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Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
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< About

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  • Dual Career Support

< News and Events

  • Messages
  • Newsletters
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Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs > Policies > Policies by Appointment Type >

Postdoctoral Scholars

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Policies by Appointment Type

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Postdoctoral Scholars

In December 2025, several meaningful enhancements were announced to the Research Associate position, which includes a position classification change to Postdoctoral Scholar. Additionally, a new handbook was developed in collaboration with the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs that is intended to serve as a helpful tool for finding all employment practices in one place.

Access the handbook below as well as a summary of changes announced. There are also templates for Individual Development Plans to guide the work of postdocs and create a thoughtful and collaborative plan.

  • Postdoctoral Scholars Handbook (PDF)
  • Summary of Changes for Postdoctoral Scholars (December 2025)
  • Individual Development Plan (IDP) Templates
    • MSU Postdoc IDP template (use during initial year)
    • MSU Postdoc IDP template (use after initial year)