Skip to main content


Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Hiring Process:

Upon arrival, you should see Janay Johnson (janayjohnson@ufl.edu), the Human Resources (HR) representative to start your assistantship paperwork.  

  • Domestic students - You will need a copy of your driver’s license AND a physical copy of your Social Security Card. You will start the GatorStart process after your HR administrator initiates the hire. Please respond promptly to email requests from GatorStart. The sooner the hire is processed, the sooner you will get your first paycheck. 
  • International students – Your hire paperwork can be initiated without a Social Security Card. You must bring your passport, visa, I-20 (or DS-2019 – work authorization), I-94, and travel history. Complete the process as quickly as possible and reply to all emails from GatorStart and tax services as soon as you receive them. Once you have been in the U.S. for 10 days, you can make an appointment to go to the local Social Security office (office code 260, South Broward FL,12249 Pembroke Rd, Pembroke Pines FL 33025; 866-613-3962; https://www.socialsecurityoffices.info/co/fl-broward) and ask for the Social Security Card. It may take from 1 to 6 weeks to get the card by mail, and several months to be updated in their webpage.  Please plan on bringing enough money to cover expenses during the first 2 months in the U.S. Make sure you can retrieve $US dollars from your bank account here in the US and bring some cash with you.