Little information is available regarding the current status of postdocs as to the compensation, benefits, and services they receive from the institutions in which they serve. Therefore, COSEPUP decided to conduct a very limited survey to gain an understanding of the status quo. By doing so, the committee was able to identify what changes needed to be made in order to enhance the postdoctoral experience.

COSEPUP decided to survey the top 25 academic institutions (in terms of the largest numbers of postdoctoral scholars) and five each of the following: smaller institutions (in terms of number of postdoctoral scholars), medical schools, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), industry, research institutions, and government laboratories. The survey was conducted from November 1999 to April 2000.

The survey was conducted of 49 organizations who have postdoctoral scholars. Forty of the 49 organizations responded (82 percent response rate). These organizations are listed below:

Academic Institutions

Arizona State University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Harvard University

Indiana University

Iowa State University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stanford University

Tennessee State University

The University of Michigan

The University of Texas at Austin

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Diego

University of California, San Francisco

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Minnesota

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Washington University

Yale University

Medical Schools

John Hopkins University School of Medicine

NYU School of Medicine

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine

Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Government

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Environmental Protection Agency (ORD, NCER, ESRD)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

US Army Research Laboratory

Industry

Eli Lilly and Company

Microsoft Corporation

Parke-Davis

Research Institutes

Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Rowland Institute for Science

The remainder of this appendix provides the survey questions asked of the institutions with postdoctoral scholars and their responses to those questions.

Name:

Organization Name:

Department:

Title:

City:

State, Zip Code:

Daytime Phone:

Email:

Please fill out responses to each question below. If none of the choices are appropriate, please explain your organization's policy or service in the space provided. If you do not have enough information to answer a question, please mark the Do not know option.

__ Please check here if you would like your data to remain confidential.

1. Does your organization provide job placement services for your postdocs? (Select all that apply.)

   __ Services are available from an assigned individual whose sole responsibility is to work with postdocs (and graduate students).

   __ Services are available on-site as part of general student/employee services.

   __ Job placement tends to be the responsibility of the adviser.

   __ Job placement is the responsibility of the postdoc.

   __ Job placement is a dual responsibility of the adviser and postdoc.

   __ Do not know.

   __ Other, please explain:

2. Does your organization establish minimum and/or maximum stipend levels for postdocs? If yes, please specify dollar value for minimum and/or maximum stipends. If no, why not?

   __ Yes __ No __ Do not know

If yes, please specify dollar values in the space provided.

If no, why not?

Other, please explain:

3. Does your organization provide medical benefits to all postdocs and their dependents? (Select all that apply.)

   __ The organization pays for medical benefits for all postdocs and their dependents.

   __ The organization provides medical benefits at full compensation to all postdocs but not their dependents.

   __ The organization requires that postdoc advisers pay for the medical benefits of their postdocs.

   __ The organization informs postdocs of medical benefit plans that they and their dependents can enter at own expense (if at a discounted rate, please provide the percent discounted). Discount %:

   __ The source of the postdoc's funding determines medical benefit availability.

   __ No medical benefits are provided by the organization.

   __ Do not know.

   __ Other, please explain:

4. How is the postdoc made aware of benefits that are and are not available? (Select all that apply.)

   __ A formal letter of acceptance is sent prior to arrival to each postdoc by the organization and/or postdoc adviser outlining the organization's policies on paid-for benefits.

   __ An orientation meeting or equivalent is given to all entering postdocs discussing benefits.

   __ It is the responsibility of the adviser to discuss benefit availability with the postdoc.

   __ No information is formally provided.

   __ Do not know.

   __ Other, please explain:

5. Which of the following benefits is provided at full compensation to ALL postdocs, regardless of adviser or funding source? (Select all that apply. If a benefit is offered at a reduced cost to the postdoc, please specify percent discounted.)

6. Does the organization have staff that deals specifically with the special needs of non-US or foreign national postdocs?

   __ Yes

   __ No

   __ No, handled by postdoc adviser

   __ Do not know

   __ Other, please explain:

7. If offered, in what areas do foreign national postdocs receive assistance? (Select all that apply.)

   __ Visas

   __ Housing

   __ Tax advice

__ Credit references

__ Social Security

__ Drivers License

__ English language or writing classes

__ No special services are available

__ Do not know

__ Other, please explain:

8. Does the organization require performance evaluations throughout a postdoc's appointment?

   __ Regular performance evaluations are required.

   __ Each postdoc is evaluated by an appointed advisory committee that includes individuals beyond their direct advisers.

   __ Documented progress reviews are performed by the respective adviser at his/her discretion.

   __ No official performance reviews of any type are required.

   __ Do not know.

   __ Other, please explain:

9. How is the duration of a postdoctoral appointment determined? (Select all that apply.)

   __ Determined prior to postdoc's arrival.

   __ Determined by an appointed advisory committee after a formal presentation.

   __ Determined primarily by the adviser at any time point throughout a postdoc's appointment.

   __ Determined primarily by source of funding and/or funding availability.

   __ Do not know.

   __ Other mechanism, please explain:

10. Is there a Postdoctoral Association or equivalent on-site?

    __ A Postdoctoral Association or equivalent is available and run by postdocs themselves.

    __ A Postdoctoral Association or equivalent is available and run by the institution.

    __ An Association that serves both doctoral students and postdocs is available.

    __ No organizations are available for postdocs. [Go to question 12]

    __ Do not know. [Go to question 12]

    __ Other, please explain:

11. If your organization has a Postdoctoral Association or equivalent, what are its main functions? (Select all that apply.)

    __ A conduit for information services such as housing, childcare, visas for international postdocs, and general personal living questions.

    __ Acts as a liaison between postdoc and the administration.

    __ Provides appointed representatives to the organization's administrative councils.

    __ Provides professional and social activities for postdocs.

    __ Do not know.

    __ Other, please explain:

12. Who are the neutral parties responsible at the organization for handling grievances of the postdoc? (Select all that apply.)

    __ Human Resource staff person

    __ An ombudsperson

    __ A dean or department chairperson

    __ The adviser

    __ Do not know

    __ Other, please explain:

13. How are postdocs classified at your organizations? (Select all that apply. For multiple answers, please define the nature of the each appointment classification.)

14. Please indicate how many postdocs are currently serving appointments at this organization? (Please provide the most current information available.)

    __ Less than 50

    __ 50 to 100

__ 101 to 250

__ 251 to 500

__ 501 to 750

__ 751 to 1000

__ More than 1000

__ Do not know

Data from 19

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

1. Does your organization provide job placement services for your postdocs? (Select all that apply.).

The “other” responses were consistent with the primary responses, which indicate only moderate job placement activity for postdocs on the part of institutions. A few mentioned such resources as career centers, job fairs, job placement

web sites, and general student services, and several reported that job placement activities are localized and vary by institutional unit.

2. Does your organization establish minimum and/or maximum stipend levels for postdocs? If yes, please specify dollar value for minimum and/or maximum stipends. If no, why not?

Yes 55% (22 responses) No 45% (18 responses)

For “yes” responses, the values followed a consistent pattern, which varied by sector. Among universities, minimum levels tended to follow the NIH scale (which begins with a stipend of $26,256); a few were lower. Among the national laboratories and other facilities, most salaries began in the $40,000 to $50,000 range, with lows in the 30s. Maximum government stipends were in the 50s, with a high of $64,750. Some national labs offered “add-on” amounts for “critical skills,” from $2,000-$10,000. In industry, stipends beginning in the 30s were common.

For “no” responses, institutions enumerated a range of ambiguities that inhibited the establishment of uniform stipend levels, including the wide variety of job titles and policy differences among departments, schools, or laboratories. Several institutions reported that policies were being prepared.

Some institutions reported the use of other, more subjective criteria to set stipend levels, including the “experience/potential of the postdoc” and the “norms of the field.”

Many institutions noted that salary levels for postdocs on fellowships or other outside support are not set by the institution.

3. Does your organization provide medical benefits to all postdocs and their dependents? (Select all that apply.)

Academic Institutions (N = 30)

Non-Academic Organizations (N = 10)

Among universities, many reported that they provided medical coverage only for those postdocs considered employees; i.e., those paid from research grants (“equivalent to other research faculty/staff”).

By contrast, postdocs on fellowships or other external funding support (which includes many foreign postdocs) were less certain of support. Some could count on coverage from their own grant (e.g., the NRC Associateship provided full coverage); others could not, and had to arrange for coverage on their own (“full-time postdocs required to have benefits by state law, except NIH, who don't qualify”). Some universities allowed these externally funded postdocs to buy into available group plans.

Some universities required coverage for all postdocs, regardless of funding source. This meant that those postdocs not paid by the university or covered independently had to be picked up by the adviser or department (“must be paid by employing department”).

Postdocs whose coverage was provided by universities received only individual plans. Coverage for spouses and dependents was expected to be paid for by the postdoc.

Typically, industry and government labs offered postdocs the same medical plans offered to employees, with the majority of the premium paid by the employer.

4. How is the postdoc made aware of benefits that are and are not available? (Select all that apply.)

Academic Institutions (N = 30)

Non-Academic Organizations (N = 10)

The “other” responses indicate that some institutions do not have a centralized mechanism by which to communicate with postdocs about benefits and other institutional matters. Universities described a number of avenues by which postdocs may or may not receive information (“generally receive information from department administrators,” “most send letters, ” “responsibility of department or center, not adviser”). Several had no certain process (“Often business managers take on the responsibility of informing postdocs ”). Some were in the process of including benefits information in a formal acceptance letter.

5. Which of the following benefits is provided at full compensation to ALL postdocs, regardless of adviser or funding source? (Select all that apply. If a benefit is offered at a reduced cost to the postdoc, please specify percent discounted.)

Academic Institutions (N = 30)

Non-Academic Organizations (N = 10)

Some common “other” benefits offered to postdocs included access to recreational tickets, athletic facilities, credit unions, student unions, tuition wavers,

travel accident insurance, and alumni privileges. Some institutions offered various leave benefits, including one vacation week for marriage, an illness pay program (up to one month), and six weeks of paid parental leave. At many universities, leave policies were determined by the adviser. Several institutions mentioned retirement plans, with most requiring a vesting period of two or more years. Several national labs covered relocation expenses.

6. Does the organization have staff that deals specifically with the special needs of non-US or foreign national postdocs?

Most of the “other” responses indicated a pattern of offering postdocs the same access to international services as students and other scholars.

7. If offered, in what areas do foreign national postdocs receive assistance? (Select all that apply.)

Other areas where foreign national postdocs were offered assistance included obtaining a Social Security number, a drivers license, and tax treaty information. Several institutions offered help with household furnishings and support groups for spouses and dependents.

8. Does the organization require performance evaluations throughout a postdoc's appointment?

Academic Institutions (N = 30)

Non-Academic Organizations (N = 10)

The responses to this question indicated that some institutions are examining and/or revising their policies on evaluations (“may change ”; “will be implementing performance management for all postdocs”). Others described optional or discretionary approaches to evaluation (“depends on program”; “depends on funding source”; “varies by unit”). Several institutions expected the adviser to take responsibility for evaluations, without formal reporting to the institution.

9. How is the duration of a postdoctoral appointment determined? (Select all that apply.)

Many institutions said that they had firm limits to postdoctoral terms (typically three, four, or five years). Others allowed for extensions “in special cases,” which sometimes required the specific approval of an administration officer. Other policies were to appoint postdocs for a year at a time, with renewal depending on funding and performance, or to allow the length of training to vary by field and source of funding, with no suggested limit.

10. Is there a Postdoctoral Association or equivalent on-site?

The “other” responses mentioned one other postdoctoral association run by postdocs, a “postdoctoral council.” One institution reported an association run jointly by postdocs and the institution. Most indicated that postdoctoral activities

were either informal or confined to the lab, department, or a particular group (e.g., Chinese Students and Scholars).

11. If your organization has a Postdoctoral Association or equivalent, what are its main functions? (Select all that apply.)

One organization reported that its office of postdoctoral programs worked closely with the postdoctoral council (run by postdocs). For example, the office and council “...co-sponsor responsible conduct in research training, career workshops, a career fair, and survival skills training. [The office] is establishing mentor guidelines. It enforces the University policy on postdoctoral appointments which sets minimum stipends and benefits....”

12. Who are the neutral parties responsible at the organization for handling grievances of the postdoc? (Select all that apply.)

Institutions reported a wide range of “other” methods for handling postdoc grievances, from “same as junior faculty” to “office of grad studies and research” and “ombudsfolks—faculty peer adviser selected by postdocs”). A few placed most of the responsibility on a single person (“vice provost for research,” “provost,” “always dean or chair; sometimes human resources, too”), while a smaller number described a more flexible process (“dispute resolution guideline for College of Medicine postdoctoral fellows; ad hoc committee makes recommendation to associate dean for research and graduate education”). At an industry lab, a variety of avenues were available, including human resources, a Scientific Advisory Committee of senior scientists, and “line management.” National labs mentioned both laboratory or division managers and a postdoctoral committee.

13. How are postdocs classified at your organizations? (Select all that apply. For multiple answers, please define the nature of the each appointment classification.)

The “other” ways to classify postdocs varied widely, including “employees-in-training,” “scholars,” “visiting postdoctoral scholars,” and “students in training.” One national lab used three categories of fellow, depending on funding source. Many titles were variations on the two commonest classifications —“fellow” and “research associate”—but a few seemed to indicate a desire for a more functional definition: “guest researcher,” “academic professional,” “trainees—irrespective of funding source,” and “someone receiving further training in the laboratory.”

14. Please indicate how many postdocs are currently serving appointments at this organization? (Please provide the most current information available.)