MUSC Postdoctoral ResearcherMUSC Postdoctoral ResearcherTown HallTown Hall

February 12, 2007February 12, 2007

Edward Krug, PhDEdward Krug, PhD

Associate Professor of Cell Biology & AnatomyAssociate Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy

Assistant Dean for Postdoctoral AffairsAssistant Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs

College of Graduate StudiesCollege of Graduate Studies

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Beth GladdenBeth Gladden

Joe GoughJoe Gough

Susan MappusSusan Mappus

Debbie ShoemakerDebbie Shoemaker

Dodie WeiseDodie Weise

Stewart MixonStewart Mixon

Philippe GreslePhilippe Gresle

Patricia KellyPatricia Kelly

Wendy LittlejohnWendy Littlejohn

Rhonda RichardsonRhonda Richardson

Velma StampVelma Stamp

Dana TumblestonDana Tumbleston

David WelchDavid Welch

Today’s Progress ReportToday’s Progress Report

• Adopting a definition of “postdoc” Adopting a definition of “postdoc” • Standardization of appointment process Standardization of appointment process • Clarification of fellow tax obligationsClarification of fellow tax obligations• MUSC postdoctoral statistics MUSC postdoctoral statistics • Benefits for postdocsBenefits for postdocs• Aids for improving the postdoc-PI relationshipAids for improving the postdoc-PI relationship• Creation of a “staff scientist” classificationCreation of a “staff scientist” classification• Career resourcesCareer resources on the webon the web

Administrations at research-intensive Administrations at research-intensive institutions have been overwhelmed institutions have been overwhelmed by growth in the number of postdocs by growth in the number of postdocs

in the last 30 years.in the last 30 years.

http://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdfhttp://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdf

http://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdfhttp://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdf

The initial goal was to identify The initial goal was to identify the postdoctoral research the postdoctoral research

population at MUSC...population at MUSC...

but what is a “postdoc?”but what is a “postdoc?”

NIH & NSF Definition of a Postdoctoral NIH & NSF Definition of a Postdoctoral ResearcherResearcher

““An individual who has received a doctoral An individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored temporary and defined period of mentored

advanced training to enhance the professional advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to skills and research independence needed to

pursue his or her chosen career path.”pursue his or her chosen career path.”

Temporary Grant PositionTemporary Grant Position

(MUSC Employee)(MUSC Employee)

(Payroll - Salary)(Payroll - Salary)

POSTDOCTORAL POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARSCHOLAR

Training/Fellowship GrantTraining/Fellowship Grant

(not an MUSC Employee)(not an MUSC Employee)

(Accounts Payable - Stipend)(Accounts Payable - Stipend)

POSTDOCTORAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWFELLOW

Postdoctoral ClassificationsPostdoctoral Classifications

STANDARDIZATION OF POSTDOCTORAL STANDARDIZATION OF POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTMENT PROCESSAPPOINTMENT PROCESS

1.1. PI seeks confirms with business manager that sufficient PI seeks confirms with business manager that sufficient funds are available to support a postdoctoral trainee - funds are available to support a postdoctoral trainee - salary per NRSA schedule commensurate with salary per NRSA schedule commensurate with experience.experience.

2.2. PI recruits postdoc via networking, direct contact or PI recruits postdoc via networking, direct contact or advertisement.advertisement.

3.3. Any VISA issues directed to Sally Young or Emily Brown Any VISA issues directed to Sally Young or Emily Brown ((http://www.musc.edu/internationalsupport))

4.4. Submit FOC approval form, candidate CV, offer letter to Submit FOC approval form, candidate CV, offer letter to the College of Graduate Studies for approval.the College of Graduate Studies for approval.

5.5. Route PEAR to Human Resources along with supporting Route PEAR to Human Resources along with supporting documents.documents.

Postdoctoral Fellows …..Postdoctoral Fellows …..• are not MUSC employeesare not MUSC employees• receive stipends through Accounts Payablereceive stipends through Accounts Payable• will not receive any official notification of the will not receive any official notification of the

amount of their stipendamount of their stipend• must submit estimated taxes quarterly - both must submit estimated taxes quarterly - both

federal and statefederal and state• declare their stipend amount on line 7 of Form declare their stipend amount on line 7 of Form

1040 as other income - denote as “SCH” 1040 as other income - denote as “SCH” • do not pay FICA and Medicare taxesdo not pay FICA and Medicare taxes

MUSC Postdoc StatisticsMUSC Postdoc Statistics• Currently 218 postdocs across 4 collegesCurrently 218 postdocs across 4 colleges

• 143 internationals143 internationals• 75 US citizens or permanent residents75 US citizens or permanent residents

• 32 supported by research grants32 supported by research grants• 42 supported by training grants42 supported by training grants

• Average age = 36 years (SD, 6 yrs; range, 25 to 65 yrs)Average age = 36 years (SD, 6 yrs; range, 25 to 65 yrs)• Average duration at MUSC = 3.1 years (SD, 2.7 yrs)Average duration at MUSC = 3.1 years (SD, 2.7 yrs)

• 91% have been at MUSC for 5 or fewer years91% have been at MUSC for 5 or fewer years• Maximum duration at MUSC is 16 yearsMaximum duration at MUSC is 16 years

• Average salary Average salary • MUSC = $39,162 (SD, $5,434) MUSC = $39,162 (SD, $5,434) • National = $39,267 (SD, $9,282)National = $39,267 (SD, $9,282)

How do MUSC postdoc policies compare nationally?How do MUSC postdoc policies compare nationally?

What are the characteristics of a What are the characteristics of a “good” postdoctoral training “good” postdoctoral training

experience?experience?

Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey 2005Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey 2005

An Individual Development Plan for An Individual Development Plan for PostdocsPostdocs

The mere process of having a written plan The mere process of having a written plan for the training objectives and milestones of for the training objectives and milestones of

a postdoc correlates with significantly a postdoc correlates with significantly greater productivity and career satisfaction.greater productivity and career satisfaction.

40% more publications per year!40% more publications per year!

What are the career options for a What are the career options for a postdoc?postdoc?

• The majority want faculty jobs…The majority want faculty jobs…• but there has only been a 32% but there has only been a 32%

increase in tenure-track faculty increase in tenure-track faculty positions since 1975 …positions since 1975 …

• while the number of postdocs has while the number of postdocs has increased more than 400%.increased more than 400%.

Table 1. Biomedical Workforce by ClassificationTable 1. Biomedical Workforce by Classification

““Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists”, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 2000.Behavioral Scientists”, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 2000.

Classification 1975 1997%

change% total 1975

% total 1997

academics

tenured or tenure-track 22,230 29,300 132% 61% 35%

non-tenure track 668 6,822 1021% 2% 8%

postdocs 2,615 9,620 368% 7% 11%

other 1,706 7,296 428% 5% 9%

industry

professionals 5,273 21,643 410% 14% 26%

postdocs 53 561 1058% 0% 1%

government

professionals 3,785 7,212 191% 10% 9%

postdocs 245 1,437 587% 1% 2%

http://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdfhttp://www.aamc.org/members/great/meetings/h_garrison.pdf

Proposed definition of an MUSC postdoc:Proposed definition of an MUSC postdoc:• the appointee was recently awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent the appointee was recently awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent

doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.) in an appropriate field; anddoctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.) in an appropriate field; and• • the appointment is temporary the appointment is temporary ((limited to 5 years at MUSC, limited to 5 years at MUSC,

with a 6th year by petition to the College of Graduate with a 6th year by petition to the College of Graduate StudiesStudies)); and; and

• • the appointment involves substantially full-time research or the appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship; andscholarship; and

• • the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career; andacademic and/or research career; and

• • the appointment is not part of a clinical training program; andthe appointment is not part of a clinical training program; and• • the appointee works under the supervision of a senior the appointee works under the supervision of a senior

scholar; andscholar; and• • the appointee has the freedom, and is expected, to publish the appointee has the freedom, and is expected, to publish

the results of his or her research or scholarship during the the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.period of the appointment.

(based on AAU, AAMC, and FASEB definition)(based on AAU, AAMC, and FASEB definition)

Why limit the term of postdoctoral Why limit the term of postdoctoral training?training?

• Productivity decreases with increasing Productivity decreases with increasing length of the postdoctoral period length of the postdoctoral period (publication rate drops 6% each year)(publication rate drops 6% each year)

• Lack of adequate benefitsLack of adequate benefits• Feelings of hopelessnessFeelings of hopelessness

Limiting the duration of the postdoctoral Limiting the duration of the postdoctoral training period also requires the evolution of training period also requires the evolution of

new types of career options.new types of career options.

STAFF SCIENTIST CLASSIFICATIONSTAFF SCIENTIST CLASSIFICATION

• Assistant investigator - designs and Assistant investigator - designs and executes experiments, writes manuscripts, executes experiments, writes manuscripts, assists in grant applications, supervises assists in grant applications, supervises research of others in lab, develops new research of others in lab, develops new methodologies and experimental models methodologies and experimental models

• At least 2 years of postdoctoral trainingAt least 2 years of postdoctoral training• A research grant position - no FTEA research grant position - no FTE• No limit of duration No limit of duration • Staff benefitsStaff benefits• Salary range of $40-80kSalary range of $40-80k• Not PI-eligibleNot PI-eligible

MUSC POSTDOCTORAL CAREER PATH OPTIONS HR Classifications STAFF OPTION

Position Title Postdoctoral Scholar (50106)

Postdoctoral Fellow (stipend) Staff Scientist Research Associate

(50100)Non-Tenure Track

(50100)Tenure-Track

(50100)

Goal/Career Expectation

Employment qualifications

PhD, MD or equivalent doctorate, plus 2 years postdoctoral training or

equivalent

min. BS degree requirement

Hiring protocol PI recruitment and/or HR posting

Internal competitive recruitment (T32) or

individual fellowship awardHR posting/research grant

Appointment designationTemporary MUSC

employee with limited benefits

Not an MUSC employee MUSC employee - no FTE

Duration of appointment [Proposed: 5 years at MUSC/6th year by petition]

Term of fellowship (NRSA has 3 year limit) counted towards postdoc duration

Limited by availability of funds and performance -

no grievance rights

Evaluation criteria PI assessment of performance

Chair assessment of performance

Benefits Eligibility

Health/dental/sup.life & disability/retirement/family

leave [Proposed: 15 days PTO]

Health/dental/family leave [Proposed: 15 days PTO]

Staff benefits, commensurate with

percent effort

US Citizenship or VISA Restrictions

US citizen, permanent resident, or VISA (F1 with

EAD, J-1, H1)

US citizen or permanent resident

Primary Job DutiesClinical/

Research/Educator (1 to 3 Missions)

Funding Source Any source of funds Fellowship/training awards (e.g. NRSA, AHA, etc)

Non-state funds - typically grants, endowment, etc

Salary Levels NRSA pay scale (pending appropriate qualifications)

NIH (NRSA pay scales) $40-80K Based on experience

Grant Overhead Rates 19.90% 0.00% 26.4% 26.4% Varies based on source of funding

26.4%

Grant EligibilityCannot apply for any independent funding except for

postdoc fellowships awards PI-eligible for any funding mechanismNot PI-eligible for grants or fellowship

Based on rank & experience

FACULTY OPTIONSPOSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS

PhD, MD or equivalent doctorate PhD, MD or equivalent doctorate

Training for an academic/faculty or non-faculty career Assistant Investigator Principal Investigator

Yrs of experience, PI assessment of performance

US citizen, permanent resident, or VISA (H-1B)

Faculty benefits, commensurate with percent effort

Chair/PI assessment of performance

Limited by availability of funds and performance - has faculty grievance rights

In accordance with guidelines in Faculty Handbook (Faculty Contract)

Faculty FTE

HR Administration Issues

Funding Issues

Grant Management Issues

Dept funds or grants - Dept discretion

Research & Career Training Research

Science Alliance for Students and Postdocs Science Alliance for Students and Postdocs http://www.nyas.org/sa/index.asp

Science Careers Science Careers http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

National Postdoctoral AssociationNational Postdoctoral Associationhttp://www.nationalpostdoc.org/site/c.eoJMIWOBIrH

/b.1388059/k.DBBE/NPA_Home.htm

Postdoctoral LifePostdoctoral Lifehttp://www.phds.org/postdoc

Sigma Xi Postdoc SurveySigma Xi Postdoc Surveyhttp://postdoc.sigmaxi.org/

Web ResourcesWeb Resources

What are your concerns or needs?What are your concerns or needs?