| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Status |
The majority of Duke postdoctoral appointees are Postdoctoral Associates. Postdoctoral Associates are University employees. Postdoctoral Associates are paid a salary through the Duke compensatory payroll by Duke funds (eg, faculty mentor grants such as NIH R01, NSF, DOD, start-up or departmental funds). |
Only NIH NRSA F32/T32 recipients are Postdoctoral Scholars. Postdoctoral Scholars are not University employees. Postdoctoral Scholars receive an NRSA stipend paid through the Duke non-compensatory payment system.
| Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Directs receive a stipend paid directly to them by the funding agency or home country (eg, NSF individual fellowships, Canadian NSERC Program). Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Directs are not University employees. Neither salary nor stipend are paid through Duke compensatory payroll or non-compensatory payment system. |
| Salary/ Stipend | As of July 2024, the minimum salary or stipend for Duke postdoctoral appointees is $62,000. University leadership will review the minimum salary or stipend for postdoctoral appointees annually. | As of July 2024, the minimum salary or stipend for Duke postdoctoral appointees is $62,000. Postdoctoral Scholars receive $62,000 or their NIH NRSA stipend level, whichever is higher. University leadership will review the minimum salary or stipend for postdoctoral appointees annually. |
As of July 2024, the minimum salary or stipend for Duke postdoctoral appointees is $62,000. University leadership will review the minimum salary or stipend for postdoctoral appointees annually.
|
| Taxes |
Receive Form W-2; are subject to payroll withholdings for federal, state and local income taxes; are subject to payroll withholdings for FICA (Social Security) and Medicare.
| NRSA stipends are not considered salaries. Funding source does not pay employment taxes including FICA (Social Security) and Medicare. Postdoctoral Scholars should report the amount of stipends and taxable benefits that they receive on Form 1040 (as “other income”) and may need to make quarterly estimated payments to the IRS and local municipalities. Postdoctoral payments (wage types 4002, 4012) must be reported by Duke. The recipient will receive IRS Form 1099 for these payments. 1099 and courtesy letters are distributed in conjunction with the January payments of each calendar year. The recipients may elect to have tax withholdings by completing IRS Forms W-4 and NC-4. |
Receives IRS Form 1099, may need to pay estimated taxes.
|
Benefits
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for medical insurance, pre-tax. | Eligible for medical insurance, post-tax, paid for by NIH NRSA Institutional Allowance, with taxes paid by faculty mentor. | As non-employees, eligible for medical insurance only if entire cost of insurance is paid by faculty mentor, post-tax. |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for dental insurance, pre-tax. | Eligible for dental insurance, post-tax. | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for vision insurance, pre-tax. | Eligible for vision insurance, post-tax. | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible for COBRA only if entire cost of insurance is paid by faculty mentor. |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for Healthcare FSA (self-funded, pre-tax). | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for Dependent Care FSA (self-funded, pre-tax). |
Not eligible for FSA, but is eligible for NIH Childcare Support | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Postdoctoral Scholars who enrolled in the Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance Plan during their time on the compensatory payroll (ie, while employed as a Postdoctoral Associate or in another benefits-eligible employment category) may continue their participation in the Plan, but premiums will be direct billed to their home address. | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Postdoctoral Scholars enrolled in the Voluntary Long-Term Disability Plan may continue their participation in the plan only if they had coverage for at least 12 months before moving to benefits-ineligible (ie, Postdoctoral Scholar) status. | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Retirement
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| As of January 2024, Duke contributes 4% of the Postdoctoral Associate’s salary after the Postdoctoral Associate has attained one year of service at Duke and age 21. This contribution is immediately vested. | Effective January 1, 2024, Duke provides Postdoctoral Scholars who receive their stipend through Duke (specifically NIH NRSA T32 or F32 recipients) an annual stipend supplement of $2,900. There is no waiting period for this contribution. | Not Eligible |
Time Off
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Associates accrue vacation at the rate of staff in Fringe Benefit Category 4 (3 weeks of vacation per year; 1.25 days per month). Unutilized vacation carries over to a max of 20 days. Postdoctoral Associates are not paid out for vacation upon termination or transfer to Postdoctoral Scholar. Number of discretionary days and paid holidays matches staff in the relevant School. Postdoctoral Associates accrue 12 sick days per year (1 day per month). | Postdoctoral Scholars are not employees, and therefore do not accrue Duke leave. However, Postdoctoral Scholars may take up to 41 personal days of absence (this number of days corresponds to the temporal distribution of leave for Postdoctoral Associates: typically 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 14 holidays and discretionary days as observed by the relevant School). NIH leave policy. | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible for Duke Staff Parental Leave (6 weeks). | Eligible for NIH Parental Leave (8 weeks) | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible if meet requirements | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible if meet requirements | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible if meet requirements | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Support Programs
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible if meet requirements | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible if meet requirements | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Duke Access and Accommodation Services (formerly Disability Management)
Campus Services
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible; pre-tax | Eligible; post-tax. Parking deductions will automatically transition to non-comp when postdocs transition to Postdoctoral Scholar status. | Eligible, post-tax. |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Postdoc-Specific Benefits
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible if meet requirements | Eligible if meet requirements |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Duke Postdoctoral Services Workshops, Events, and Individual Counseling
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Postdoctoral Scholar | Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |