In the Postdoctoral Affairs Handbook, you will find useful information pertinent toward your success here at Yale. Please access the titled links below or in the left column for more information.
Getting a Yale I.D. Card
A Yale I.D. card serves the following purposes:
• General identification
• Entry to secured areas and buildings
• Use of Yale transportation services
• Access to library services
• Entry to athletic facilities and events*
• Entry to the Peabody Museum*
*Access to these may require fees.
To get your I.D., you will need to visit the I.D. Center closest to your department (http://idcenter.yale.edu):
• Medical School I.D. Center, 203-785-6736
333 Cedar Street, SHM Rm CE-1B
• Central Campus I.D. Center, 203-432-0165
57 Lock Street, 1st Floor
Yale Spouse or Partner I.D.
Spouses and domestic partners are eligible for Yale I.D.s. Please bring the following documents to the I.D. Center:
1. Photo ID of card recipient and
2. Spouse or same sex domestic partner’s Yale ID card or ID number and
3. Document to show either marital or same sex domestic partner status. Marital or same sex domestic partner status documentation includes:
a. Copy of marriage certificate or town civil union document
b. J2 or other spouse visa, if passport contains both spouses’ names or
c. Family Attachment Form issued by Yale University Office of International Students and Scholars or
d. Letter signed by employee’s department chair or director on departmental letterhead attesting to marital status or
e. Employee’s life insurance policy with spouse identified specifically as spouse
Your NetID
Your NetID enables you to activate your yale.edu email account as well as gain access to numerous online resources. To find and activate your NetID, go to https://veritas.its.yale.edu/netid/ActivatePreLogin_Prepare.do.
Orientation
Postdoc Orientation (PDO) is your guide to a successful Yale experience. This 1.5 hour session will highlight the most important things you need to know as you start your postdoctoral training at Yale. The following topics are covered:
Postdoc Orientation is not only useful and fun, it’s mandatory for all new postdocs. Please sign up for the next available session. See Orientation tab on the left for registration.
Off Campus Housing
https://your.yale.edu/community/campus-living
http://offcampushousing.yale.edu/login.aspx
Online Bulletin Boards
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YaleInternational/
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/
The New Haven Register
http://www.newhavenregister.com
Realtors/Management Companies
http://www.trulia.com/for_rent/New_Haven,CT/
http://www.zillow.com/new-haven-ct/rent-houses/
Hotels in downtown New Haven
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hvndt-courtyard-new-haven-at-yale/overview/
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/NewHavenYale.aspx
https://www.thestudyatyale.com/
Hotels beyond walking distance
New Haven Neighborhoods
Many of Yale’s students and postdocs live in one of the five following New Haven neighborhoods:
Science Hill/East Rock/Orange Street – This neighborhood has a high percentage of graduate students who live there. The apartments and houses in this neighborhood are usually quite nice (a number of faculty members also live in this area). Many of the apartments are in multifamily homes. There are also several larger apartment buildings that have good turnover from year to year. This neighborhood has several local grocers, bars, and coffee shops and is on the Yale Shuttle bus line. The East Rock/ Orange Street neighborhood is roughly bordered by Trumbull and Cold Spring Street and Prospect and State Streets.
Central/Downtown – As its name implies, this neighborhood is in the heart of New Haven. Close to stores, restaurants and entertainment, this neighborhood is popular because of its close proximity to both the School of Medicine and Yale’s main campus. Streets in the downtown area include Chapel, Broadway, High, Park, York, and Howe.
Ninth Square – This neighborhood contains some of the newest housing developments in the city as well as a number of luxury accommodations and top restaurants. It is close to downtown and is also very close to the State Street train station. Ninth Square is bound by Chapel, Church, George, and State Streets.
Wooster Square – Wooster Square is a neighborhood east of Yale and is within walking distance of the main part of campus. At the center of the neighborhood is Wooster Square Park. This neighborhood includes Wooster Street, which is New Haven’s “Little Italy” and the home of two famous pizza restaurants, Sally’s and Pepe’s. Wooster Square is bordered by St. John and Water Streets and Olive and Chestnut Streets.
Westville – Westville is the home of the Yale Bowl and the Yale Golf Course. This neighborhood is about 15 minutes from campus by city bus or car. Westville is more residential than the other neighborhoods and tends to be a little less expensive.
Beyond New Haven – In addition to the popular New Haven neighborhoods, some postdocs live in the surrounding cities of Hamden, Woodbridge, Branford, East Haven, or West Haven.
And for more information, visit Yale’s ‘Living in New Haven’ website .
Whichever neighborhood/city you decide to live in, make sure you visit (or have someone visit for you) any room or apartment you are considering renting before making any agreements or signing a lease.
Discrimination because of race, color, ethnicity, and sexual preference is strictly against the law. It is also illegal to turn down an application from a family with children; the sole exception is housing of three or fewer separate apartments where the landlord resides. Any difficulties should be reported to the Yale Housing Office – 203-432-9756.
Maps of New Haven & Beyond - Especially when you first arrive, you’ll want to have a good map. Some helpful links include: https://map.yale.edu, for detailed campus maps.
If you need to rent a truck or moving van in New Haven, start with the following companies:
Utilities/Phone/Internet
If utilities are not included in your rent, contact the following companies:
Cellular Phone Service
Yale has negotiated discount plans with Verizon, Nextel, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Please visit the link below for more information.
Banking
Special Notes: Bank of America has a branch office and ATM machines within Yale-New Haven Hospital and is a very convenient banking choice for postdocs working at the School of Medicine; an ATM can also be found in the School of Management.
• http://www.bankofamerica.com
Child Care
The Yale WorkLife Program provides a Child Care Directory for members of the Yale community.
http://your.yale.edu/work-yale/benefits/work-life-and-childcare
Parking Downtown or on Campus
Finding parking in downtown New Haven and around the Yale campus is challenging. You will need to park in a pay lot, garage, or at a meter. Meters cost about $1.50 per hour of parking, and some meters now accept credit card payments. Failure to pay to park at a meter may result in a parking fine of at least $20.
Meters are free on Sundays, major holidays, and after 9 p.m. If you drive a hybrid vehicle, New Haven will let you park on city streets at no cost when you apply for the GreenPark program. For more information, contact city hall in New Haven.
For a parking guide to downtown New Haven, visit the New Haven Parking Authority at 203-946-8936, or visit
For information about parking at Yale, call 203-432-9790, or visit http://to.yale.edu/.
You can park free in any of Yale’s lots after 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Parking in Your Neighborhood
Most neighborhoods (look for the zone signs on the street) allow street parking with a valid parking permit, which you can purchase at the New Haven Parking Tag Office, 165 Church Street, 203-946-2206. For a parking application/form, please visit:
https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/traffic/parking/residential_parking.htm
If you do park your car on the street, even with a valid permit, make sure you understand the street cleaning schedule. Also watch out for parking bans. Signs announcing bans will be posted on trees and poles along the street, and the city of New Haven can post parking bans with as little as 12 hours notice before the ban is to begin. If you violate a parking ban, whether regularly posted or an emergency order, your car can be towed away; and you will receive a fine and a towing fee. If you do get towed, you will need to call the police parking tag division, 203-946-2206 for instructions on how to retrieve your car. It is quite expensive, and you will need cash. For information on changes to parking regulations during snow emergencies, tune in to your local television or radio station.
Yale Transit
Yale offers free transportation to and from key locations throughout the campus. Current maps and schedules are available at http://to.yale.edu/. In addition, each shuttle is equipped with a GPS locator, enabling you to track in real-time exactly where the shuttle is on its route. See the shuttles in motion at http://yale.transloc.com/. Please note that the daytime shuttles do not run on weekends.
At night Yale’s shuttles will provide door-to-door service between campus and your home if you live along the shuttle route. You can schedule a ride by calling 203-432-6630.
Public Buses
Go to www.cttransit.com or call 203-624-0151 for schedules
Taxis
Below is a list of taxi services in the area:
• New Haven Taxi, 203-777-7770
• Quick Taxi, 203-777-7778
Uber
Convenient car service that can be requested and paid for by using an app on your smartphone. For more information on setting up an Uber account, see link below.
Zipcar
If you do not own a car but you have a valid driver’s license, you can advantage of Yale’s partnership with Zipcar. Zipcar is a car sharing program that makes the process of sharing cars safe, easy, and convenient. Please check out the link below for more information.
Owning a Car in Connecticut
Connecticut state law requires you to register your vehicle with the state, purchase automobile insurance, pay city property tax on your vehicle, and make sure that your car passes regular safety and emissions inspections. You may also need to pay for parking.
Getting a Connecticut Driver’s License
Once you have established residency in Connecticut, you have 30 days to transfer your out of state license (other American state, Canadian provincial license, French or German license) to a CT license. All others must take the Driver’s Exam. For further information on obtaining a license and registering your car in CT, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Useful Resources for Car Buying
Visit the following web sites for more information on buying new or used cars.
• www.carfax.com - used car reports
• www.autotrader.com,www.bargainnews.com,http://newhaven.craigslist.org/, and www.carmax.com to shop on-line for new or used vehicles.
• www.kbb.com, www.edmunds.com, for useful information on average car prices.
Property Taxes
If you are a resident of New Haven, you will be required to pay annual property taxes on your car. For more information, contact the Tax Collector’s Office at 203-946-8054. Residents of other Connecticut towns should contact their local government offices for property tax information.
Car Insurance
Below is a list of insurance agencies, both local and nationwide:
Getting To & From Major Airports
The closest airport is Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), which is a small commuter airport about 15 minutes from New Haven by car. The next closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Hartford. Other commonly used airports by residents of CT include JFK and LaGuardia (LGA) in New York, Newark Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, and Providence Airport (PVD) in Rhode Island.
Transportation options to and from airports is described in detail on the Transportation Option website. Please note that taking a taxi to or from any of the area airports other than Tweed would be extremely expensive and is NOT recommended.
Travel Services
Yale has a service to provide travel assistance to the Yale community for business travel needs.
Trains
Union Station, at 50 Union Avenue, runs Metro-North, Amtrak, and Shore Line East Commuter Rail service.
• MTA - Metro-North Railroad
• Amtrak
Bus Services
There are three bus services that operate from Union Station in New Haven.
• Megabus
Ferry Services
• http://www.longislandferry.com
• http:www.blockislandferry.com
Renting a Car
Below is a partial list of car rental companies in New Haven:
Approximate Travel Times by Car from New Haven
Hartford, CT - 45 miles, 45 minutes
New York City - 80 miles, 2 hours
Boston, MA - 130 miles, 2 1/2 hours
Providence, RI - 100 miles, 2 hours
Philadelphia, PA - 180 miles, 4 1/2 hours
Washington D.C. - 330 miles, 6 1/2 - 7 hours
Yale takes safety very seriously and provides the following services to the Yale community:
• Yale Police:
On-campus emergency: 911
Lost and found: 203-432-4400
Victim Services: 203-432-4418
• Blue security phones with blue lights above them are located throughout the campus. In case of an emergency, simply press the emergency button on the phone; and police will be dispatched to your location.
• A night shuttle service is available for transportation within the campus and to/from your home. Visit Nighttime Routes website for the schedule and a map.
• Uniformed walking escorts are available by calling 203-432-WALK (203-432-9255).
• The Office of Environmental Health and Safety ( EHS website, 203-785-3550) provides monitoring and mandatory training sessions for those who work with chemicals, radioisotopes, infectious agents, and other potentially dangerous research materials.
• To review a comprehensive listing of all the campus safety measures that the University offers, visit the Campus Safety website.
• Watch Yale’s Public Safety Orientation Video: https://youtu.be/FDbKuWP1ylU (Technical notes: The links above will take you to the videos on YouTube. They are unlisted, so they cannot be searched on YouTube’s site. Clicking on the links will play the videos in YouTube, but they also can be embedded in the appropriate web page, where the video will play in the context of the page, not in YouTube. Captions are embedded.)
Postal Service
Two U.S. post offices in New Haven are listed below. For rates, a zip code finder, and domestic and international services, visit the USPS website.
• Yale Station
206 Elm at the corner of High Street, 203-773-3454. Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday – Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturdays.
• Main New Haven Post Office
50 Brewery Street, 203-782-7007, Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday - Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
Shipping Services
• FedEx
You should be able to find almost everything you need within walking distance of the Yale campus, but for those with a car, it is worth exploring the many shopping opportunities in the suburbs surrounding New Haven. (For more information about dining, entertainment, and shopping in New Haven, pick up a copy of the “Greater New Haven Visitor’s Guidebook” at the Visitor’s Bureau, 59 Elm Street.)
Access the link below for more information regarding local shopping:
New Haven has an amazing selection of great restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafés. Please visit New Haven Dining Listing to see the many fantastic places to visit. Below are the main dining facilities on the Yale campus. Additional information is available on the Yale Hospitality website.
At the Yale School of Medicine
• Atrium Cafe
20 York Street. Opposite the cafeteria in the hospital atrium. Coffee, lunch, and snacks.
• Blue State Coffee
320 Congress Avenue, 203-785-0354. Coffee, lunch, and snacks.
• Hospital Cafeteria
20 York Street. The main cafeteria at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Show your Yale I.D. for a discount.
• Cafe Med (formally know as Marigold’s)
367 Cedar Street, in Harkness Hall. Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The main dining facility for medical students.
• Cafe George By Paula
300 George Street. Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch.
Other On-Campus Dining
• Charle’ s Place
165 Whitney Ave. Located in the Edaward P. Evans Hall at the School of Management. Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Evans Hall Cafe
165 Whitney Ave. Located in the Edaward P. Evans Hall at the School of Management. All day dining 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Ground at Becton Hall
15 Prospect Street. New York City-style coffee shop. Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
•Divinity School Refectory
409 Prospect Street, 203-432-3407. Continental Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Lunch, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life’s Dining Hall
80 Wall Street, 203-432-1134. Operated under the direction of Young Israel at Yale, an Orthodox organization. Vegetarian and organic entrées offered daily. Open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday (reservations are needed for the Friday night Sabbath dinner). Closed during the summer months.
• KBT Cafe
First floor lobby of Kline Biology Tower, 203-432-3402. Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• West Campus Dining
100 West Campus Drive, Orange. Located on the ground floor of the Conference Center. Breakfast: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m
Staff Payment Options
Take advantage of dining dollar credits that is applied to your Yale University ID card - called Eli Bucks. This payment option is an easy way to purchase meals across the Yale Campus and helps eliminate the need to carry cash for that purpose. To use Eli Bucks, you simply present your University ID card at the time of purchase.
All postdoctoral appointees and their spouses are eligible to use Payne Whitney Gym and other athletic facilities for a fee. Call the Payne Whitney Membership office at 203-432-2497, or visit the Payne Whitney Membership website for more information about becoming a member.
Library access, as well as access to online journals from the Yale network, is free to all postdocs. Visit the Yale Library website to learn more about Yale’s extensive collection of print and online resources.
Some student loans from U.S. lending institutions may be eligible for payment deferral during your postdoctoral training. Deferment decisions are made by the loan agency and not by Yale. If your lending institution offers deferments, please request a deferment form or you can also find here and send it to the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs for approval. Forms can be submitted to postdoc.affairs@yale.edu. Unfortunately we are unable to sign forms that require us to attest that you are an enrolled student at Yale. For more information on Loan Deferments please you visit the Federal Student Aid Site - Student Loan Deferment