Policies and Definitions for U of T Postdoctoral Fellows
The University of Toronto Governing Council establishes the policy pertaining to PDFs at U of T.
A University of Toronto PDF is a postdoctoral fellow that is doing research on a U of T campus and/or is receiving their stipend from U of T.
PDFs affiliated with U of T (e.g. PDFs at a Teaching Hospital or another organization affiliated with U of T) are not governed under the policies and procedures at U of T. PDFs affiliated with U of T are governed under the policies and procedures at the institution where the research is being completed and/or the institution from which they receive their stipend.
The University has several policies that are approved by the Governing Council and which apply to all PDFs. Each PDF should become familiar with these policies.
The University Policies for Post-Doctoral Fellows and the accompanying Administrative Procedures for Engagement of Post-Doctoral Fellows are to be followed for all U of T PDFs.
The conduct of PDFs while at the U of T is governed by the same policies and procedures that apply to graduate students (with changes as necessary to reflect their status as trainees). Those which are of particular importance to postdoctoral fellows are:
- Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
- Code of Student Conduct
- Policy on Ethical Conduct in Research
- Policy on Official Correspondence with Students
The U of T remains committed to the highest standards of integrity in research and has a range of policies that govern how researchers should conduct their work.
Research Services provides details of different policies; guidelines for research and ethical conduct can be found on this site.
The Office of Research Ethics (ORE) upholds the highest ethical and regulatory standards of research involving human or animal subjects at the University of Toronto.
The School of Graduate Studies policy on Intellectual Property Guidelines (PDF format) provides some fundamental definitions, summarizes current U of T policy and procedures, and provides links to other sources of information. For current policies, guidelines, forms, and useful website links, please visit the website of the Office of the Vice-President, Research at the U of T and the Innovations & Partnerships Office.