Postdoctoral Appointments at the University of Maryland
Postdoctoral researchers and scholars are a critical part of the University of Maryland academic community, bringing valuable expertise, national prestige, and additioan research funding into the University. A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary one designed to give individuals an opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The time spent as a postdoctoral appointee is in preparation for a career progression in academe, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector. For many, especially those in the physical and life sciences, postdoctoral work is a critical step in securing future employment. The University of Maryland welcomes qualified researchers with postdoctoral fellowships in all disciplines to College Park, and hopes that the relationships formed and research done during their tenure here will be most helpful in their professional development.
An individual with a postdoctoral appointment:
• Has been awarded a doctoral degree (or equivalent) within the past five years.
• Will pursue a full-time program of advanced training and research under the direction of a faculty member with an appointment in an academic department or organized research unit.
• Will be supported by campus research grants or contracts, by fellowships administered by the campus, or by other external sources.
• May not have had more than five years of postdoctoral experience, including at other institutions.
• Cannot have held or hold a tenure-track professorial appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, or professor).
The University of Maryland recognizes two types of postdoctoral appointments. The appointment process and the benefits vary by the type of appointment held.
Postdoctoral Research Associates are employee-trainees who receive salaries funded by research grants and are employed as academic or staff personnel who work under a principal investigator whose research proposal is funded by the government or other external entity. This usually occurs when the individual’s training is accomplished through the performance of obligations on a sponsored contract. The appointments of such individuals will show an appropriate percentage of employment in the PHR System and a salary payment.
Postdoctoral Fellows receive stipends, rather than a salary, funded by either institutional or individual research fellowships for independent research and training. With few exceptions, such funding is not intended to pay compensation for services, nor can the postdoctoral scholar be required to perform services to receive the grant. Therefore, they cannot be classified as employees. Such stipends may be charged to training grants, fellowships or various University funds. The appointments of such individuals will show as a “0%” Full-Time Employee in the PHR System, with a “special purpose funding indicator” indicating a stipend to be paid through the Financial Aid System. Because of the nature of these appointments, postdoctoral appointees should note that changing the type of appointment held (e.g. changing from employee-trainee to postdoctoral fellow), or changing from one type of funding to another may result in a change or loss of certain benefits. All postdoctoral fellows should register with the Graduate School as soon as possible after taking up residence at the University; this will ensure that all paperwork for salary and campus privileges can be completed in a timely fashion.
Benefits and privileges common to all postdoctoral appointees include the following:
• Access to University libraries and privileges on the same basis as University staff. The University of Maryland ID functions as the library card
• Use of Campus recreational facilities under the same conditions/costs as University staff
• Opportunity to purchase University Parking Permits at prevailing staff rates
• Opportunity to purchase athletic and other event tickets under the same conditions/costs as University staff
• Listing in the Faculty & Staff Directory
• May audit courses and seminars with the consent of the instructor with no payment or fees involved and no academic credit given
Information for Postdoctoral Research Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows
Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRA)
Appointment Process
PRAs are added into the University's Payroll and Human Resources (PHR) system. The departmental Business Manager should be able to provide the PRA with all the necessary paperwork. These appointments are generally Regular Appointments or Contingent II contract appointments.
Salary
PRAs receive their salary biweekly, through direct deposit or a paycheck.
Health Benefits
Regular-status Postdoctoral Research Associates (“PRA”) are eligible to participate in the State of Maryland employee benefits plans. Enrollment must occur within 60 days of the appointment start date, and coverage begins with the first premium payroll deduction. The departmental business manager or the University Human Resources-Office of Employee Benefits (301-405-5654) can assist you with this process. Information is also available on the University Human Resources (“UHR”) web site at http://www.uhr.umd.edu. The costs for health care coverage vary, depending on the plan selected, but all plans include vision coverage. The selections include three types of health insurance plans and coverage with a variety of vendors. Premium costs range from $475 per year for the least expensive individual coverage to $2,500 per year for the most expensive family coverage. The premiums are subsidized by the University, with the employee paying approximately 20% of the actual cost. Payment occurs through a bi-weekly, tax deferred, payroll deduction. Co-pays for all plans are $15 per primary care visit and $25 per specialist visit.
Contractual PRA’s are eligible to participate in the State benefits plans, but through a non-subsidized, direct pay arrangement with the State. Details are available from the departmental business manager, the UHR-Office of Employee Benefits, or the UHR web site.
Dental and Prescription
Regular-status Postdoctoral Research Associates are eligible to participate in the State dental and prescription plans. Dental coverage is available through two types of dental plans. Subsidized, tax-deferred premiums vary by plan and range from $85 per year for individual coverage to $480 per year for family coverage. Subsidized, tax-deferred prescription premiums range from $425 per year for individual coverage to $850 for family coverage. Co-pays for 30- to 45-day prescriptions are $5 for generic drugs, $15 for preferred drugs, and $25 for non-preferred drugs. Two co-pays will be charged for prescriptions written for over 45 days. Coverage begins with the first biweekly payroll deduction.
Contractual PRA’s pay the non-subsidized premiums directly to the State of Maryland.
Information on Dental plans is available here.
Retirement, Life Insurance, and Disability
Regular-status Postdoctoral Research Associates must enroll in either the State of Maryland Pension System or the University of Maryland Optional Retirement Program. Enrollment is not automatic and contributions begin in the first month after the enrollment forms are processed by the UHR-Office of Employee Benefits. The University also offers a variety of voluntary income deferred supplemental retirement plans. Enrollment materials are available from the departmental business manager or the UHR-Office of Employee Benefits.
Contractual PRA’s are only eligible to participate in the voluntary supplemental retirement plans. Information regarding participation can be obtained from the departmental business manager, the UHR-Office of Employee Benefits, or the UHR web site.
Information regarding life insurance and long term disability is available through the departmental business manager, campus UHR-Office of Employee Benefits, or the UHR web site.
For more information on Retirement, Life Insurance, and Disability coverage, please see the University's benefits page.
Tuition Remission
Regular-status Postdoctoral Research Associates are eligible for tuition remission at the rate of 8 credits each for the Fall and Spring semesters and 6 credits total for both summer sessions. Winter terms are not eligible for tuition remission. Application for tuition remission is done electronically at http://www.ares.umd.edu/ELF/elf.html and must be done for each semester or session. Benefits-eligible contractual PRA’s are eligible for tuition remission at the same credit levels. Please see the departmental business manager for more details and instruction.
Parking
This is administered at the Department Level. Consult with the departmental Business Manager, and then send the appropriate departmental forms to:
Deborah M. Smith-Wiley
wileydm@umd.edu
Operations Mgr. Department of Transportation Svcs.
0123 A Regents Dr. Garage.
301 314 7808
Regular and Contingent II appointees are eligible for payroll deduction of parking expenses.
OIT / Computer
PRAs are entitled to all Employee IT benefits, such as email, computing access, special personal software rates. Since in PHR and issued a faculty-staff ID, this should be automatic.
Library
PRAs are entitled to full use of the Library's information resources. Since in PHR and issued a faculty-staff ID, this should be automatically granted.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Appointment Process
Because Postdoctoral Fellows (PFs) are NOT considered State of Maryland employees, they are not entered into the University's Payroll and Human Resources (PHR) system and paid their salaries as employees. Instead, their grant money is administered through The Graduate School, in association with the department of residence and the Office of Research Advancement and Administration (ORAA). To ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed on behalf of the Postdoctoral Fellow, each PF should notify the Graduate School of their status as a Postdoctoral Fellow. This will assist the Graduate School in coordinating the actions of all involved units. The registration form is online and can be found here.
Salary
Postdoctoral Fellows' salaries are paid by the Graduate School through the Office of Financial Aid's Student Award System. This requires that Postdoctoral Fellows have a Student Account, to which salary funds can be applied on a bi-weekly, monthly, or semi-annual basis. Each semester, the Postdoctoral Fellow should check with the Graduate School and the Bursar's Office to ensure that the student account is active and updated for the current semester.
Health Benefits
Postdoctoral Fellows, because they are not considered employees, are not eligible for State of Maryland employee benefits. If Fellows wish to have health coverage, they must arrange for coverage on their own. Some grants, however, include funds set aside to defray Fellows' health insurance costs. Often, Fellows must purchase health insurance on their own and be reimbursed from their grant funds, a process that can take as long as 5 months.
Postdoctoral Fellows are eligible to buy health insurance through the University of Maryland Student Health Plan, offered through MAMSI and United Healthcare. This plan costs between $1300-$5500 a year, depending on the type of plan selected and the number of dependents covered. While vision is NOT included as part of this plan, prescription drug coverage is. More information on specific coverage and rates is available here.
Maryland residents without health coverage may be eligible to enroll in the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. This plan includes vision, and costs between $1700 and $5600 a year, depending on age, plan, and number of dependents. Deductibles on this plan tend to be high, ranging from $300-$1200.
Fellows may also be eligible for temporary COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) continuing coverage from their previous employers. Fellows covered under this plan often must pay a much higher percentage (up to 102%) of their policy premium than when actively employed.
Private health coverage is available from a number of sources, including MAMSI, Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Kaiser Permanente. The University does not make recommendations on specific health plans or carriers.
Dental and Prescription
Pstodctoral Fellows, if they desire dental and prescription coverage, must purchase it themselves. The University of Maryland Student Health Plan and the Maryland Health Insurance Plan include prescription drug benefits with varying levels of coverage and copays.
MAMSI offers a Dental Discount Program. This includes a fixed fee for routine dental services and a reduced price for specialty dental services.
Dentalplans.com compares dental plan rates and coverage in the DC Metropolitan Area. Rates range from $80-200 per year.
Retirement, Life Insurance, and Disability
Postdoctoral Fellows must arrange Retirement, Life Insurance, and Disability coverage (if desired) on their own.
Tuition Remission
Some grants will cover tuition remission for Postdoctoral Fellows. Please check the grant documentation and ask the departmental Business Manager for the appropriate forms.
Parking
This is administered at the Department Level. Consult with the departmental Business Manager, and then send the appropriate departmental forms to:
Deborah M. Smith-Wiley
wileydm@umd.edu
Operations Mgr. Department of Transportation Svcs.
0123 A Regents Dr. Garage.
301 314 7808
Postdoctoral Fellows are NOT eligible for payroll deduction of parking expenses. PFs must pay the entire year's parking fee in advance.
OIT / Computer
Postdoctoral Fellows will be able to get a Faculty / Staff ID and have access to all the computing resources of the University. They will not, however, be eligible for the discounts on software that University employees receive through the Software Licensing program.
Library
Postdoctoral Fellows will have full Faculty / Staff borrowing privileges at UM Libraries.
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