Explore UAB

UAB campus buildings at twilight. The UAB Council on Postdoctoral Education (COPE) is committed to thoroughly examining all issues related to postdoctoral education. As such, the central goal of COPE is two-fold:

  1. to improve the environment for postdoctoral training; and
  2. to facilitate the retention and recruitment of high quality postdoctoral scholars at UAB.

Primary Function

The primary function of COPE is to provide guidance to the Office of Postdoctoral Education on all matters related to postdoctoral training and recruitment.

Approval Responsibilities

COPE is responsible for approving postdoc-related elements, including but not limited to:

  • Training requirements (term length, leave)
  • Minimum stipend level
  • Career-development funding mechanisms

COPE Membership

In addition to the Senior Associate Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and the Dean of the Graduate School, COPE will include representatives from UAB Schools that train postdoctoral scholars; these representatives are to be nominated and determined by a faculty vote. In addition, representatives from administrative offices that facilitate postdoctoral training as well as the Executive Board of the UAB Postdoctoral Association will serve as COPE members.

SCHOOL / UNIT

NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES

VOTING / NON-VOTING

UAB Postdoctoral Association

2

voting

Business

1

voting

College of Arts and Sciences*

1

voting

Dentistry

1

voting

Education*

1

voting

Engineering

1

voting

Health Professions*

1

voting

Joint Health Sciences

2

voting

Medicine*

2

voting

Nursing

1

voting

Optometry*

1

voting

Public Health

1

voting

Disability Support Services

1

non-voting

Institutional Student Services

1

non-voting

Libraries

1

non-voting

Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

1

non-voting

Ombudsperson

1

non-voting

Professional Development Program

1

non-voting

Student Health/Wellness

1

non-voting

*COPE representatives to these schools will serve three-year terms for the initial term only.

Role of a COPE Member

It is intended that all COPE members:

  • Serve a renewable two year term
  • Attend and participate in biannual COPE meetings
  • Serve on COPE sub-committees as needed

If a COPE member is not able to fulfill this role, a replacement will be appointed by the appropriate supervisor.

COPE Meetings: Schedule and Agenda

Meeting will be held biannually in the Spring and Fall. Emails will be sent to each COPE member at a time one month before the scheduled meeting; a reminder will be sent one week prior to the meeting. An agenda will be drafted by the Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Education and distributed in the reminder email. Any COPE member may make additions to the agenda prior to the scheduled meeting.

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