#  Categories of Researchers 

 



 FAS policy applies to all categories of postdoctoral fellows, irrespective of their funding source. For the purposes of this handbook, the term “Postdoc” applies to research scholars who have recently completed a doctoral degree and are temporarily engaged in research in the FAS/SEAS. This includes four categories of researchers:

- “Employee” postdocs, who are supported by research grants and contracts or internal Harvard funding under the direction of a Harvard Principal Investigator;
- Stipendiary postdocs, who receive a fellowship that is managed by Harvard University. In this case the fellow is paid through Harvard;
- External postdocs, who are paid directly by an external entity and are, therefore, not paid through Harvard;
- [Research Associates](/postdocs), who, ordinarily, have had at least three years of postdoctoral experience and are continuing their research under the general supervision of one or more faculty members.

 In university documentation, postdocs are often covered under the term “researchers.” Postdocs are not covered under faculty, staff, or students. However, if you see a policy the covers only faculty, staff, and students, please inquire about whether it also applies to postdocs by contacting Stephen Kargère, Director of the FAS Office of Postdoctoral Affairs ([kargere@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:///kargere@fas.harvard.edu))