Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows

MD Anderson faculty who are seeking postdoctoral fellows typically post their open positions at postdocjobs.com. If you do not see a desirable position at postdocjobs.com, we recommend you explore the departments that are of interest to you and contact the appropriate faculty members or department administrators directly to obtain information about available positions and the eligibility requirements of each program.  

Since the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Development does not maintain a comprehensive list of available postdoctoral fellow positions, all prospective postdocs should identify a potential faculty mentor based on common research interests. Influuent is an online tool that compiles faculty members’ government grants, peer-reviewed publications to generate searchable, public profiles. 

All inquiries regarding postdoctoral fellow appointments, program information, available positions and eligibility requirements should be sent directly to the appropriate faculty member(s) or the respective department/program administrator.  Here are some tips for Finding the “Perfect Postdoc “for You.  

Once the hosting department and your faculty mentor select you as a trainee, the subsequent steps are outlined below:

1. The hosting department initiates your DISCOVER online application (password protected).
2. You will receive an email from DISCOVER requesting that you complete the online application.
3. Once you have completed and submitted the application form, DISCOVER will generate a list of required documents for your application.  You may track the submission of the required documents using this list.
4. The hosting department will review and approve or return each document uploaded it to the document list.
5. Once all documents have been submitted and approved in DISCOVER, the hosting department will submit a Recommendation for Educational Appointment to AVA-Trainee.  Please allow 15 business days after the Recommendation is submitted for AVA-Trainee to issue your appointment letter.
6. If you are an international postdoc, AVA-VISA will correspond directly with you once they receive the appointment letter from AVA-Trainee.

Current or former MD Anderson educational appointees may request a verification of their educational experience by completing a Request for Verification of Educational Appointment form.

Academic and VISA Administration–Trainee (AVA-Trainee) serves as an institutional resource for the processing of educational appointments for postdoctoral fellows, graduate medical education, clinical non-physician, research and observer trainees. They provide guidance and support to the more than 200 departments and programs at MD Anderson that appoint trainees.

All postdoctoral fellows who are benefits-eligible (i.e., appointment is > 4 ½ months; work at least 50% time; receive their compensation from MD Anderson) receive competitive benefits during their training.  The standard benefits package includes the following:

• Medical insurance
• 120 hours vacation and 80 hours sick leave annually (full-time fellows)
• Up to 480 hours FMLA leave after fulfilling criteria
• Fitness Center membership (full-time postdoctoral fellows)
• Parental leave
• Access to group plans for dental, vision, short- and long- term disability
• Health care and daycare spending accounts
• Enrollment in the Teacher’s Retirement System
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program, Employee Health and Well-Being, the Ombuds office, etc.

Annual sick leave carries forward annually and automatically, but the maximum amount that a full-time trainee may have at any one time is 160 hours.

The appointment policy limits an individual to no more than five years in the postdoctoral title at MD Anderson, or a total of six years in postdoctoral appointments at any combination of institutions.

Initial postdoctoral research fellow appointments are for a period of only one year.  They may be renewed annually at the discretion of the faculty member and contingent upon advancement criteria being met. The appointment term clock continues regardless of any mentor changes within the institution. 

After the term limit has been reached, the postdoctoral fellow must either request special consideration for an extension, be appointed to an MD Anderson faculty or classified position, or s/he must leave the institution.

• The minimum duration of a postdoctoral appointment is 6 months, maximum is 12 months. 
• Appointments are renewable.  The appointment policy limits and individual to no more than five years in the postdoctoral title at MD Anderson, or a total of six years in postdoctoral appointments at any combination of institutions.
• The minimum required stipend is equal to the current NIH PGY 0 for years of experience.
• Confirmation of a current postdoctoral appointment is required from the home institution for Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow appointments. 
• MD Anderson Cancer Center has a “Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend Policy” which defines the minimum stipend level for a postdoctoral fellow appointment as the National Institutes of Health Kirschstein-National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend for zero years of experience.  Annual incremental increases for years of postdoctoral appointment that parallel the Kirschstein-NRSA stipends are recommended, but not required. 
• We strongly encourage you to attend the next available Fast Track Orientation.

We are excited that you chose to move to Houston, Texas. There are several resources available to enhance your professional career trajectory as well as your life in this vibrant city.

You can find details about living in Houston in the MD Anderson City Guide.

The TMC Innovation Institute provides a unique profiling of the top medical institutes in the area, giving Houston a great scientific edge.

If you are new to the city, there are several organizations not affiliated or endorsed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that may provide the opportunity to meet other young professionals and expand your network:

• A Life Science Professional Networking event is organized monthly using Meetup
• The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) organizes a monthly networking event
• InterNations offers global networking opportunities, local events and expat-relevant information about the city for people who live and work abroad.  The InterNations website provides many guides about moving to and living and working in the city, a forum to connect with other expats and many events organized for members.