Benefits and Leave

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (Life/AD&D) is also provided to Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) via Gallagher.

In any appointment year, Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) may elect to take up to ten University business days as paid vacation days, on which days the PDT will continue to receive their stipend. PDTs are also entitled to the eight official holidays observed by the University and are eligible to take the University’s special winter vacation, during which time the University is typically closed. If a PDT wishes to work and/or perform research during an official holiday or special winter vacation, the postdoc can use the equivalent time as additional paid vacation days. PDTs forfeit any unused vacation days or holidays at the end of any appointment year.  

Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) may continue to receive stipends for up to 15 University business days of sick leave per year. PDTs forfeit any unused sick leave at the end of the appointment year. Under exceptional circumstances, a period of leave due to illness or incapacity may be extended at the discretion of the mentor. Mentors may request for any extended absence medical documentation from a health care provider, to be provided to an appropriate administrative office consistent with confidentiality. Additional sick leave may be approved in the discretion of the mentor. 

Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) are entitled to receive stipends for no more than 60 calendar days of leave per appointment year for adoption or birth of a child. Either parent is eligible. PDTs must discuss the use of new child leave in advance with the mentor. A mentor may not deny a request to use new child leave without the authorization of the appropriate administrative office. Unused sick leave or vacation days may be used, with approval, to extend the period of new child leave. Additional new child leave may be approved at the discretion of the mentor.

Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) requesting extended periods of time away from their training experience, including leave in excess of available sick and/or parental leave, must obtain approval for a leave of absence without stipend continuation. Approval for such leave must be requested and approved by the mentor in advance. 

All paid and unpaid leave must be approved in advance by the mentor; additional leave may be approved at the mentor’s discretion. Postdoctoral Trainees (PDTs) and mentors are responsible for keeping accurate records of paid and unpaid leave.

Postdoctoral Researchers and Salaried Fellows are eligible to invest in Penn’s Supplemental Retirement Annuity plan. Enrollment can be completed in Workday. NRSA Postdoctoral Fellows are not eligible for this benefit. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Penn Employee Solution Center.