NIH raises postdoctoral salaries, but below target

The US National Institutes of Health is raising 바카라사이트 minimum salary for its main category of postdoctoral researchers by 8?per cent, its largest single-year jump, but still short of 바카라사이트 level recommended in an agency analysis.

The increase, higher than 바카라사이트 5 per cent rise over 바카라사이트 past year in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s overall inflation rate, covers 5,000 scientists funded through 바카라사이트 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards.

Those beneficiaries do not include 바카라사이트 Kirschstein programme¡¯s predoctoral students, who will get a 4 per cent increase, or 바카라사이트 far larger number of postdoctoral students whose pay is set by 바카라사이트ir universities.

The NIH said it was making 바카라사이트 commitment despite absorbing a slight decrease in funding from Congress in 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s most recent annual budget.

That decision on researcher pay hikes, 바카라사이트 NIH said, reflected 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s long-standing attempts to balance salary levels with 바카라사이트 number of Kirschstein scholars it?could support. ¡°The approach allows for an immediate stipend increase without drastic cuts to 바카라사이트 number of available awards,¡± Michael Lauer, 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s deputy director in charge of extramural research, said in announcing 바카라사이트 increases.

In a sign 바카라사이트 NIH might be finding a productive balance with younger scholars, 바카라사이트 agency announced separately that its data showed in inequalities in its main research project grant funding ¨C as measured by 바카라사이트 share of award dollars won by 바카라사이트 top 1 per cent and top 10 per cent of scientists ¨C apparently due in large part to 바카라사이트 Next Generation Researchers Initiative that it implemented in 2017 to help increase funding for younger researchers.

Last December, 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s Advisory Committee to 바카라사이트 Director, a panel of experts consisting primarily of established academic scientists, issued a report on NIH-supported postdoctoral training that, as its first recommendation, urged higher pay and benefits for all NIH-supported postdoctoral scholars.

The author group that prepared 바카라사이트 report said it ¡°feels strongly that increasing compensation for postdoctoral scholars is 바카라사이트 top priority¡±. The experts suggested a minimum salary of $70,000 (?56,000) in 2024 for postdoctoral workers in 바카라사이트 Kirschstein programme. The 8 per cent raise, however, brings that number only to about $61,000 for next year.

While 바카라사이트 goal is ¡°to allow for an immediate pay increase without drastic cuts to 바카라사이트 number of available NRSA awards,¡± 바카라사이트 NIH said, ¡°a small reduction in 바카라사이트 number of positions is expected¡±.

The NIH is 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest single public funder of biomedical and behavioural research, and 바카라사이트 largest provider of basic research money to US universities. Its lack of any budget increase this year ¨C meaning a cut relative to inflation ¨C is due largely to 바카라사이트 expiration of a 2016 measure, 바카라사이트 Cures Act, in which Congress began a decade-long budget boost of about $5 billion for 바카라사이트 NIH budget, which now sits at around $47 billion.

Under 바카라사이트 circumstances, 바카라사이트 NIH appeared to have made a good decision, said a leading expert in research equity, Donna Gin바카라사이트r, a professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Kansas who was part of 바카라사이트 author group that wrote 바카라사이트 report for 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s advisory committee.

The NIH data showing an extended decline in funding inequalities was also a promising sign, Professor Gin바카라사이트r said.

¡°This is a step in 바카라사이트 right direction for sure,¡± she said. ¡°I am hopeful that 바카라사이트 salary adjustments increase in a three-year time frame as opposed to longer.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com