FAQs Eligibility

Nominees must:

• • Have obtained a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree by the nomination deadline or later, so long as it is before the proposed start date, from an accredited university before the start of postdoctoral training.
  • Be able to begin their postdoctoral position no later than January 10, 2026.
  • Complete an individual development plan (IDP). Suggested resources: STEM fields and/or Humanities and social science fields. Note, the IDP is necessary for the mentoring plan.
  • Obtain sponsorship from an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member who is willing to serve as their primary mentor.
  • Show evidence of superior academic achievement (such as research or creative expression outcomes, honors or other academic designation).
  • Demonstrate a commitment to a career in research and creative expression (preference will be given to candidates who wish to pursue academic careers).

  Note:

  • Nominees who are currently working at Ohio State as postdoctoral scholars must have been hired after November 1, 2023.
  • Ohio State graduate students are eligible but preference will be given to external candidates.

Nominating faculty must:

• Be an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member.
• Nominate only one person.
• Decision tree graph (attached) and /or
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: Have trained at least five postdoctoral scholars. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required postdoctoral training experience, they can apply if they have received formal mentoring training from a professional society, National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity (proof of training is required and needs to be submitted with the nomination package) and have a co-mentor who has mentored at least five postdoctoral scholars.
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: Have trained at least ten doctoral/MFA students. They should provide a list of terminal degree mentees in the form provided for postdoctoral training experience. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required doctoral/MFA training experience, they need to have received formal mentoring training from an entity in their field or related discipline and have a co-mentor who has the experience as outlined above and have a co-mentor who has mentored at least five doctoral/MFA students.
• Not be the candidate’s PhD or terminal degree advisor.
• Submit a mentoring plan based on the candidate’s individual development plan (IDP).
• Attend an orientation session to learn more about the PPSP program and the review criteria for the year two renewal.
• Participate in future PPSP review efforts.

Are currently appointed postdocs eligible to receive a PPSP award?