(Date)

(Name)

(Address)

Dear (Title) (Name):

With this letter we are pleased to offer you a (state title of position, e.g., postdoctoral Research Associate or Faculty Research Assistant) position in the University of Maryland, Department of Physics beginning (date). The initial appointment would be for the term (date) through (date), with the possibility of continuation for (term, e.g., year), based upon mutually satisfactory experience, a valid visa status (if applicable), and the continued availability of federal funds. Your appointment would be with the (name) Research group, working with (names of faculty), and funded by the (funding agency, e.g. National Science Foundation).

Your salary would be at the initial rate of $(annual salary rate) per year. You would be entitled to earned vacation at the rate of four weeks per year. All vacation earned during the period (indicate specific dates) must be taken prior to (indicate end of period). You would also be eligible to participate in a variety of fringe benefit programs available to faculty members, including, at you option, various medical plans whose expense to the subscriber is relatively low. As required by State law, you must enroll in one of the available pension plans. Our research grant will also contribute on your behalf to the retirement program in which you would enroll. You may refer to our Departmental website (http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/faculty/facstaffinfo.html) for details on available benefits programs and information of use to members of the department.

Should you accept this position, we would expect you to (indicate research activities, e.g., spend two thirds of your time working on problems of direct interest to the research group, and up to one third of your time could be spent on problems of your own particular interest.) There are no teaching responsibilities associated with this position. We would expect you to interact strongly with the Graduate Students, other Research Associates, and Visitors in the group.

Letter to (Name)

(Date)

Page 2

(Include a descriptive paragraph on specific research activities in which you expect this individual to be involved.)

The offer described in this letter requires final University approval. Our Department has experienced no difficulties in obtaining such approval in the past, and we expect there would be none in your case.

If you accept this offer, please sign and date this letter as shown below. We look forward to the possibility of your joining our Research Group as a postdoctoral Research Associate.

Sincerely yours,

(PI’s name)

(PI’s title)

cc: (Fund Coordinator)

Ms. DeSalvo

Ms. Knouse

ACCEPTED:

________________________________________ ________________________

(Name) Date