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Policy R50.03, the Postdoctoral Fellow Policy governs the relationship between PDFs, SFU and the faculty supervisors. PDFs and the faculty and staff who support them should familiarize themselves with Policy 50.03.   

Responsibility for the policy resides with the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI). The VPRI office is also responsible for advocacy, academic and cultural support for postdoctoral fellows at SFU.  

All PDF appointments, renewals and conclusion of appointments are processed through the HR Research People Team.

Internal and External PDFs

Internal PDFs

• salaries are paid by funds held by a University faculty member, from the University’s financial resources or a combination of the two
• employee of the University
• eligible for benefits
  

External PDFs

• secured funding directly from an external funding organization or fellowship program external to the University
• not employees of the University
• eligible to opt-in for self-paid benefits. 
  

It is vital that staff and faculty members who hire and administer PDFs understand these distinctions, as the administrative processes and procedures for these two types of PDFs vary.

Refer to Policy R50.03 section 4.0 for a complete definition.