Policies and Procedures

All postdoc policies and procedures are contained with the Postdoc Handbook, an important resource for all Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) postdocs. It outlines requirements for and terms of appointment, policies regarding vacation, leave and benefits, and includes relevant institutional policies and procedures such as Responsible Conduct in Research. The Handbook also includes a variety of resources that can help move research forward, serve as sources for advice, and generally enrich postdoc life ISMMS.

The duration of a postdoctoral fellowship at ISMMS is limited to five years. This policy follows recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences to improve the educational experience and career development of postdoctoral fellows nationwide. You may review our comprehensive set of implementation guidelines to support you during this transition; “Five-Year Term Guidelines for Postdoctoral Trainees and Mentors”. The Five-Year Term Guidelines was developed largely by our Postdoctoral Executive Committee. We would like to emphasize that the 5-year limit is only for the duration of the post-doctoral status. 

Vacation Days  Postdoctoral fellows are entitled to a minimum of fifteen (15) paid vacation days each year.  Vacation days may not be carried over to the following year, and there is no compensation for vacation time not taken.  Mentors should be advised in advance as to the postdoctoral fellows’ vacation plans and should approve the vacation time off.

Sick Days  Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to accrue paid sick days at a rate of one (1) day per month retroactive to date of hire, to a maximum of twelve (12) paid sick days per year.  Unused sick days may be carried over from year to year cumulative to a maximum of sixty (60) days.

Leave of Absence   Postdoctoral fellows may need to take time away from Mount Sinai for an extended period of time to attend to personal matters or illness. A “Leave of Absence” may be available to provide the flexibility needed to maintain the relationship with Mount Sinai while taking care of these personal concerns or illness. Please review our LOA Process and Procedures for Postdoctoral Fellows.

Benefits

As a postdoc at ISMMS you are eligible for a number of benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with a variety of life insurance and disability plans. ISMMS’ BeneFlex program allows you to tailor these options to suit your own needs. Descriptions of policies and options are available through Human Resources on the intranet. Benefits start on the first day of the month following your appointment. In addition, short-term insurance to cover any coverage time gaps is available through these vendors:

• HTH Worldwide – 888-350-2002
• Insurance Services of America – 800-647-4589
• Visitors Insurance ­– 800-344-9540

Stipends

Effective December 31, 2018, Mount Sinai requires Principal Investigators to pay their postdocs, as a minimum, $58,661. Postdoc stipend/salary increases in following years will be at the discretion of the hiring Principal Investigator. Principal Investigators may pay a postdoctoral fellow a stipend/salary above the ISMMS stipend levels.

In the event that a postdoctoral fellow receives outside funding from another institution, the stipend/salary must be supplemented to reach the minimum level stipulated by Mount Sinai.

Below are the mandatory minimum stipend/salary for postdoctoral fellows at ISMMS.