Onboarding: Overview for New Postdocs

Matt Zyniewicz
Associate Director for Operations and Strategic Initiatives
Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good

About Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame was founded in November 1842 by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a French missionary order. It is located adjacent to South Bend, Indiana, the center of a metropolitan area with a population of more than 315,000. Chartered by the state of Indiana in 1844, the University was governed by the Holy Cross priests until 1967, when governance was transferred to a two-tiered, mixed board of lay and religious trustees and fellows. Notre Dame has grown from the vision of Father Sorin, who sought to establish a great Catholic university in America, and has remained faithful to both its religious and intellectual traditions.

Learn more about Notre Dame

Research Funds

As a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow, you have a one-time amount of $15,000 of research funds that you can use to advance your research and professional development during your two years. Here are some examples of the sorts of items, activities, and services that you might use this account for. Please note that purchasing equipment (e.g., computers, cameras) is not an acceptable use of the research fund.

Here is how to receive reimbursements

Examples

  • Research-related tools:
    • Books
    • Software
    • Subscription to a database or journal
  • Travel:
    • Travel for presenting at a conference (submit the conference program with receipts)
    • Registration fee for conference where you are presenting (in-person or virtual)
    • Travel for research trips
  • Professional Development:
    • Society membership/annual dues
  • Publications:
    • Images and image rights
  • Masterclasses and Work-in-Progress Sessions

Research & Relocation Reimbursements

The best way for you to seek reimbursements from your research accounts is that you should each go through TravelND/Concur to submit your receipts and to submit for reimbursements.

Please seek guidance from your department or institute administrator, who will tutor you on the use of TravelND/Concur. This is the normal procedure for their faculty. The faculty member submits his/her receipts using the system, sending the request to the administrator, who then forwards it up the chain for final approval.

So, please reach out to them, and they will coach you through the system, and you will be ready to submit your receipts when they come across your desks.

Also, when in doubt, please ask Katie Bugyis or Matt Zyniewicz if a particular expense can be covered by your research accounts. (Typically, we will confer with the Dean's Office.) Please do this ahead of incurring the expense.

Meanwhile, each of the administrators and Matt (together with Katie) will share a Google Sheet in our attempt to keep track of your expenses so that your research expenses do not exceed the $15K allocated for your work (as indicated in your letter of intent). You should keep track as well, so that you do not run over the amount.

Please let Katie, Matt, and/or the administrators know if you have any questions or issues that we can assist you with.

Resources for Postdocs

Ongoing Training

Related Links

Campus Map

Provost Office Resources

International Student and Scholar Affairs

AL Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

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