NIH boosts pay for postdocs and graduate students

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced pay increases today for early-career scientists who are recipients of its Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSAs), after an NIH advisory group recommended raises in December 2023 . Postdocs will now be paid at least $61,008, an increase of $4500 over their current minimum salary level—though still below the advisory group’s recommendation of $70,000. Graduate students will receive a $1000 raise, bringing their minimum to $28,224. NIH also announced a $500 increase in child care subsidies for early-career researchers who are parents. “This is very welcome news and a step in the right direction,” says Leslie Vosshall, vice president and chief scientific officer of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which last year raised its postdoc salaries to $70,000. “Recruiting and retaining early-career scientists in academic science critically depends on raising their pay.” Others in the community expressed a similar sentiment—noting the increases will help early-career scientists who are struggling to pay their bills. Most U.S. biomedical postdocs and graduate students are supported by NIH research awards, not through the NRSA program. But many principal investigators and institutions follow the NRSA salary levels. The salary adjustment is a far cry, however, from the recommendation made by the advisory group, which was formed in the wake of reports about a shortag...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research