Reference Document Request Form
Individuals appointed to postdoctoral ranks at Brown University may engage in compensated work or other professional activities beyond their primary responsibilities only when permitted by University policy and all applicable funding and visa requirements. Eligibility depends on the individual’s appointment type, funding source, proposed activity, workload, and, when applicable, visa status.
All postdoctoral appointees must comply with all relevant University policies, including but not limited to:
- Handbook of Academic Administration, including Section 3.7.11, Postdoctoral Positions, Section 5.5, Consulting and Other Incidental Employment Activities, and Section 5.3, Additional Compensation for Faculty Members Employed by Brown University
- Conflict of Interest and Commitment Policy
- Conflict of Interest in Research Policy
- Patent and Invention Policy
- Copyright Ownership and Use Policy
- University Code of Conduct
It is important to understand that, generally, a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) will not receive additional compensation for work performed at Brown. Please see A Note About Teaching at Brown, Including Brown Pre-College Programs and Summer Session below for a more detailed explanation.
Before accepting an offer, signing an agreement, or beginning a proposed activity, a postdoctoral appointee must submit the OUPA Outside Employment or Activities Request Form and receive written approval from the cognizant dean’s office. After a postdoctoral appointee submits the request form with the necessary documentation, the request will be routed to their cognizant dean’s office for review:
- Division of Biology and Medicine - biomedpostdocs@brown.edu
- Dean of Faculty - dean_of_faculty@brown.edu and sam_caldis@brown.edu
- School of Engineering - soefa@brown.edu
- School of Public Health - SPHFA@brown.edu
Each request is reviewed individually by the cognizant dean’s office and, when appropriate, in consultation with the faculty mentor or supervisor and other University partners. Please note that approval is not guaranteed.
Generally, requests should be submitted to the cognizant dean’s office at least 30 days before the outside employment or activity begins. These changes require sufficient time to review–late requests may not be possible for administrative staff to accommodate.
Additional requirements, considerations, and examples are described in this reference document.
Changes in Appointment, Funding, or Visa Status
If you plan to transition into a postdoctoral role, you should generally submit the activity for a new review at least 30 days before the anticipated transition. Commitments approved while you were a student, fellow, staff member, or in another appointment category may no longer be permissible or may require modified terms once the appointment begins. You must also promptly report any change to your appointment dates, funding source, or visa status. If the required review and administrative changes cannot be completed before the proposed postdoctoral start date, the appointment may need to be delayed until the activity has concluded.
Last updated: August 14, 2026.