Postdoc Life
Fellows
What is a Biological Sciences Division (BSD) Postdoctoral Fellow?
The BSD Postdoctoral Association produced the following guidelines at the request of postdocs who wanted clear information about university policies relating to their fellowships. Please send comments, suggestions and questions about this information to James McCracken jamesmcc@uchicago.edu. Download these guidelines (PDF Updated 02/2008)
These guidelines are based on three University of Chicago documents:
- Biological Sciences Division Postdoctoral Training Guidelines (revised 3/31/05 ) (PDF)
- Postdoctoral Fellows’ Supplementary Stipend (10/30/03) (PDF)
The University of Chicago is currently revising postdoc policy and plans to publish a new handbook for postdocs soon. Once published the handbook will be available from this website.
Postdoctoral Fellows (PFs)
PFs are funded from a grant or fellowship paid as a stipend. PFs are not employees
of The University of Chicago. Find out if your fellowship can be
paid as a salary. If it can, you can be a Postdoctoral Scholar.
This entitles you to all the benefits of a University of Chicago
employee. However, very few fellowships can be paid as salary,
for example, NIH NRSA fellowships must be paid as stipends.
Compensation
Regardless of their funding source, all PFs are paid an amount that is
no less than the minimum amount established by the NIH/NRSA schedule in
effect at the time of appointment. Thus, the minimum allowable
compensation for postdoctoral trainees with appointments commencing
during the period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 will be
$36,996. Any increase above this minimum is at the discretion of
the faculty who accept the PF into his/her research laboratory.
If the PF is supported by a NIH NRSA fellowship their compensation may
not be increased using federal funds. However, other types of PF
may receive higher compensation in this way.
Supplemental Stipend
Beginning January 1, 2004 PFs in the Biological Sciences Division will
be provided an annual supplement to their stipend to assist in the
purchase of health, dental, life and long-term disability coverage, and
allows a contribution toward an individual retirement account (see Retirement
below). This action is taken in response to the current disparity
in living support available to postdoctoral fellows who are funded by
training stipends and postdoctoral employees who receive salary and
benefits from the University. Since postdoctoral fellows are not
employees and therefore are not eligible for employee benefits, there
is a disincentive to accept postdoctoral fellowship awards as such
acceptance leads to a loss of employee benefits without any
compensating increase in economic income. The supplemental
stipend will address this inequity.
All PFs receive the Supplemental Stipend. For fellowships that do not include funds for health insurance coverage, the supplemental stipend is $6,200. For fellowships that already include funds for health insurance coverage the supplemental stipend is $1,600.
The Supplemental Stipend is provided in the PF’s paycheck and is taxable income. The Supplemental Stipend was calculated assuming purchase of the lowest cost coverage options for an individual for health, dental, group life and long term disability insurance. It also includes the cost of the income tax that will be incurred as a result of receiving the Supplemental Stipend and the cost of a 2.5% employer retirement contribution (see Retirement below). The faculty who accept the PF into his/her research laboratory will provide the Supplemental Stipend. PFs have total discretion in their use of their Supplemental Stipend.
Health Insurance
All PFs are required to have health insurance coverage during the term
of the fellowship. Health insurance for all postdocs is now
administered through Garnett-Powers. For more information, please visit
to their website.
Dental Insurance
The University of Chicago offers PFs dental insurance through Garnett-Powers only. PFs can alternatively purchase dental insurance from
vendors not provided by The University of Chicago.
Group Life Insurance
The University of Chicago offers PFs term life insurance through The
Standard Insurance Company only. PFs can alternatively purchase
term life insurance from vendors not provided by The University of
Chicago.
Long Term Disability Insurance
The University of Chicago offers PFs long term disability insurance
through The Standard Insurance Company only. PFs can
alternatively purchase long term disability insurance from vendors not
provided by The University of Chicago.
Payment Method for Coverage provided by The University of Chicago
- If the PF is supported by a NIH NRSA fellowship or Training Grant that includes funds for health insurance, then coverage is paid via form 62 and will be charged directly to the Training Grant or NIH NRSA fellowship. The fellowship money will therefore not increase the PF’s taxable income.
- All other PFs pay for coverage via payroll deduction. The Supplemental Stipend or fellowship money used to pay for coverage must be received in the PF’s paycheck to enable payroll deduction and will therefore increase the PF’s taxable income.
Payment Method for Coverage not provided by The University of Chicago
- Any PF who purchases coverage from vendors not
provided by The University of Chicago will pay for that coverage
themselves after tax and not via payroll deduction or form 62.
The Supplemental Stipend or fellowship money used to pay for such
coverage must be received in the PF’s paycheck to enable the PF
to pay the vendor and will therefore increase the PF’s taxable
income.
Retirement
As non-employees, PFs do not receive retirement contributions from the
University and may not contribute to University retirement funds.
Instead, PFs may, if they desire, purchase an IRA (Individual
Retirement Account). The Supplemental Stipend includes the cost
of a 2.5% employer contribution as is received by postdocs who are
employees. Payments to retirement accounts may not be made
through a payroll deduction. The Supplemental Stipend or
fellowship money used to pay for such accounts must be received in the
PF’s paycheck to enable the PF to pay the vendor and will
therefore increase the PF’s taxable income.
Appointment Length
PF appointments are generally for a 12 month term.
Term Limit
PFs are limited to a maximum of 5 years of postdoctoral experience at
The University of Chicago and elsewhere. Their PhD must have been
awarded within the last 5 years.
Leave Policy
PFs receive 4 weeks paid vacation and 15 days paid sick leave per 12
month term. This time may be used as parental leave. As
non-employees, PFs are ineligible for Family Medical Leave Act,
Short/Long term disability or Leave of Absence.
Income Taxes and F.I.C.A.
- For U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and resident aliens, The University of Chicago is not required to withhold income taxes or deduct F.I.C.A. contributions (Social Security taxes), from the stipends and supplements. Each Fellow should file a declaration of estimated tax (IRS Form 1040-ES and Illinois, IL-1040-ES) and pay quarterly installments of the tax on the stipends and supplements (and any other taxable income). Failure to file the declaration will subject the fellow to interest on any under-payment of tax when he/she files an annual tax return.
- For non-resident aliens, The University of Chicago is required to withhold alien federal taxes at the rate of 14% from the fellowship stipends and supplements. Federal taxes will not be withheld if the Fellow claims and qualifies for a tax treaty exemption.
Visa Restrictions
PFs may be citizens/permanent residents of the United States, or
foreign nationals who hold an F-1 or J-1 BCIS visa classification,
dependent on the specific criteria of the fellowship award. As
H-1B visas are employment-based visas, postdocs with an H-1B visa
status may not be appointed as a PF, they must receive a salary and be
appointed as a Postdoctoral Scholar or Research Professional Associate.
University Housing
PFs are eligible for University Staff/faculty and student
housing. However, PFs are ineligible for the Employer-Assisted
Housing Program and Staff Loan Programs.
Laboratory Schools Tuition Benefit
PFs are ineligible for Laboratory Schools Tuition Benefit.