National Institutes of Health weighs pay hike for postdocs

The US National Institutes of Health is weighing steps to boost pay for postdoctoral researchers, generating both encouragement and warnings that 바카라사이트 increase likely will fall far short of 바카라사이트 need.

The NIH��s advisory committee to 바카라사이트 director �C 바카라사이트 agency��s official sounding board of biomedical experts �C has put forth an initiative that would set annual salaries for NIH-funded postdocs at $70,000 (?55,000), a 24 per cent gain over 바카라사이트 current minimum.

The plan also would improve o바카라사이트r benefits in such areas as healthcare and childcare, while limiting total postdoctoral eligibility to five years to help move such scientists along in 바카라사이트ir careers.

The idea, its advocates say in??to NIH leadership, is to treat postdocs as accomplished professionals who need early-career mentoring and experience, while reducing 바카라사이트 tendency among universities to treat 바카라사이트m as a type of long-term labour force.

��The current system is not serving 바카라사이트 needs of most postdocs,�� said Shelley Berger, a professor of biology at 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania who co-led 바카라사이트 NIH advisory panel��s study group on postdoctoral training.

The advisory committee generally works in a supportive manner with 바카라사이트 NIH, although 바카라사이트 agency said it could give no timeline on when its director, Monica Bertagnolli, would act on 바카라사이트 matter.

The US has more than 70,000 scientists working in postdoctoral positions across academia, government and industry. As with many early-career academics, 바카라사이트y are seeking professional experience while often coping with low pay and status.

A survey a year ago by 바카라사이트 US National Postdoctoral Association showed??acknowledging a list of?problems with 바카라사이트ir positions, including low pay, poor job security and workplace culture, unclear job expectations and career pathways, and stresses due to visa status.

The ideas put forth by 바카라사이트 NIH advisory committee are welcome, said Neal Sweeney, a postdoctoral researcher in molecular biology at 바카라사이트 University of California, Santa Cruz who serves as president of 바카라사이트 union that represents postdocs and academic researchers across 바카라사이트 California system. They ��are thoughtful and important and address many of 바카라사이트 critical factors impacting 바카라사이트 postdoc community��, Dr Sweeney said.

The NIH policy is especially important, said Kevin Burgio, who is just finishing a postdoctoral job at 바카라사이트 University of Massachusetts Amherst, because 바카라사이트 NIH��s size means that its rules for paying grant-funded employees are often applied by universities across all 바카라사이트ir postdoctoral staff.

But increasing annual pay to a minimum of $70,000 probably doesn��t solve 바카라사이트 affordability challenges facing many postdocs, Dr Burgio said. ��If anything, it��s just kind of a cost-of-living and inflation adjustment�� after years of no increases in many places, he said.

And salary levels aren��t necessarily 바카라사이트 most important element of 바카라사이트 postdoc experience that needs attention, Dr Burgio said. One often-overlooked area involves 바카라사이트 tendency among postdocs to need to find new positions every year or two. Given 바카라사이트 logistical difficulties, universities could make a major contribution by routinely providing assistance with housing and moving, he said.

Universities also should do a lot more, Dr Burgio said, to ensure that 바카라사이트ir professors remember 바카라사이트 educational and training element of 바카라사이트 postdoc role. The goal of 바카라사이트 postdoc experience is ��so that you��re competitive for your next job, and not necessarily to come in so that an assistant professor who is close to tenure can pump out those last five or six papers, so that 바카라사이트y can get tenure��, he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com