At Yale, this line of argument regarding the rationale for using the same
fringe rates for Postdoc Associates on research grants has been heard many
times as faculty are looking for ways to reduce costs on limited resources.
 All Postdoctoral Associates are assessed the same fringe rate on research
grants as other faculty and staff.  Yale has used a "pooled rate" for all
classes of employees, rather than multiple rates for every category of its
employees.  There are actually two rates, depending on whether a faculty or
staff member qualifies for a contributory or non-contributory retirement
plan.

 Postdoctoral Fellows, on the other hand, are typically recipients of
independent fellowships or supported on a training grant (trainees).  As
such, they receive stipends, not salary.  Technically, these folks are not
employees of  Yale, and therefore their stipends are not assessed a fringe
benefit rate.  These postdoctoral fellows usually have funds in their
fellowship award that cover their health fees (much less than a full fringe
benefit rate).

Gary P. Naegel
Administrator, Pharmacology
Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street  P.O. 208066
New Haven, CT  06520-8066
(203) 785-4373
(203) 785-7670  FAX
xxxxxx@yale.edu

 ----------
From: Research Administration Discussion Group
To: Multiple recipients of list RESADM-L
Subject: Fringe benefits for postdoctoral employees
Date: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 12:29PM

At Vanderbilt, postdoctoral employees on research grants are normally hired
with staff appointments and their salaries are subject to the normal fringe
benefit rate for staff.  Recently, a faculty member pointed out that this
really didn't make much sense since postdoctoral employees tend to only be
employed for periods of one to two years and often, never met the
eligibility
requirements for participation in the retirement plan.  Therefore, we access
more in fringe benefits than an individual postdoc ever receives.

Do any institutions have a special fringe benefit rate for postdocs who are
employeed on research grants?  (Vanderbilt postdocs who are trainees on
individual or institutional training grants receive only health insurance
and
are paid stipends--no fringe benefit rate is applied.)

Thanks for your responses.

Janiece Harrison
Division of Sponsored Research
Vanderbilt University
512 Kirkland Hall
Nashville, TN  37240
(615) 322-3979 Phone
(615) 322-3827 FAX
xxxxxx@uansv1.vanderbilt.edu