Community Response to COVID-19
Healthy Brown
March 19, 2021
Director, Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs, Audra Van Wart
Tags Grad and Medical Students

To Brown Postdoctoral Researchers & Scholars: Covid Postdoc Support

Updates

Dear Postdoctoral Researchers and Scholars,

The COVID-19 pandemic and the related University actions early last year have impacted research, teaching, and training for many members of our Brown community, and we recognize that our postdocs are among those affected. The Brown Postdoc Council has shared feedback from the Covid survey administered last semester. Following discussion with the faculty affairs office, University senior deans, and the provost, the University is providing additional support to address the impact of the pandemic on postdoctoral training.

Given the diversity of appointment lengths, training structures, and funding sources for postdocs, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, we are taking the following actions that we hope can help to address the range of postdoc needs:

1.     Brown University will ask all faculty investigators with postdocs funded through individual grants and start-up funds to consider Covid-related impacts, as well as travel and research restrictions, on the progress of their postdocs. We encourage faculty to provide extended time for the completion of projects and to extend or renew postdoc contracts when possible. The Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs (OUPD) will engage with faculty and departments on a case-by-case basis to work toward individual solutions. Limited bridge funds of up to $5,000 may be available in cases where research was delayed due to the 2020 ramp down, and where limits to funding would make a difference in the continued support or completion of a research project. Funding decisions will be made at the discretion of the Director of the OUPD, and will require a written justification and detailed budget. For more information, see the Covid Bridge Fund application.

 
2.     We are temporarily waiving the five-year term limit on postdoctoral appointments to allow extension of postdoc appointments when needed.
 
3.     For postdocs whose appointment has ended, and who have not yet obtained an academic position, we may be able to extend access to certain Brown resources, such as library, email and other electronic services for up to one year after the end of the appointment. To request an extension, please contact Associate Dean Audra Van Wart (audra_van_wart@brown.edu).
 
4.     We will provide up to $300 for registration fees to attend a virtual professional conference to help postdocs with networking. Postdocs who have identified an appropriate virtual event should complete the Virtual Conference Award Application for approval prior to registering for the event. Funding is limited and awards will be made on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.
 
5.     Brown is encouraging former postdocs (or current postdocs with reduced research effort) to apply for instructional faculty positions when there are unmet curricular needs to be filled.
 
6.     The Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs will work with the Brown Postdoc Council to identify high priority professional development topics for targeted workshops or seminars, to help prepare postdocs for today’s job market.
 
7.     We continue to encourage postdocs to access existing support structures in place at Brown to assist during the pandemic. In particular, Postdoctoral Research Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows with dependent children are eligible to apply for Brown’s Child Care Subsidy, and all postdocs now have access to the Faculty Staff Assistance Program. Additionally, the University Ombudsperson (ombuds@brown.edu) remains a resource for general guidance and conflict resolution. 

We hope that these efforts and commitments well help address the impact of the pandemic on your training, and position you better for a successful transition into the next stage of your career.

Sincerely,

Audra Van Wart
Director, Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs
Brown University