Report from Postdoctoral Attendees:
Annual GREAT Meeting, 1998

Organizer: Patricia Bresnahan

Summary and Recommendations:

1. Good mentoring of postdoctoral scholars should involve a contract between the scholar and the mentor or supervisor. The host institution should monitor this contract, and participate in any grievance process by either party. This contract should include the following components:
1. A letter or statement of the terms of employment, including expected duration of the fellowship, compensation and benefits.
2. Fair labor practice in compliance with federal laws should be provided, including family leave, protection from harassment and protection from discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, disability or religion.
3. An outline of ethical behavior and intellectual property rights should be provided.
4. A grievance process with the institution should be explained to both the scholar and the mentor.
5. A statement of goals for a determined length of time should be established.
6. An outline of the facilities and tools provided to achieve those goals.
7. Agreement of at least annual assessment of these goals, and mutual assessment of the scholar and the mentor on their performance.
8. Recognition of professional development opportunities outside the laboratory should be stated.
2. The postdoctoral contract should be agreed upon by all parties participating in postdoctoral training, including the postdoctoral scholar, the mentor or supervisor, and the host institution.
3. The host institution should maintain clear records of fellows participating in postdoctoral training, and should examine job titles so that all postdoctoral scientists are aware of their status within the institution. All scholars participating in postdoctoral training should carry the same title, rights and benefits, regardless of their source of funding or host department. Ph.D. scholars should hold titles which require a Ph.D. or equivalent and not share titles with non-Ph.D. trainees.
4. Institutions hosting postdoctoral scholars may facilitate a postdoctoral association or alternatively provide activities for postdoctoral scholars which may include:
1. Production and distribution of a postdoctoral fellows manual, providing orientation of incoming fellows to the institution and the community.
2. Establishment of an advisory board for postdoctoral affairs, including faculty, administrators and postdoctoral fellows.
3. Conducting a survey of fellows to assess benefits, training and career needs. The institution should strive to normalize these aspects of the postdoctoral position throughout the institution.
4. Providing seminars or courses on non-technical career skills, such as job search, interview skills, writing a grant, a collaboration proposal, a technical paper or a general report, budget management, supervision of other scientists, negotiation, conflict resolution and effective speaking. Other examples of course topics are included in appendices, including a 'Practice of Science' course conducted at UCSF, and career courses conducted at NIEHS.
5. Organizing social events to alleviate the isolation of fellows throughout an institution, and to foster casual interactions among peers which can contribute to a support network.
6. Promotion of good examples of mentoring, in the form of awards and recognition.
5. Career development for postdoctoral fellows should be facilitated at the national level. An umbrella organization could provide support for institutions and fellows. Some of the activities which could be facilitated at the national level include:
1. Monitoring job trends and disseminating this information to fellows.
2. Facilitating seminars and courses for career development.
3. Supporting ethical behavior and fair labor practice.
4. Providing a speakers bureau for postdoctoral and policy affairs.
5. Promoting the participation of postdoctoral fellows in science policy discussions.
6. Identifying sources of funding for fellowship training.
7. Identifying and promoting funding for transitional training in fields outside basic science research.
8. Promoting equitable salaries for postdoctoral fellows, commensurate with their training and experience.

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