The Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost supports, enriches, and promotes postdoctoral affairs efforts. We support the growth and development of postdoctoral scholars/fellows at Iowa State University, providing a community for postdocs and serving as a professional resource for postdocs, faculty mentors, and additional stakeholders on campus.

Policies and Guidelines

Review these policies and guidelines.

Postdoctoral Affairs Resources and Information

  • Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum compensation amount for postdocs at Iowa State University is $58,656 for a full-time, 12-month postdoc appointment.
  • Postdocs should receive annual reviews. Supervisors and postdocs can use the Postdoc Annual Review Template or reach out to Postdoctoral Affairs for more templates. To receive a meritorious performance increase in January, an annual review must be submitted in Workday and conducted within an October 1 – September 30 cycle.
  • More information coming soon

Fall 2026 Postdoctoral Affairs Events (check back for updates!)

Summer 2026 Postdoctoral Affairs Events (check back for updates!)

Spring 2026 Postdoctoral Affairs Events (check back for updates!)

  • Includes information for Seminars, Postdoc Writing Hours, Scientific & Scholarship Presentation Hours, New Postdoc Orientation, Research Mentor Training Program, Postdoc Chat & Interact, Postdoc Walk, One-on-One Consultations, and Faculty & Staff Hours

In addition to the professional development opportunities offered by Postdoctoral Affairs, postdocs are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities provided by on-campus and off-campus partners and organizations. 

  • Office of the Vice President for Research Mentor Resources
  • Postdoc Academy Mentor Resources
  • Center for the Improvement Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) - Mentor and Mentee Support Resources
  • Setting Up a Successful Appointment
    • Individual Development Plans (IDPs): Best practice is to establish an IDP in the first three months of the appointment and review annually. See the “Postdoc Resources and Off-Campus…” section for more on IDPs.
    • Annual Reviews: Postdocs should receive annual reviews. Supervisors and postdocs can use the Postdoc Annual Review Template or reach out to Postdoctoral Affairs for more templates. See the Postdoc Handbook for more.
    • Mentoring/Supervising Agreements: Establish expectations for both parties. CIMER’s Mentorship Agreements/Compacts Library is a good starting point. Reach out to Postdoctoral Affairs for more information.
  • Postdocs should have time allocated for professional and career development. An 80-10-10 breakdown of the work week is recommended. 80% of time dedicated to research: 10% dedicated to professional, intellectual, and career development; and 10% dedicated to communicating and connecting (networking)
  • Supervisors, partners, stakeholders, and others interested in speaking with Cate or peers are invited to Faculty & Staff Hours. Fall 2026 Hours are August 14 (2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), September 23 (9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.), October 23 (12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.), November 23 (8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.), and December 15 (3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Use the Faculty & Staff Hours Teams Link to Join.
  • Additional resources coming soon

Campus:

Ames: 

National:

Postdoc Resources:

For questions or more information, contact: