Employment and Benefits

Overview

Information pertaining to employment and benefits for postdocs varies depending upon one's classification.  At UVa postdocs are grouped into the following two categories depending on the nature of their affiliation with the university. 

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow is the title given to postdocs who are funded through sources such as training grants, external foundations, foreign governments, or a different primary employer (e.g. foreign hospital), and who choose to carry out their training and research at the University of Virginia.  In many such cases, due to the requirements of the funding source (e.g. NIH training grant) as well as University regulations, fellows cannot be considered U.Va. employees, but they are fully affiliated with the university and the postdoctoral community.  
 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Research Associate is the title given to postdocs who are affiliated with the university as employees.  In these cases the source of funds does not restrict direct payment/employment from the university.  Postdoctoral research associates are part of the University's Professional Research Staff (PRS).  Other categories of the Professional Research Staff include Research Scientists, Senior Scientists, and Principal Scientists.  
 
While we strive to maintain consistency in benefits for both employee and non-employee postdocs, this distinction does create some differences between the two categories, which are outlined where relevant in the sections below.  For a quick reference, please refer to the Professional Research Staff benefits information offered by University Human Resources.
 
For benefits not listed below or any additional question or concern, contact the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs at [email protected]
 
 
Salary/Stipend and Taxes

Research Associates

As employees of the university, Postdoctoral Research Associates are supported through salary.  Compensation for Research Associates is governed by the University’s Wage Authorization document, which is updated annually. The salary range established by the Wage Authorization for 2024-2025 is $47,500 to $89,300.

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Compensation for Postdoctoral Fellows is governed by the agency providing funding, and therefore varies based on the source of funds. FY2024 stipend levels for the National Research Service Award (NRSA) are:

Years of Post-Graduate Experience

Stipend

0$61,008
1$61,428
2$61,884
3$64,356
4$66,492
5$68,964
6$71,532
7+$74,088

                   

There are federal and state tax differences between salaried postdoctoral Research Associates and postdoctoral Fellows receiving a stipend. The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has created an “Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs,” which provides information on tax withholding, reporting fellowship income, filing estimated taxes, FICA, self-employment tax and taxes for the international postdoc. And additional 'Beginner's Guide to Income Taxes for International Postdocs" is also available though NPA. 

Health Insurance

 

All postdocs are eligible for enrollment in the UVA Health Plan. Additional information on monthly premiums for Postdoctoral Research Associates and Fellows is located HERE.

Research Associates 

As a UVA employee you will make your benefit election, including health insurance, in workday. More information can be found on the UVA HR Benefits Webpage. Additional guidance can be found in the 'Enrolling in Benefits as a New Hire video' from UVA HR.

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Please note that sponsoring offices or departments are responsible for initiating the enrollment of full-time postdoctoral fellows into this plan, and for notifying Shiloka Kachabe ([email protected]) when a fellow is no longer eligible for coverage. For full information on enrollment on Helath insurance for fellows see: Enrollment Procedure for Full-Time Postdoctoral Fellows. 

 

Leave

 

Specific leave benefits for Research Associates may be found in the policy governing members of the Professional Research Staff (PRS) 

Postdoctoral Fellows should defer to the guidelines on leave given by the sponsoring institution.

 

Other Benefits

 

The following benefits are provided to postdocs, depending on their classification as salaried Research Associates or Fellows receiving a stipend. UVA Human Resources maintains complete information on the benefits provided to Postdoctoral Research Associates (employees) and Postdoctoral Fellows (receiving stipends). Benefits counselors are available to answer all questions about benefits. For Research Associates, please call 434-982-0123 for assistance.  Postdoctoral Fellows should consult their department’s Research Administrator or the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs prior to contacting the UHR Benefits Office.

BenefitPostdoctoral Research AssociatesPostdoctoral Fellows
Health & dental (individual)Yes (with cost to postdoc)Yes (with cost to postdoc)
Health & dental insurance (dependents)Yes (with cost to postdoc)Yes (with cost to postdoc or dependent upon funding source & availability
DisabilityYesNo
Life insuranceYesYes
RetirementYesNo

 

Educational Benefits

 

Interested in getting a degree or academic certificate? Have a conference you’d like to attend related to your work? The University of Virginia’s Education Benefit enables you to do these things with UVA financial support.

For detailed information about the process, benefit approval, eligibility, appeals, and other specific information related to the Education Benefit and its components, visit this link: https://hr.virginia.edu/career-development/education-benefits.

Time served as Postdoctoral Fellow at UVA counts towards the eligibility for this benefit. 

 

About Parking & Gym Memberships

 

Research Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows have access to parking facilities as any other employee at UVA. For more information see the Parking & Transportation Website

Research Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows can access a gym membership at employee discounted rates. For more information see the UVA Recreation website. Postdoctoral Fellows, please contact Jordan Ruffner, Business Services Manager, directly at [email protected] or 434-924-6197.