Difficulties With Your Postdoctoral Position

While highly rewarding, postdoctoral training is also challenging. Power dynamics are certainly part of an academic environment, and sometimes difficulties and misunderstandings arise. Here are some resources that may help if you are having trouble in your postdoctoral position.

Ombuds 

Ombuds offer a safe and confidential place for people from all OHSU roles and locations who are experiencing problems or conflicts within OHSU. Ombuds will listen and review matters; help identify options; make inquiries and make referrals as appropriate; and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

Office of Civil Rights Investigations and Compliance (OCIC)

OCIC seeks to foster a respectful and equitable environment for all OHSU Members. Their work is guided by OHSU’s nondiscrimination policies, as well as state and federal law to ensure equity, respect for all, access, inclusion and integrity.  OCIC staff function as neutral parties to ensure compliance.

Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP)

CAP provides upport for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. 

Integrity Office

The Integrity Office ensures compliance with federal, state and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Public Safety

Public Safety consists of more than 40 dedicated professionals responsible for ensuring the safety of our campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As state certified police officers and community service officers, together with our dispatchers and administrative support, we work to maintain a safe and secure environment for all.

  • Email: pubsafe@ohsu.edu
  • Emergency telephone: 503-494-4444
  • Non-emergency telephone: 503-494-7744

Risk Management

The mission of Risk Management is to provide a comprehensive risk management program that contributes to the health, safety and protection of patients, employees, students and visitors, while also protecting the University's physical and financial resources. They oversee all issues related to OHSU's insurance (not to be confused with your personal health care insurance). 

Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP)

CAP provides upport for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. 

HR Business Partner

Human Resources Business Partners help to ensure employee and manager concerns are treated equally and objectively. They have a deep knowledge of employment law, best-practices and OHSU policies. A decentralized HR allows them to gain in-depth knowledge of their mission areas. When possible, they will keep concerns confidential--and will notify you before your name has to be disclosed (for legal or other reasons).

Integrity Office

The Integrity Office ensures compliance with federal, state and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Ombuds

Ombuds offer a safe and confidential place for people from all OHSU roles and locations who are experiencing problems or conflicts within OHSU. Ombuds will listen and review matters; help identify options; make inquiries and make referrals as appropriate; and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

OHSU PostDoc Workers United

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

The mission of the OPA is to support the career development of all OHSU postdoctoral scholars from arrival to departure. In doing so, the office strengthens the research training for all postdoctoral scholars, ensures a consistent and superior postdoctoral experience, and prepares postdoctoral scholars for any professional endeavor they wish to pursue.

Career and Workplace Enhancement Center (CWE)

The CWE strives to engage, develop and support OHSU’s diverse workforce. Created by the Labor Management Committee, a partnership between OHSU and AFSCME, the CWE Center provides employees with the professional development resources they need to succeed and advance.

Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP)

CAP provides upport for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. 

Conflict Coaching Program

Conflict coaching is a confidential, one-on-one process designed to help employees think through a difficult dynamic at work and find a way forward.

OHSU's team of certified conflict coaches meet individually with clients to a) better understand the conflict dynamics and b) identify concrete steps for improving and resolving workplace issues. This resource is free and confidential for all OHSU employees.

HR Business Partners

Human Resources Business Partners help to ensure employee and manager concerns are treated equally and objectively. They have a deep knowledge of employment law, best-practices and OHSU policies. A decentralized HR allows them to gain in-depth knowledge of their mission areas. When possible, they will keep concerns confidential--and will notify you before your name has to be disclosed (for legal or other reasons).

Ombuds

Ombuds offer a safe and confidential place for people from all OHSU roles and locations who are experiencing problems or conflicts within OHSU. Ombuds will listen and review matters; help identify options; make inquiries and make referrals as appropriate; and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

The mission of the OPA is to support the career development of all OHSU postdoctoral scholars from arrival to departure. In doing so, the office strengthens the research training for all postdoctoral scholars, ensures a consistent and superior postdoctoral experience, and prepares postdoctoral scholars for any professional endeavor they wish to pursue.

Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP)

CAP provides upport for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. 

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs are OHSU-sponsored and employee-managed groups. They comprise of faculty and staff from underrepresented backgrounds or who share a common background or similar interest and their allies. ERGs offer opportunities for employees to learn about OHSU contributors whose backgrounds may be different from their own. The four core OHSU values of transparency, diversity, quality and service excellence are aligned with the ERGs mission and the OHSU's diversity goals.

ERGs provide opportunities for career development, social support, networking, mentoring, community participation, cultural awareness, and employee engagement.

Office of International Affairs (OIA)

The OIA supports OHSU's international community, programs, and activities. The OIA consists of three departments: the Department of Immigration Services, the Department of Learning and Resources and the Department of Export Controls. Together these departments provide a full range of immigration advice and processing, learning opportunities, resource coordination, and transition support for international employees, postdocs, residents, students and visitors.

Ombuds

Ombuds offer a safe and confidential place for people from all OHSU roles and locations who are experiencing problems or conflicts within OHSU. Ombuds will listen and review matters; help identify options; make inquiries and make referrals as appropriate; and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

Spark Employee Assistance Program

Professional counselors can help you or your family with personal problems. They offer crisis counseling as well as a variety of other services. The EAP is available to all benefits-eligible employees and their dependents, regardless of the medical plan you are enrolled in.

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

The mission of the OPA is to support the career development of all OHSU postdoctoral scholars from arrival to departure. In doing so, the office strengthens the research training for all postdoctoral scholars, ensures a consistent and superior postdoctoral experience, and prepares postdoctoral scholars for any professional endeavor they wish to pursue.

Confidential Advocacy Program (CAP)

CAP provides upport for OHSU employees, students, and volunteers who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, stalking, relationship/dating violence, and other forms — regardless of when or where it took place. 

Ombuds

Ombuds offer a safe and confidential place for people from all OHSU roles and locations who are experiencing problems or conflicts within OHSU. Ombuds will listen and review matters; help identify options; make inquiries and make referrals as appropriate; and/or facilitate resolutions in an impartial manner.

OHSU Postdoctoral Policies and Procedures
OHSU PostDoc Workers United
OHSU Postdoctoral Society
OHSU Code of Conduct