Postdoctoral Associates
Associates are salaried employees of Yale University, supported through university-administered funding sources such as grants, contracts, departmental accounts, or other institutional resources. As employees, they are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package in accordance with university policies.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Fellows are supported through external funding sources such as external fellowships, NIH T32 training grants, or NIH F32 individual fellowships. Postdoctoral fellows are not employees, and, as non-employees, are eligible for only dental insurance and health insurance at full cost. If the fellowship, faculty mentor, and/or department subsidize part or all of the cost of health insurance, the subsidy is classified as taxable income to the postdoc.
Postdoctoral Fellows not receiving a Yale University paycheck and not able to enroll for benefits using Yale’s Workday, are eligible to enroll with Yale Health’s Postdoctoral Fellow Membership Health Coverage Program. Additional information, monthly rates, and the process of how to enroll can be found on Yale Health’s Unpaid Postdoc Fellows webpage.
Important Note to International Postdocs:
Postdocs on H-1B visas may be ineligible to become postdoctoral fellows. Please consult the Office of International Students and Scholars prior to applying for a fellowship.
Please see the table below for more details about the differences between postdoc fellows and associates. Visit Yale Benefits for comprehensive descriptions of postdoc benefits, and contact the Employee Service Center at 203-432-5552, if you have questions.