Stanhope Hall

Postdoctoral scholars at Princeton to receive minimum annual salary of $65,000

By
Denise Valenti, Office of Communications
on Jan. 27, 2023, 4:10 p.m.
Photo by
Danielle Capparella, Office of Communications

Postdoctoral scholars at Princeton will receive a minimum full-time salary of $65,000 per year, beginning March 1.

The new minimum salary, which represents a nearly 20% increase over a federally required minimum, applies to all current and future employees hired in the University’s postdoctoral ranks.

“Establishing this new minimum salary recognizes the vital role that postdocs play in our campus community as researchers, in advancing faculty scholarship, and in contributing to Princeton’s academic mission,” said Dean of the Faculty Gene Jarrett. “The new minimum salary will make us even more competitive in recruiting excellent and diverse postdoctoral researchers to Princeton.”

Princeton currently employs more than 700 postdoctoral scholars. Postdocs hold doctoral degrees, and they work under the mentorship of faculty and researchers — often as part of a larger research group — as they develop their professional and academic skills.

The salaries of all eligible postdocs earning less than $65,000 will be elevated to the new minimum level, which will serve as the floor for all future postdocs hired at the University. These include postdoctoral research associates, postdoctoral research fellows and postgraduate research associates.

Related Stories

Wherry appointed vice dean for diversity and inclusion in Princeton’s Office of the Dean of the Faculty .

Frederick Wherry, the Townsend Martin, Class of 1917 Professor of Sociology, will begin in his new role on July 1.

Kulkarni to step down as dean of the faculty, search committee formed .

Sanjeev Kulkarni, who has served as dean of the faculty at Princeton University since 2017, will step down from his position at the end of the spring 2021 term and return to the faculty.

Mellon Mays program cultivates diverse future scholars .

Princeton University senior Edwin Carbajal has always been a diligent student, but it was through the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship that he became a dedicated scholar. Carbajal is one of 11 current Princeton undergraduates participating in the national program. By encouraging underrepresented and other students to pursue a career in academia, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship aims to increase the diversity of faculty at colleges and universities across the country.

Princeton’s trustees approve supplemental 2.5% midyear salary increase for most faculty, academic professionals and staff .

The increase, which takes effect Feb. 1, responds to inflationary pressure.

Princeton's commitment to diverse faculty: Q&A with Provost Lee and Dean of the Faculty Prentice .

In 2013, Princeton University adopted a comprehensive strategy to increase the diversity of faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students as part of broader goals to create a more diverse and inclusive community. Since then, the University has launched various initiatives focused on faculty hiring, graduate student recruiting and mentoring, and staff development and training. Provost David S. Lee and Dean of the Faculty Deborah Prentice recently spoke about the University's commitment to diversity and the progress of specific initiatives focused on faculty.

Leslie to step down as dean of the Graduate School .

Sarah-Jane Leslie, dean of Princeton University's Graduate School, the Class of 1943 Professor of Philosophy and a graduate alumnus, will step down from her position as dean effective July 1 and return to the faculty.

Gene Andrew Jarrett named Princeton’s next dean of the faculty .

Gene Andrew Jarrett, the Seryl Kushner Dean of the College of Arts and Science and Professor of English at New York University, will become Princeton’s next dean of the faculty on Aug. 1. Jarrett earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton in 1997. He has a long career as an influential academic administrator, professor and scholar of African American literary studies.