Types of Postdoctoral Appointments

Rutgers Postdoctoral Class 1 Appointment:

Postdoctoral Class 1 appointments are typically granted for an initial period of two years, contingent upon funding availability. Renewals are possible annually, but the total duration cannot exceed five years. Various funding sources, including grants from Rutgers faculty, research grants, startup funds, NIH K99 awards, or other general funds, may support class 1 postdoc appointments. Typically, these funds are dispersed through the university, and tax withholding applies.

Two working/job titles are associated with Postdoctoral Class 1 appointments: Postdoctoral Associate and Postdoctoral Fellow. Postdoctoral Associates are primarily affiliated with any of Rutgers' Legacy campuses, such as Rutgers–New Brunswick, Rutgers–Newark, or Rutgers–Camden. On the other hand, Postdoctoral Fellows are affiliated with schools or centers affiliated with Rutgers Health.

Being a Postdoctoral Class 1 appointee means you are a full-time regular salaried employee entitled to state and non-state benefits. Once you're hired, the department coordinator or Human Resources Generalist will schedule a welcome and benefits orientation within one week. You'll have 14 working days from your hire date to enroll and submit completed benefits forms.

For comprehensive information on state benefits, click here. For detailed insights into non-state benefits, click here. To stay up-to-date on benefits for Postdoctoral Class 1 appointments, we recommend reviewing the current collective negotiations agreement negotiated by the Rutgers AAUP-AFT union.

Rutgers Postdoctoral Class 9 Appointment:

Postdoctoral Class 9 appointments typically span one, two, or three years and can be affiliated with any of our four main campuses, including Rutgers Health.

The Fellows/Non-employee Class 9 is the second type of postdoctoral appointment at Rutgers. HR Class 9 classification applies to postdoctoral positions receiving stipends from individual or institutional awards, such as training grants. For example, postdocs funded by any NRSA grant, such as NIH F32 and T32, are considered Class 9 appointments.

Class 9 appointees are in a trainee position, so they have no formal employee-employer relationship with Rutgers University. Consequently, Postdoctoral Fellows (Class 9) are eligible only for the student health insurance plan. Upon enrollment, you will automatically be covered by the Postdoctoral Fellows Health Insurance plan provided by UnitedHealthcare Student Resources. Coverage begins within 24-48 hours of enrollment, and you'll receive an enrollment confirmation from United Healthcare Student Resource along with your insurance card.

Disclaimer►

For external or individual awards, such as NSF awards and others, the classification of postdoc appointments as class 9 is determined by the language used in these awards. As a general rule (with some exceptions), if the funds are not dispersed through the university and taxes are not withheld, it will likely be classified as class 9. For clarification, we recommend consulting with the award officer or support personnel.

Postdoc Benefits: HR Classification

Understanding your HR employee classification (Class 1 or Class 9) and campus affiliation is vital in determining your eligible benefits. Whether you are a Postdoctoral Associate or Postdoctoral Fellow, Class 1 employee, or Class 9 appointee, familiarizing yourself with the benefits available will help make the most of your postdoctoral experience at Rutgers University.

If you have any further questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact us or browse our website for additional resources.