Postdoctoral Affairs

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The Postdoctoral Experience at UGA

At UGA, the postdoctoral experience emphasizes scholarship and continued research training for individuals who have recently completed a doctoral degree. Postdoctoral scholars conduct research with a faculty mentor and contribute to the academic community by enhancing the research and education programs of the university. Appointment as a postdoctoral scholar with both research and official teaching responsibilities includes a set of duties in formal instruction as Instructor of Record.

Postdoctoral scholars bring expertise and creativity that enrich the research environment of the entire university community. UGA strives to provide a stimulating, positive, and constructive experience by emphasizing the mutual commitment and responsibility of the institution, the faculty, and the postdoctoral scholar.

The UGA Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs responsibilities include:

  • Review and approval of all postdoctoral scholar appointments at UGA.
  • Development of affecting postdoctoral scholars.
  • Collaboration with the to provide prospective and current postdoctoral scholars with information and resources that will enhance the postdoctoral experience at UGA via the .

Resources for UGA Postdocs and Hiring Units

Prospective and current postdoctoral scholars can visit the to find information and resources that will enhance the postdoctoral experience at UGA.

See the Documents & Resources section below for policies, guidelines, forms and other resources for units and postdocs.

Documents & Resources

PDFs function best when downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat.

Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Program

Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Program

Contact for questions about the program: opa@uga.edu听 听Contact for questions regarding Travel Authorities, reimbursements, expense reports, etc.: Your unit鈥檚 Business Office and/or the link referenced below.

Updated June 2026

Description and Eligibility

  • This program provides support for domestic and foreign travel for two purposes: 1) to present active research at national and international conferences as an oral presentation and/or 2) participation in professional development events, such as formal workshops/trainings separate from sessions and workshops included in conference attendance.
  • Award Amounts: Up to $750 for domestic travel and up to $1,500 for international travel will be provided to those awarded.

    • This program requires a 1:1 financial match from your department or research mentor. This means our office will match their funding dollar-for-dollar up to our program cap.

      • Example A (50/50 Split): Your total trip cost is $1,000. Your mentor agrees to provide $500. The Postdoc Travel Program will match that and provide the remaining $500.

      • Example B (Unit/Supervisor Match Over 50%): Your total trip cost is $2,000. Your mentor agrees to cover $1,250. The Postdoc Travel Program will provide our maximum match of $750.

    • The matching funds may be from the postdoc鈥檚 research mentor/supervisor, unit, college or another travel award or independent grant.
  • Eligibility:
    • Persons at the 最大资源采集网 officially seated in a Postdoctoral Associate AD, Postdoctoral Associate AC or Postdoctoral Fellow position;
    • Who have been officially accepted to present research听as an oral presentation听at a conference and/or have registered for a formal professional training event.听 (The professional development event must be formal training courses that are separate from conference attendance.) Presentations at conferences will take priority and professional development events will be considered on a case by case basis.
    • Only one award per year per postdoctoral scholar is allowed. This criterion is based on when the travel occurs.听
    • Only one application per conference per research mentor will be considered.

Deadlines

  • Deadlines: 6 deadlines/fiscal year.听 Second Tuesdays in January, March, May, July, September and November

Application Process and Application Materials

  • Applications are submitted via听.
  • Complete the听Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Program application听for the active deadline.听听The following details are required for submission:
    • Name, unit and email address
    • Title of meeting/conference/workshop
    • Link to conference/meeting/workshop webpage
    • City and Country of meeting/event
    • Dates of meeting/conference/event
    • Scope of the meeting/conference 鈥� International, National or Regional.听(Note: 鈥淚nternational鈥� applies only if the conference or meeting is hosted by an international society and/or if the meeting is being held outside the U.S.)
    • Overall trip budget estimate
    • Amount requested from the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
    • Source of 1:1 matching funds
    • Contact for matching funds
    • 最大资源采集网 mentor/supervisor information (name and email)
    • Unit鈥檚 Business Manager contact information (name and email)
    • Departmental ID from the UGA Financial System.听(Please contact your unit鈥檚 business manager to obtain this ID and to notify him/her of your potential travel and this application.)
    • Role in the meeting/conference/event
    • What was the process by which applicant was invited or the application to attend was accepted (i.e., peer review, auto-acceptance, etc.) For professional training events, enter 鈥淩egistration鈥�.
    • Nature and Quality of meeting/conference/event
    • Significance of the applicant鈥檚 participation. Please describe how your role in the conference/meeting/event will benefit your career development and the 最大资源采集网.
    • UPLOAD 鈥� Support letter from research mentor/supervisor.听The support letter must include the following:
      • Verification of applicant鈥檚 role and nature of presentation (e.g., podium presentation, poster, etc.) in the meeting/conference/event and the selection/invitation process.
      • Verification of the matching funds listed in the application.
      • Description of the significance of the applicant鈥檚 participation in the conference or professional development event to the applicant鈥檚 career development and to UGA.
      • Description of the scope/quality of the conference or professional training event (international, national or regional meeting, significance of the conference to the discipline, etc.).
    • UPLOAD 鈥� Documentation of Participation.听For presenting at a conference/meeting:听a copy of invitation (for invited speakers) or听acceptance听of your abstract/presentation.听For a professional training event: copy of your registration.
      • The documentation needs to be translated into English if applicable.
      • Please do not apply to the Postdoc Travel Program if you have not yet been accepted to present at a conference/meeting or registered for a professional training event.
    • UPLOAD 鈥� Curriculum Vitae.听Most up-to-date version of CV.
    • UPLOAD 鈥� For presenting at a conference 鈥� Abstract of research being presented.听Abstract of research being presented (or other description of the presentation in the case of a performance).听 For professional development event 鈥� Program/workshop description or training/class syllabus or schedule.听
    • UPLOAD 鈥� Itemized travel budget estimate.

Evaluation and Selection Process

  • Eligible conferences are formal events where researchers/scholars present results or give performances.
  • Professional development events are those where the main goal of participation is to learn new skills and/or further development skills to help you grow and succeed in your career path.听 These are formal workshops and training programs for which there is a paid registration.听 Attending a conference, and sessions and workshops included in the conference, does not qualify as a professional development event.
  • Requests will be evaluated competitively, with priorities based on (a) the scope of the conference or professional development opportunity; (b) the scope of the individual鈥檚 participation and the how it benefits the postdoc鈥檚 career and UGA; and c) duration in postdoc position at UGA. For example, international conferences, in-session oral presentations and senior postdocs based on time accumulated in UGA position will be given priority.
  • It is important to communicate the merit of your participation to the reviewers.

Award Procedures and Conditions 鈥� I have been awarded.听 Now what do I do?

  • Claiming funds:听 The award amount will be transferred to your unit. 听The funds will be Indirect Cost Return (F15000) funds and will be budgeted to the financial Department ID provided in your application. 听You may work with your business office to seek reimbursement for your travel expenses up to the award amount.
  • Any unused award funds should be returned to the Office of 最大资源采集网.
  • For UGA Travel Policies and Procedures, please refer to the Finance and Administration Policy and Procedure Library:听听Questions regarding the transfer of budget may be directed to听Nanette.Roberts@uga.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the deadline?听You will be able to submit in the next cycle by the posted deadline once the next cycle鈥檚 InfoReady competition form opens.

听If I am awarded, what is the process for using the funds for my travel?听See the 鈥淎ward Procedures and Conditions鈥� section of the guidelines. Your award communication will also contain instructions and guidance.

I have already submitted a Travel Authority for this trip on a different Chart String than the one in my award letter. May I use the existing Travel Authority or must I submit a new one?听You may use an existing Travel Authority as long as it is the same trip. There is no need for a new one.

I have already received reimbursement from another source. How may I utilize this award?听Contact your unit鈥檚 Business Manager about procedures in this instance.

Why was I not funded?听听听The Postdoc Travel Program is a competitive program with limited funds. Applications are reviewed on the caliber of the meeting, the significance of the individual鈥檚 participation and time in UGA postdoc position. Because of the limited funds we are only able to fund a limited number based on the priority scores.