Information Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars

• Early Steps
• Additional MIT Websites with Orientation Information
• Personal Safety
• Getting Around
• Transportation and Parking
• Common Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Career Related Resources
• Getting Help & Medical and Stress Management Resources
• Other Key MIT Offices and Resources

EARLY STEPS

Visit your Department, Lab, or Center Headquarters for specific information and instructions. In addition to many of the topics below, you will learn about obtaining keys, completing the “Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement,” and more. Some departments also have designated website content and/or a listserv for postdocs.

Form I-9: This Employment Eligibility and Verification form is included in the initial paperwork that your unit will require your first day. So that you are prepared with an acceptable form of ID, you may wish to first review Form I-9.

MIT ID: Your MIT ID number is automatically generated when your academic appointment to MIT is processed by your department, laboratory or center and by Human Resources. Once that process is complete, you will need to request your MIT ID card (ID) at MIT Card Services, located in the basement of Stratton Student Center (W20-021). See their website for their hours and details on what identification you must present (such as a passport or U.S. driver’s license).

Your Electronic Credentials: See Getting Your Electronic Credentials for information on getting an email account and MIT web certificates. Note that some departments, labs, and centers will help you get your email account set up.

View and Update your Online MIT Information: MIT uses an employee self-service website (“SAPweb Self Service”) to arrange for direct deposit of MIT paychecks and reimbursements into your bank account, withholding taxes, benefits selection, MIT directory updates, and more. Be sure to verify this information and keep it up to date. On the “Personal Information” tab, please include details such as gender and education history, since it helps us to know the postdoctoral population.

Foreign Nationals: Anyone on an academic appointment (salaried or unsalaried) who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident must register with the International Scholars Office (ISchO) upon arrival at MIT and sign up for an orientation session. The ISchO has comprehensive information for international postdocs. Also helpful is the National Postdoctoral Association International Postdoc Survival Guide.

Social Security Number: In order to be paid at MIT and usually to open a bank account, you need to provide your Social Security number. International postdocs often have questions regarding obtaining a Social Security card, and should refer to the International Scholars Office website.

Benefits and Enrollment: Benefits (including health, dental and vision plans) are available through MIT based on your appointment status, Postdoctoral Associate or Postdoctoral Fellow. More information is available in the Funding and Benefits section of our website, your unit’s headquarters, and Human Resources (HR). In brief:

• Postdoctoral Associates are paid an MIT salary and are considered employees. They are typically eligible for MIT's benefits plans (if their MIT appointments will last three months or longer, and they work 50% or more of the normal full-time work schedule). To enroll in employee benefits, you must enroll within 31 days of your appointment start date or within 31 days from the date you receive your official “Welcome Letter,” whichever is later. HR has a virtual employee benefits orientation.
• Postdoctoral Fellows receive funding in the form of a scholarship or stipend from an outside agency, either directly or distributed through MIT on behalf of the sponsor. They are not considered “benefits eligible” or “employees” of MIT. However, the MIT Affiliate Health Plan, the MIT Dental and Vision plans, and other programs are available to Postdoctoral Fellows who will have fellowship appointments of three consecutive months or longer (or nine months or longer for dental plans). Enrollment in several cases is required within 31 days of the start of your fellowship. See Human Resources’ Chart to confirm eligibility and enrollment requirements for specific plans.

Housing: The MIT Housing Office (located in W59-200) has comprehensive information, particularly the Off-Campus Housing section of the website. Short and long term housing options are listed, along with the MIT Survival Guide to Renting Off Campus. Many postdocs recommend finding housing near public transportation. Additional suggestions are available from the MIT Postdoctoral Association, the International Scholars Office, and the Newcomers’ Guide.

MIT Postdocs sometimes succeed in getting MIT on-campus housing through MIT Graduate and Family Housing. Please see all the details on that site, in particular regarding applying to the Graduate Student Waiting list and regarding subletting an apartment during the summer and the January Independent Activities Period (IAP).

Postdoctoral Mentoring and Advising Toolkit: The information and forms contained in this Toolkit were designed at MIT to assist the training of postdoctoral researchers, and are helpful to mentors/advisors, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Postdoctoral Associates.

Safety Training: Your supervisor or unit headquarters will inform you of any required training.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training: We encourage all researchers to take an online course available through MIT. All MIT undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who are supported on NSF research awards are required to do so. This online training is available through the MIT Office of Sponsored Programs using the CITI course. For more information and to register, see the Office of Sponsored Programs’(OSP) Compliance, RCR page.