Federal Research Updates: Please see Federal Research Updates 2025 for the latest updates on executive orders and policies impacting federally funded research.

As a current postdoc, how does the five-year trainee term limit affect my appointment?

Postdocs whose initial appointment occurred prior to January 1, 2022 and are currently in their first through fourth years as a postdoc at GW are subject to the five-year term limit.

Postdocs whose initial appointment occurred prior to January 1, 2022 and are currently in their fifth year as a postdoc at GW or beyond will be granted one additional year.

Following the five-year training period at GW, a postdoctoral appointee must transition into a non-postdoc position at the university or another organization. If you have questions or concerns about the five-year limit as it pertains to your appointment, we encourage you to reach out to postdocsupportatgwu [dot] edu (postdocsupport[at]gwu[dot]edu).