Research Appointments

• Reappointment Form
• Research Appointment Information Form & Instructions – updated 09/14/2022
• Acknowledgment of Risk and Release Form
• Affirmative Action Form

• Associate Offer Letter
• Postdoctoral Fellow Offer Letter
• Research Associate Offer Letter
• Visiting Scholar Offer Letter
• Research Scientist Offer Letter

• Associate Reappointment Letter
• Postdoctoral Fellow Reappointment Offer Letter

• Initial Set-Up & Payroll Instructions for Research Scholars

• Relocation Form
• HCO Relocation Policy & Workflow

• The Department administrator confirms by email or letter that the appointee will be leaving Harvard
• The Academic Appointments Manager enters a termination action if the departure date is before the appointment end date
• The Administrator sends eNED form to inform HIO of the departure of any appointee on a Harvard visa
• The Department administrator ensures that keys are returned and exits them from the SDF system

End of Appointment – Letter Template

• Meet with the Appointments Administrator to fill out your new hire paperwork (you will need to bring your identification such as passport or license with social security card; other acceptable forms of identification can be found here )
• Obtain your cfa email address
• Obtain your Harvard Key
• Choose your benefits

Employee Postdocs are funded by a Principal Investigator, are on Harvard payroll, and are considered “benefits-eligible.” These appointments include Postdocs who work under the direction of a Harvard principal investigator, receive payment in the form of employee wages, and are eligible for tax-advantaged benefits.

Stipendee Postdocs have been awarded an individual fellowship, are on Harvard payroll, and are not considered “benefits-eligible.” These appointments include Postdocs who may work under the direction of a Harvard principal investigator, but to whom payment is in the form of a stipend. These fellows are not considered to be employees and therefore are ineligible for certain benefits.

The benefit differences between each model are outlined in this benefits summary for postdoctoral fellows from central HR. There are also tax implications to consider with each model.  Employees typically have all taxes withheld while Stipendees will need to report to the Internal Revenue Service on their own. Some nonresident aliens may be eligible for exemptions from federal income tax withholding on wages based on tax treaties negotiated between the Fellow’s country of residence and the United States.

This information can be found with the link to PeopleSoft at the top of the Harvard Intranet page – http://hr.harvard.edu/.   Please note that you must enroll in benefits within thirty days of the start date of your appointment.

• Postdoc Benefits  – http://postdoc.harvard.edu/Postdoc-benefits

Foreign nationals should refer to the Harvard International Office site: http://www.hio.harvard.edu, where there is a wealth of information about the University and visa issues. All foreign nationals on Harvard sponsored visas should check with the HIO before you leave the country to be sure your documents are in order for travel (you will need an annual signature on your DS 2019 form).

1. Review the Pre-Arrival Checklist
2. Get your Social Security Number – this will allow you to get a bank account and a phone.
3. J-1 Postdocs are required to attend an orientation prior to arriving at the CfA. This meeting takes about a half hour and may cover topics such as public and Harvard transportation services, telephones, banking, safety, Harvard resources, procedures for renting an apartment, schooling for children, J-2 work permission and volunteering, etc.