Postdoctoral Affairs

Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits

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Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits

Postdoctoral fellowships are typically granted to recipients of NIH NRSA fellowships or training grants and to postdocs who are direct recipients of other fellowship support and are thus not paid by the University.

Because postdoctoral fellows are not Brown employees, they are not eligible for a full range of employee benefits and are treated differently from employees for tax purposes.

Eligibility

Although postdoctoral fellows are not employees and therefore not eligible to participate in Brown employee benefits plans, Brown has made special arrangements with our insurance carriers to provide access to health  (Blue Cross & Blue Shield) and dental (Delta Dental)  plans to NIH fellows who are paid through Brown.

Brown's Contribution

IRS regulations require that Brown's contribution to health and dental premiums, and the postdocs' contribution to these, be treated differently for postdoctoral fellows than University employees. Regulations regarding the withholding of taxes from stipends and wages also differ. For postdoctoral fellows on NIH training grants, taxes will not be withheld or wages reported from stipend payments, while insurance subsidies from Brown may be taxed and reported via a 1099-MISC form.

    Benefits & Services For Postdoctoral Fellows-NRSA

    For Postdoctoral Fellows-NRSA. Please note: the following information does not apply to postdoctoral fellows who are paid directly by an external grant or fellowship.

    The University requires that support be available for the cost of health and dental insurance for full-time paid postdoctoral fellows at the individual premium level. The Brown contribution toward insurance costs is assigned to the fellow's institutional allowance when one is available. If an institutional allowance or another support source is unavailable to full-time paid postdoctoral fellows, the sponsoring department must provide this support (from a non-Federal source). The department may also authorize medical and dental contributions at the two-person or family premium level if funding is available.

    Learn More about Health Insurance for Postdoc Fellows

    Because postdoctoral fellows are not considered employees of Brown University, they should check their fellowship’s policies for guidance. 

    For reference, below are guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as of May 2023.

    National Institutes of Health (NIH)

    According to NIH guidelines, “NRSA trainees and fellows may continue to receive stipends for up to 60 calendar days (8 work weeks) of parental leave per year for the adoption or birth of a child. Either or both parents are eligible for such leave, but the institution and/or the supervisor must be notified in advance according to organizational policies. The use of parental leave requires approval by the fellowship sponsor or the PD/PI of the training grant.”

    Additionally, according to NIH guidelines, “NRSA trainees and fellows may continue to receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per year.  Sick leave may be used for medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.” 

    NRSA postdoctoral fellows should work with their department administrator and PI to request and document their leave period. Leave for postdoctoral fellows at Brown is not tracked centrally in Workday at this time (July 2023). Please refer to NIH guidelines for more details about leaves of absence and circumstances that require notifying the NIH.

    Last Updated: July 13, 2023

    All paid, full-time postdocs begin their appointment with 12 sick days. Up to five days may be used in accordance with the Rhode Island Sick and Safe Leave Act. Additional information can be found here. Postdocs should notify their PI or sponsoring department as soon as possible when they need to use a sick day. Sick time off can be requested via the Time Off tile in Workday.

    Sick days are provided annually and must be used within one year of the start of the appointment or forfeited. Any unused sick days at the end of the appointment will be forfeited and, therefore, not paid out.

    Because Postdoctoral Fellows are not employees, the University does not provide them with vacation time. It is best practice for fellows to plan some personal time during the year and an allocation of 10 days is recommended to align with the time away for Postdoctoral Research Associates. Fellows should arrange their work schedules with their PI and department, and ensure their time away is consistent with the terms and conditions of their funding source.

    Brown assigns ten vacation days in Workday to each fellow at the start of their appointment. However, these are intended for tracking purposes only and do not signify that the University provides vacation as a benefit. If fellows or PIs need assistance in establishing an equitable plan for time away from work, they are encouraged to contact the Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs.

    Spring Health Brown's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) exists to assist employees and their immediate families in coping with personal problems. Spring Health, Brown's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administers counseling, coaching, and support services for employees, including up to 10 therapy sessions, legal assistance, financial services, child and elder care, travel, and more. Click here to learn more about the available services.

    Postdoctoral fellows may join the Brown recreation center at the same rates under the same terms as Brown University employees. To learn more, visit the Brown Recreation membership website.

    Postdoctoral fellows are eligible for discounts with participating businesses through the BEAR Bargains program along with all other members of the University community. Click here to see a list of discounts from University Human Resources.

    Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to pay for voluntary benefits, including mortgage assistance, automobile and/or homeowners insurance, commuter choice spending accounts, long-term care insurance, and pet insurance. Click here to learn more from University Human Resources.

    With a Brown ID, postdoctoral fellows can ride any RIPTA bus or trolley anywhere in the state free of charge. Please note that the RIPTA pass program does not include the Providence-Newport ferry. Click here to learn more about the RIPTA UPass program.

    Tax Withholding and Estimated Taxes

    When an individual is a PDF-NRSA and a U.S. citizen, the University does not withhold tax from their non-employee fellowship payments. Although the University does not withhold taxes from their check, their fellowship payment is taxable for federal and state income taxes. As a PDF-NRSA, you may have been expected to pay estimated taxes on a regular basis during your fellowship. It is recommended that you consult your personal tax advisor to figure out whether or not you need to take any action.

    Additionally, your fellowship award payments are not subject to Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes.

    You might find this tax guide from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) helpful.

    Tax information related to the Child or Dependent Care Credit for Postdoctoral Appointees

    Postdoctoral fellows who are paid directly by the NIH are eligible for the Childcare Subsidy for Medical Students and Postdoctoral Fellows only if they are working at least 67% time on the Brown payroll.

    Benefits & Services For Postdoctoral Fellows-Direct Pay

    For Postdoctoral Fellows-Direct Pay. Please note: the following information does not apply to postdoctoral fellows who are paid directly by an NIH NRSA individual fellowship or training grant.

    Because postdoctoral fellows are not considered employees of Brown University, they should check their fellowship’s policies for guidance. 

    For reference, below are guidelines from the National Science Foundation (NSF) as of May 2023.

    National Science Foundation (NSF)

    Per the NSF guidelines, the NSF allows 30 days of paid leave for maternity or family leave. 

    Last Updated: July 14, 2023

    Because postdoctoral fellows are not employees, the University does not provide them with vacation time. It is best practice for fellows to plan some personal time during the year and an allocation of 10 days is recommended to align with the time away for Postdoctoral Research Associates. Fellows should arrange their work schedules with their PI and department and ensure their time away is consistent with the terms and conditions of their funding source.

    Brown assigns ten vacation days in Workday to each fellow at the start of their appointment. However, these are intended for tracking purposes only and do not signify that the University provides vacation as a benefit. If fellows or PIs need assistance in establishing an equitable plan for time away from work, they are encouraged to contact the Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs.

    Spring Health Brown's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) exists to assist employees and their immediate families in coping with personal problems. Spring Health, Brown's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administers counseling, coaching, and support services for employees, including up to 10 therapy sessions, legal assistance, financial services, child and elder care, travel, and more. Click here to learn more about the available services.

    Postdoctoral fellows who are paid directly by an external fellowship are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy for Medical Students and Postdoctoral Fellows only if they are working at least 67% time on the Brown payroll.

    Postdoctoral fellows may join the Brown Recreation Center at the same rates under the same terms as Brown University employees. To learn more, visit the Brown Recreation membership website.

    Postdoctoral fellows are eligible for discounts with participating businesses through the BEAR Bargains program along with all other members of the University community. Click here to see a list of discounts from University Human Resources.

    Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to pay for voluntary benefits, including mortgage assistance, automobile and/or homeowners insurance, commuter choice spending accounts, long-term care insurance, and pet insurance. Click here to learn more from University Human Resources.

    With a Brown ID, postdoctoral fellows can ride any RIPTA bus or trolley anywhere in the state free of charge. Please note that the RIPTA pass program does not include the Providence-Newport ferry. Click here to learn more about the RIPTA UPass program.

    Tax Withholding and Estimated Taxes

    When an individual is a PDF-NRSA and a U.S. citizen, the University does not withhold tax from their non-employee fellowship payments. Although the University does not withhold taxes from their check, their fellowship payment is taxable for federal and state income taxes. As a PDF-NRSA, you may have been expected to pay estimated taxes on a regular basis during your fellowship. It is recommended that you consult your personal tax advisor to figure out whether or not you need to take any action.

    Additionally, your fellowship award payments are not subject to Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes.

    You might find this tax guide from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) helpful.

     

    Tax information related to the Child or Dependent Care Credit for Postdoctoral Appointees