The Office of the Vice Provost for Research, in consultation with the Provost’s Council on Research, is responsible for setting minimum stipend levels for postdoctoral trainees across the University. In recent years, the University has adopted the National Research Service Awards (NRSA) stipend scale for all postdocs on campus (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-070.html). Reaching this goal was a noteworthy achievement, principally because it ensured equal treatment for postdoctoral compensation across the University.

For FY2021, as a consequence of the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research operations, some flexibility is necessary. Schools that choose to follow the NRSA guidelines will be permitted to do so. For all other Schools, the use of the NRSA stipend levels to the maximum extent possible is recommended but is not required this year. Postdocs who are supported by NRSA individual fellowships or institutional training grants should have their stipends set at the appropriate level as determined by the number of years of relevant postdoctoral experience. For continuing postdocs, Schools electing not to follow the NRSA guidelines should follow the same procedure for stipend increases as they use for comparable employees, e.g. Research Associates. For first year postdocs who are not funded by NRSA or training grants the minimum stipend level will be set at the year-0 NRSA stipend from FY2020 [$50,004].

Penn investigators are also expected to comply with any postdoctoral stipend guidelines promulgated by their sponsors, if these sponsor-specified guidelines exceed the Penn minimum stipend levels.

Note: Stipends should be adjusted upwards 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 (October 1).

—Dawn Bonnell, Vice Provost for Research