Proposed salary increases have many postdocs waiting eagerly for a bigger check, but in the current economic environment, others are concerned about the potential consequences. Currently, postdocs receiving federal awards make between $37,740 to $52,068 a year, depending on a fellow's level of experience.
Now, U.S. President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget includes a six percent funding increase for these government-funded stipends, or National Research Service Awards (NRSAs), which support more than 17,000 postdoctoral fellows. And since many private institutions use the NRSA stipend scale to determine their own postdoc compensation, the salary bump is likely to have wide-reaching effects.
For years, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has advocated for a hike in postdoc funding, arguing that NRSA stipends do not cover the basic costs of living for those required to live in expensive cities like Boston, New York City, and San Francisco. A 6 percent increase would average only ...
