The Ohio State University President’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program (PPSP) seeks to recognize highly-qualified postdoctoral trainees who will become leaders in their fields.  The program supports the scholarly efforts and training of terminal degree holders (PhD and others) who wish to pursue careers in research and creative inquiry, as well as providing professional development and networking opportunities. The program includes salary support and full benefits (health insurance, tuition assistance, and paid leave) provided by the Office of the President and the scholar’s faculty mentor/sponsor college. PPSP scholars also receive funds to support research, creative expression, and professional development-related expenses.

he President’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program, supported by the Office of the President, was launched in January 2018 to recognize outstanding young researchers at the university and aid in the recruitment of highly qualified postdoctoral trainees who will become leaders in their fields.

Important considerations

• The PPSP award is for two years. Colleges will have to provide assurance that there is a commitment to fund the awardee for a full two years.
• The funding structure changed to make the PPSP and the rest of the funding units contributions the same each year.
• Though not a requirement, ideal faculty mentors are those who have trained at least five postdocs for those in disciplines with a tradition of postdoctoral training, or five doctoral/MFA for those in disciplines in which postdoctoral training is new. Co-mentors are encouraged for anyone who does not have much experience mentoring postdoctoral scholars and trainees. See eligibility below for more information. Co-mentors should be faculty at Ohio State University.
• The nominating faculty must have a conversation with their college liaison (see table below) and discuss the funding plan before submitting the form of intent.

Funding

Awards will provide salary support, benefits (including health insurance) and $5,000 for research-related and travel expenses. Each award is for two years and the second year will be released upon demonstration of academic/research productivity and career development progression (as evidenced by successful implementation of a mentoring plan).

Awardees must be appointed as postdoctoral researchers with a minimum salary of $50,000 per year and a university A&P benefit rate.

Each year:

• The Office of the President will provide $41,600 to be used towards the salary and benefits and an additional $5,000 is provided to the PPSP scholar to support their research activities during the year.
• The sponsor college, hiring unit, and/or faculty mentor must guarantee to cover the remaining balance of the salary and benefits. With FY23 benefit rates for A&P staff (38%), and a minimum salary of $50,000, this amount that must be covered is $27,400.

Please make sure to discuss with your college liaison the funding plan before submitting the form of intent. See table below for the list of college contacts.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees must:

• Obtained a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree 2 years prior to the nomination deadline or later from an accredited university before the start of postdoctoral training.
• Be able to begin their postdoctoral position no later than January 1, 2024.
• Complete an individual development plan (IDP). Suggested resources: STEM fields and/or Humanities and social science fields. Note, the IDP is necessary for the mentoring plan.
• Ohio State graduate students are eligible but preference will be given to external candidates.
• Obtain sponsorship from an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member who is willing to serve as their primary mentor.
• Show evidence of superior academic achievement (such as research or creative expression outcomes, honors or other academic designation).
• Demonstrate a commitment to a career in research and creative expression (preference will be given to candidates who wish to pursue academic careers).

Note: Nominees who are currently working at Ohio State as postdoctoral scholars must have been hired after November 1, 2021. 

Nominating faculty must:

• Be an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member.
• Nominate only one person.
• Not be the candidate’s PhD or terminal degree advisor.
• Submit a mentoring plan based on the candidate’s individual development plan (IDP).
• Attend an orientation session to learn more about the PPSP program and the review criteria for the year two renewal. Co-mentors must attend as well.
• Participate in next year’s PPSP review efforts.
• Note: Faculty members whose nominee received this award last year cannot nominate anyone this year.
• Additionally, nominating faculty members are strongly encouraged to meet the following criteria based off of this decision tree graph:
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: Have trained at least five postdoctoral scholars. If the nominating faculty member does not have this level of postdoctoral training experience, they are encouraged to pursue formal mentoring training from a professional society (e.g., National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity). Proof of pursuing and/or completing training should be submitted with the nomination package. Additionally, we strongly encourage prospective faculty mentors without five years of experience to include a co-mentor who has mentored at least five postdoctoral scholars previously.
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: Have trained at least five doctoral/MFA students. They should provide a list of terminal degree mentees in the form provided for postdoctoral training experience. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required doctoral/MFA training experience, they are encouraged to have received formal mentoring training from an entity in their field or related discipline (e.g., formal training through the National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity) and to include a co-mentor who has the experience as outlined above who has mentored at least five doctoral/MFA students.
  • The role of the co-mentor is to be a resource for the postdoctoral scholar and their mentor. The co-mentor’s experience in mentoring scholars in their field qualifies them to advise on how to mentor the candidate towards independence, and to expand the postdoctoral scholar’s mentoring network. The co-mentor does not need to be involved in the research plan (although this is not forbidden).

College contacts to discuss PPSP financial elements with:

APPLICATION

Step 1: Submit form of intent

The form of intent must be submitted by the faculty member. Please make sure to discuss with your college liaison the funding plan before submitting the form of intent.

Please review this Form of Intent to see what information you will need.

Form of Intent (requires Ohio State University name.# to login)

Forms of intent are due by November 4, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

Step 2: Gather nomination materials

All submissions must include the following:

• Nominee’s curriculum vitae.
  Please make sure that the CV does not include personal information such as social security numbers, visa or passport numbers, pictures, summary of personal details such as nationality, date of birth, marital status, and number of dependents, or a list of hobbies and interests. These items may be common CVs from other countries but in the US these items are omitted to protect candidates from discrimination and to comply with data security protocols.
• Education and background statement written by the nominee.
  1-2 pages, single spaced with the following included:
  • Information about the applicant’s personal background and career trajectory.
  • List of career goals and an explanation of how this position will enhance the applicant’s career development.
  • Justification of the choice of career goals and selection of a sponsoring faculty member and Ohio State.
  • Discussion of the broader impacts of the proposed activities.
  • No templates for this statement will be provided.

• Diversity statement from the nominee.
  In 500 words, the nominee should describe how they will bring diversity to their future research and teaching efforts and help Ohio State, as well as their discipline, become more diverse and inclusive. No templates for this statement will be provided.
• Three letters of recommendation emphasizing the nominee’s potential as a scholar.
  Please send this form to your letter writers. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the faculty member nominating the candidate, as these letters must be submitted with the complete nomination package as a PDF file. Do not send them to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
• Nomination letter from the faculty mentor/sponsor.
  Letter should describe the expected impact of the applicant on the sponsor’s scholarly program and the likely impact on scholarship in the discipline. No templates for this statement will be provided.
• Postdoctoral training track record.
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: A table listing the last 10 postdoctoral scholars trained by the nominating faculty member and their training outcomes is required. If the faculty member has trained less than 10 individuals, list them all. At least 5 are required. Please use the Experience Mentoring Postdoctoral Trainees form to report the training record of both the mentor and co-mentor (separate forms for each faculty member need to be uploaded in a single PDF file).
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: A table listing the last 10 doctoral/MFA scholars trained by the nominating faculty member and their training outcomes is required. If the faculty member has trained less than 10 individuals, list them all. At least 5 are required. Please use the Experience Mentoring Doctoral/MFA Trainees form to report of both the mentor and co-mentor (separate forms for each faculty member need to be uploaded in a single PDF file).
• If a co-mentor is needed, please submit:
  • A letter of support from the co-mentor.
  • The co-mentor must be a faculty member at Ohio State.
  • Postdoctoral or doctoral/MFA training record of the co-mentor using the Experience Mentoring Postdoctoral Trainees form. Please indicate in the form that this is for a co-mentor.
  • Evidence of formal mentoring training by a professional society, National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity needs to be provided for the nominating faculty. This training has to take place by the nomination deadline.
• Nominee’s individual development plan.
  Suggested resources: STEM fields and/or Humanities and social science fields.
• Mentoring plan for the first year.
  The plan is based on the nominee’s individual development plan (a subsequent plan will be required when applying for year two of funding). Download Mentoring Plan: Year 1.
• Up to three examples of the nominee’s scholarly efforts.
  (publications, works of artistic expression, etc.)
• Additional items to be submitted for promotional purposes if the nominee is selected for the program.
  • Short bio of the nominee (300 words). Fill in the box (no file can be uploaded for this).
  • Headshot of the nominee.

Note: These items will have to be submitted separately from the packet above, but in the same submission form. They will not be shared with reviewers.

Step 3: Submit nomination

• Nominations must be submitted by the faculty member.
• Materials must be submitted as PDF files.
• The link to submit nominations will be sent with the form of intent confirmation.

Nominations must be received by December 2, 2022 at 5 p.m. (EDT).

Selection Process

Faculty reviewers will evaluate the nominees based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of high ability for scholarship and/or research as reflected by their scholarly record. Interdisciplinary areas of scholarship/research are preferred.
• Proven track record for obtaining external and internal funding.
• Well-articulated career goals consistent with a research/scholarship career.
• Evidence of leadership, initiative and mentoring skills.
• Capacity to network effectively (measured by the extent and quality of their professional network).
• Solid understanding of the diversity, equity and inclusion issues within their own discipline and across the U.S. Experience with and commitment to diversity and inclusion programs is highly valued. Familiarity with Ohio State’s discipline-related programs and initiatives in this area is a plus.
• Strong letters of recommendation.

Preference will be given to external nominees and nominees with less than two years of postdoctoral experience.

Faculty reviewers will evaluate the mentoring environment based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of prior successful postdoctoral mentoring (measured by the outcomes of previous postdoctoral trainees; or graduate trainees depending on the discipline).
• Mentoring philosophy consistent with research on good mentoring practices.
• Verification of ethical standards for conducting research beyond responsible conduct of research training.
• Evidence that the nominee will be provided with sufficient opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to become an expert in an agreed upon area. The mentoring plan has to be compatible with the nominee’s IDP.
• Confirmation that the nominee will be provided with required guidance and mentoring.
• Clear understanding of the need for a mentoring network for the nominee that includes faculty, peers and staff on and off campus.
• Support for professional development in areas such as writing, communication, mentoring, time management, etc.

Timeline

• August 3, 2022: General call for nominations released
• November 4, 2022: Form of Intent due
• December 2, 2022: Nominations due
• December 6 – January 16, 2023: Nomination review period
• January 31, 2023: First round of award notifications. If declinations are received additional offers will be made.
• Early March, 2023: Final announcement of winners (tentative date; this will depend on how many offers are needed and the response time from the applicants).
• Award begins no later than January 1, 2024

Questions

Contact osupostdocs@osu.edu.

*The Ohio State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexuality, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Submission Deadlines

Form of Intent: November 4, 2022

Nominations: December 2, 2022

FAQS ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility – Who is eligible to apply?

Nominees must:

• Obtained a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree 2 years prior to the nomination deadline or later from an accredited university before the start of postdoctoral training.
• Be able to begin their postdoctoral position no later than January 1, 2024.
• Complete an individual development plan (IDP). Suggested resources: STEM fields and/or Humanities and social science fields. Note, the IDP is necessary for the mentoring plan and will be submitted with the nomination.
• Ohio State graduate students are eligible but preference will be given to external candidates.

Note: Nominees who are currently working at Ohio State as postdoctoral scholars must have been hired after November 1, 2021. 

Nominating faculty must:

• Be an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member.
• Nominate only one person.
• Decision tree graph (attached) and /or
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: Have trained at least five postdoctoral scholars. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required postdoctoral training experience, they can apply if they have received formal mentoring training from a professional society, National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity (proof of training is required and needs to be submitted with the nomination package) and have a co-mentor who has mentored at least five postdoctoral scholars.
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: Have trained at least ten doctoral/MFA students. They should provide a list of terminal degree mentees in the form provided for postdoctoral training experience. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required doctoral/MFA training experience, they need to have received formal mentoring training from an entity in their field or related discipline and have a co-mentor who has the experience as outlined above and have a co-mentor who has mentored at least five doctoral/MFA students.
• Not be the candidate’s PhD or terminal degree advisor.
• Submit a mentoring plan based on the candidate’s individual development plan (IDP).
• Attend an orientation session to learn more about the PPSP program and the review criteria for the year two renewal.
• Participate in future PPSP review efforts.

Eligibility – Are currently appointed postdocs eligible to receive a PPSP award?

Yes, faculty can nominate both incoming postdocs and postdocs already at Ohio State. Note that candidates already employed at Ohio State must have been hired after November 1, 2021.

Eligibility – Can PPSP nominees be international?

International candidates can be nominated. The award is contingent upon obtaining the appropriate visa to be able to be hired by the department or unit. Our timeline allows J-1 visa processing.

Eligibility – What is the role of the co-mentor?

The co-mentor does not have research/scholarship advising responsibilities, although this is not forbidden either. Thus, it is not necessary for the co-mentor to be in exactly the same area of research. The main role for the co-mentor is to help the postdoc optimize their training experience, to assist with socialization into the disciplinary culture, and to help the postdoc with their job search by providing advice and networking opportunities as well as making them aware of opportunities they may be aware of that are suitable for the postdoc.

Eligibility – Can the co-mentor be the nominating mentor for a candidate for the PPSP?

Yes, the co-mentor is not forbidden from nominating a candidate themselves.

Eligibility – Mentoring training

The OPA offers mentoring training. Proof of the training will need to be uploaded to the nomination form by December 2, 2022. An alternate option is an online training available here: https://www.ctsi.umn.edu/education-and-training/mentoring/mentor-training. This training was created with the STEM fields in mind, but we find that most of it is applicable to any discipline. Optimizing the Practice of Mentoring 101 would be the module we recommend. Participants should receive a certificate at the end that can be uploaded to the nomination form later.

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