At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, a postdoctoral fellow is defined as "an individual with a terminal degree (PhD, MD, DVM, etc.) seeking a formal, supervised research training experience and, generally, with less than 5 years of relevant training after the receipt of the terminal degree."

The postdoc experience is meant to extend, refine and enhance the skills necessary for professional and career development, and to enable individuals to broaden their scientific backgrounds by acquiring new research capabilities. All CHOP fellows have access to career and professional support programming at Children’s Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania.

Our Philosophy on Postdoctoral Fellowships

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities at Children's Hospital are designed for individuals who seek advanced research training with world-class researchers. Postdoctoral fellows can use this experience as a stepping-stone to their next career move, be that career in academia, industry, or other professional settings.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognizes that postdoctoral training opportunities are essential for the development of science professionals. As such, we actively ensure that the Research Institute is up to date with best practices recommended by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the National Postdoctoral Association to improve postdoctoral training experiences and career development. In addition, postdoctoral fellows at Children's Hospital are provided with a full employee-level benefit package including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement plan, paid leave/vacation time and commuter benefits. In addition, all fellows are paid at or above the current NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend guidelines.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute provides specialized support for all postdoctoral fellows through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. The office supplies infrastructure support for fellows and mentors in areas such as postdoctoral annual reviews, training administration, compensation review, orientation and professional and one-on-one career support. The office also maintains the CHOP Research Trainee Web Portal, a centralized Web resource for all prospective and current research trainees. Working closely with Research Human Resources, the office addresses the needs and concerns of postdoctoral fellows, especially foreign nationals who have unique needs.

The Research Institute is also committed to creating and supporting an inclusive biomedical research workforce, both on our campus and in the greater scientific community. Diverse postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to explore the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Diversity as an entry point to a fellowship at Children’s Hospital.

Learn more about the breadth of research being performed at Children’s Hospital by exploring our investigator profiles.