMM5802 number.

Expandable List

Steps for postdoctoral fellows that require an LMIA-exempt work permit.

  • Contact your department administrator to have them send all of the required documentation to postdoc@mcmaster.ca
  • Provide your department administrator with a copy of your CV, proof of PhD completion and a photocopy of your passport
  • You will receive your IMM5802 number for postdoc@mcmaster.ca

If your work permit is expiring before you position is over, you will need to complete this process again. Please contact your department administrator to submit the documents to postdoc@mcmaster.ca for all extensions. You will require a new IMM5802 number for each work permit application.