WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

Postdoctoral Candidates

Identifying Candidates for Postdoc Positions

• Search current listing of postdoctoral applicants.
  Note: Candidates for JRO/RPF/FR Fellowships are included in this listing.
• Recruit by:
• Advertising in scientific journals/publications;
• Advertising on Web;
• Advertising on ListServers;
• Advertising at universities or other institutions of interest

Criteria for Evaluating Candidates

Postdoctoral candidates are evaluated to attract the strongest candidates, no matter if the research being proposed is basic research or strongly tied to programmatic work at the Laboratory.

The Laboratory strives to attract the "best and brightest" postdoctoral candidates available. The quality of the prospective candidate, irrespective of discipline, remains the overriding consideration when evaluating the postdoctoral package. Because the Postdoctoral Program remains one of the Laboratory’s primary recruitment mechanisms, we expect that high caliber postdoctoral appointees who become regular staff members will make significant contributions to the Laboratory’s mission-oriented programmatic efforts throughout their careers.

Postdocs should not be hired simply to fill an immediate programmatic need, especially if they will have little opportunity to publish or present the results of their efforts. It is unfair to hire a postdoc simply to fill an immediate programmatic need in that it may constrain future career opportunities and does not, in general, lead to recruitment of the most talented people available.

The Postdoctoral Committee uses various criteria to evaluate packages. The overall goal of the Committee is to rank the packages based on scientific caliber of the candidate and his/her proposed work. The Committee considers the candidate's qualifications (e.g., as reflected in the resume, letters of recommendation, publication listing, and academic records), demonstrated impact on field (e.g., as evidenced by letters of recommendation and number of citations), potential impact, and proposed research topic.

The Postdoctoral Committee members carefully evaluate all sections of the postdoctoral package. The various sections of the package combine to give a focused picture of the candidate and his/her proposed work. The sections should be consistent. For example, research and personal qualities summarized in the nominating memo should be more fully explained in the letters of recommendation.

J. Robert Oppenheimer (JRO), Richard P. Feynman (RPF), and Frederick Reines (FR) level candidates typically show evidence of solving a major problem or providing a new approach or insight to a major problem; in other words, they show evidence of having a major impact in their field.

Because competition for Fellowships is extremely strong, it is in your candidate's best interest to address the information contained in the Guide to Preparing an Effective Package that can be accessed at http://int.lanl.gov/science/postdocs/guide.shtml. It is important to read this information thoroughly prior to completing and submitting a postdoctoral candidate package for review by the committee.

Reviewing/Approving a Postdoc Candidate

A complete postdoctoral package must be submitted for review by the Postdoctoral Committee for all sponsored postdoctoral candidates.

• Guidance for preparing an effective postdoctoral package.
• Required documentation is the same for "all" sponsored candidates being considered for any type of postdoctoral appointment.

Director's Postdoctoral Fellow appointments

• Review and selection for a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow appointment takes place during all of the quarterly review meetings in February, May, August, and December. A candidate can be reconsidered for a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow appointment “one” additional time if unsuccessful the first time reviewed. If the postdoc is hired as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, they can be reconsidered for a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow appointment within “one” year of the initial hire date.
• Review and selection for an Agnew National Security Postdoctoral Fellow appointment takes place only during the August quarterly review meeting. A candidate can be reconsidered for an Agnew National Security Postdoctoral Fellow appointment “one” additional time if unsuccessful the first time reviewed. If the postdoc is hired into another postdoc appointment type, they can be reconsidered for an Agnew National Security Postdoctoral Fellow appointment within “one” year of the initial hire date
• Review and selection for a Distinguished JRO, RPF, and FR Postdoctoral Fellow appointment takes place only during the December quarterly review meeting. A candidate can be reconsidered for a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow appointment “one” additional time if unsuccessful the first time reviewed for one of these appointments.

Postdoctoral Research Associate appointments

• Review and selection for a Postdoctoral Research Associate takes place throughout the year.

The Call for Postdoctoral Packages (Master Management Memo) is sent out quarterly, approximately one month before submittal deadlines.

Once a postdoc has been approved for an appointment, submit the hiring forms to authorize a formal offer of employment.