OF RECORD
May 22, 2007, Volume 53, No. 34	Print Issue

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is responsible for setting minimum stipend levels for Postdoctoral trainees across the University. Many postdoctoral trainees are supported by National Research Service Awards (NRSA), with stipend levels determined by the federal government. This year NRSA announced that the stipend levels for postdoctoral trainees and fellows will remain the same as in the previous year (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-052.html). However, in view of the desirability of achieving equity across disciplines for all postdoctoral trainees across the campus, the University will increase minimum stipend levels by four percent.

It is important to remember that recommended stipend levels represent minimums. Departments may establish their own guidelines as long as pay rates meet or exceed those established by the University. Penn investigators are also expected to comply with any postdoctoral stipend guidelines that are promulgated by their sponsors, if these sponsor-specified guidelines exceed the Penn minimum stipend levels. 

Recommended Minimum Stipend Levels for Penn FY2008

(Penn FY2008: July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008)

1. Beginning postdoctoral trainees, with no prior experience at Penn, will be paid a minimum of $35,778. This represents a four percent increase above the minimum for FY2007.

Levels for all years are:

2. Those current postdoctoral trainees who receive stipends in excess of the minimum should also receive an increase of at least three percent.

3. Stipends should be adjusted upwards during the course of the Penn fiscal year, either at the time of the annual postdoctoral reappointment, at the time of the annual grant renewal, or at the beginning of the NIH fiscal year.

4. Individual Schools can set their own stipend levels above those recommended in this revision.

—Steven J. Fluharty, Vice Provost for Research