For Potential Mentors

This page contains content for PIs at OHSU interested in recruiting postdoctoral researchers via the OHSU Fellowship for Diversity in Research (OFDIR) Program. Please explore the content below for information about how to recruit OFDIR postdocs, the application and hiring process, programs you can participate in to gain additional mentorship experience, and more. Please note that if your prospective mentee will receive funding through a training grant or d would be able to bring funding from their current position into a postdoctoral position at OHSU, they are still eligible to apply for additional benefits with OFDIR. 

Recruiting Postdocs to your lab

We believe that in broadening participation at the postdoctoral level, we have the greatest chance of attracting the best candidates to OHSU and STEM professions. Below is our guidance on ways to enhance your recruitment efforts. 
 
  1. Highlight the fellowship by posting a promo or link to the OFDIR website on your lab website or requesting an OFDIR flyer to post within your department.
  2. We recommend disseminating information about the fellowship through networks/job boards and professional societies.
  3. Inquire with professional societies for which you are a member about databases they may have to reach a pool of diverse applicants.
  4. Visit the OHSU DEIB page for institutional resources like the Inclusive Language Guide and a Recruitment Manual. 
For more information about reaching a diverse candidate pool, read "Strategies to improve equity in faculty hiring" by Needhi Bhalla, Ph.D. 

Hiring a Postdoc who is an OFDIR recipient

Explore the tabs to the left to learn more about the process a postdoctoral researcher must undergo to apply to the OFDIR Program. One element of this process is that you as the mentor PI must provide a letter of support to the potential Fellow. This letter should detail two specific elements: 

  1. What the tentative funding mechanism will be for postdoctoral years two and beyond.
  2. How specifically will you, the OHSU faculty mentor, assist the applicant in their long-term career development - for example, provide an explanation of how you, the mentor, will support the applicant in advancing beyond the postdoctoral training period (i.e. your tailored mentoring strategy).

As described in the "Fellowship Benefits" tab, this Fellowship offers up to a one-year salary as well as professional development funds and relocation funds. Beyond that, it is the mentor PI’s responsibility to fund the second year of research and until independent funding is acquired by the Fellow. OFDIR funding is provided in accordance with the salary scale established by OHSU under the current AFSCME Postdoc Workers United collective bargaining agreement, commensurate with each Fellow’s years of relevant experience.  

Once a Fellow has been accepted to the OFDIR Program, it is your responsibility as the mentor/hiring PI to oversee and complete the hiring process through your department in coordination with HR and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. OFDIR is not the hiring party for your Fellow.  

Excellence in mentoring practice

It is very important to us that our OFDIR mentors are well-equipped and experienced in mentoring OFDIR Fellows using evidence-based, best practices. We require all OFDIR mentors to participate in programming offered through the OHSU Mentoring Academy (or an approved equivalent). 

In addition, there are several organizations within OHSU and the larger Portland community that support broadening participation in biomedical research. Please consider becoming involved in one of the groups below if you are not already!