Postdoctoral associates employed in universities are academic employees who teach, conduct research or provide services related to the enhancement of career skills. They benefit by receiving financial support for postdoctoral training through collegiate funding. Postdoctoral associates receive training and work with a faculty mentor who sets the training agenda. Postdoctoral associates also benefit from regular annual performance reviews, criteria of the review being based on the position and the unit where it is located.
Postdoctoral degree holders in various specialized fields are eligible for some of the country's top paying positions. These include computer scientists, radiation therapists, nuclear technicians, nuclear medicine technologists, dental hygienists, commercial pilots, registered nurses, diagnostic medical sonographers, ship engineers, engineering technicians, aerospace engineering and operations technicians, electrical and electronic engineering technicians, radiologic technologists, funeral directors, aircraft mechanics and service technicians, avionics technicians and industrial engineering technicians.
In a highly competitive world, a bachelor or master degree is of little or no value when looking for a job in a specialized field. The demand for doctorate degree holders (PhD) and postdoctoral degree holders is high in academic and research related fields. Apart from the prestige of holding a postdoctoral position, postdoctoral appointees in universities enjoy several perks, including medical insurance, disability insurance, optional retirement and numerous paid leaves (such as sick, medical and vacation) as well as bereavement leave and unemployment compensation.
There are various federal, provincial and public agencies that provide funding for postdoctoral individuals through salary and research support for a specific period. Universities offer scholarships for postdoctoral degree stages, enabling individuals to add to their experience through research. Some examples of the types of funding available from federal agencies include Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity, a facility offer to help investigators with clinical doctoral degrees, cancer prevention and population science research to transition to the independent stage of research. NIH Pathway to Independence Award will provide 5 years of support including mentored and independent support for postdoctoral research scientists.