SAFE Labs

IRIBHMComputationalLabs_2026:

At ULB, similarly to FNRS, salaries for postdoctoral researchers are determined by a national scale system and will scale with seniority (scale 530 + seniority, multiplied by current index for salaries - index also found here). Nevertheless, some fellowships can be higher.

GribbleLab_2026:

You are responsible for applying for funding to support your salary (e.g. OGS, NSERC, CIHR, etc) when you are eligible to do so. Typically an initial contract is for one or two years of support from my research grants. In some cases this may be extended but this is highly dependent on circumstance, budget, etc.

RollinsonLab_2026:

Agreed upon research programs of graduate students and post-docs will be funded by Njal to the level required to complete them, barring unforeseen circumstances including loss of grant funding and substantial increases in costs.

CellMigrationLab_2026:

Postdocs join us with their own fellowship. We help you choose a scheme, shape the project and write the application. The main options are:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Commission)
• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Human Frontier Science Program fellowships
• Finnish foundations, such as the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation

CNIDevoLab_2025:

At CNRS, salaries are determined by a national grading system, particular cases might apply to specific funding sources (e.g Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowships). In France, taxes and contributions to pension schemes (etc) are deducted directly from the gross salary, in case of doubts do not hesitate to ask further information. As a general information, health care is provided by the French state.

Contrary to some other countries, no unpaid work is allowed, this concerns also master or bachelor students who will receive a “compensation” if staying longer than 2 months.

PhD salaries are covered by either a fellowship from the PhD schools (once a year competition), by individual grants (for example from a charity, please note that only few options exist in France) or by the lab grants.

Postdoctoral salaries depend on the experience level. Postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to apply for their own funding, both to benefit their own career and to improve lab finances. Options will be discussed case by case.

GalupaLab_2025:

All postdoctoral researchers are expected to apply for fellowships, both to benefit their own career and to improve lab finances. Yet, being awarded a fellowship is not a requirement. With or without a fellowship, postdoctoral researchers in our lab/institute will be employed by the CNRS. The salary at entry level will be determined according to years of experience after PhD; at the CNRS, the pay scales correspond to the following years of experience after PhD: [0-2], [2-7], [7-10], [10-15], [15-20] and [+20]. Importantly (and unfortunately), the salary will not evolve according to the scale, regardless of the duration of the postdoc, but rather be fixed at the level of the start. For a salary change, the contract would have to be broken and a new one made, which is not always possible. These situations should of course be discussed when relevant.

CzarkwianiLab_2026:

What is crucial to note is the difference between an employment contract and a tax-free scholarship. There are different benefits and disadvantages to each. Most importantly, although the monthly salary may be higher when on a scholarship, the lack of public insurance, pension, parental-leave, or unemployment benefits has to be noted and the financial cost calculated depending on your personal circumstances. Independently acquired funding like a postdoctoral fellowship can be very useful for demonstrating independence for the next step in the academic career and can be highly beneficial on a CV. Most of the fellowships and postdoctoral contracts have a duration of 24 months, therefore for long-term projects it might be worth looking into multiple lines of funding. The PI commits to having open conversations about individual career planning and needs and try when possible, to support the postdocs with bridging funding opportunities and help with grant writing.

OttLab_2025:

Available funding depends on current grants and project goals and will be discussed with each researcher during hiring and onboarding. In general, funding for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers is available for at least 3 years. Typically, I will ask postdocs and graduate students, where appropriate, to apply for funding. I guide and support the grant writing process. This helps to crystalise their project approach and hypotheses, are valuable additions to a researcher’s CV, and can provide additional funding for professional activities (e.g. travel).

ReinhardLab_2025:

There are no (very few) Italian personal grants for postdocs. Hence, funding can come from one out of three sources: (1) Lab grant, (2) EU fellowship (MSCA etc.), (3) School funds. Since 2025, postdoc contracts are work contracts that include taxes, contributions to pension schemes etc. The details of these contracts will be communicated by HR. Postdocs can likely expect the following salaries and contract durations:

1. Lab grants: Initial contracts are for 12 months, but there will be clear communication about the duration of the current funding and the anticipated duration of the postdoc (typically at least 3 years). If funds allow, we aim to pay more than Italian standard postdoc contracts, currently we pay around 27’000-30’000 Euro net per year from which only a small health care contribution needs to be subtracted.
2. EU fellowships: Typical fellowship durations are 2-3 years. Salaries can vary widely and are determined by the agency; they cannot be “topped-up” by other funding sources. An MSCA currently pays more than double of a typical Italian postdoc salary.
3. School funds: Depending on school budgets, there are certain numbers of “postdoc months” that can be paid from school money. Durations are variable but will be max. 12 months. How these fellowships will look like exactly under the new law is not clear yet.

For comparisons, salaries of personnel and faculty at different stages are public and can be found here.

RossiLab_2025:

Postdoctoral positions can be funded in 3 ways: 1)on a lab grant, 2) on IIT core funds to the lab; 3) on an external fellowship (e.g. MSCA, EMBO etc..). Salaries and type of contract depends on the funding source.

1,2. Postdocs are hired via Co.Co.Co (‘collaboration’) contracts, with a yearly gross salary (R.A.L) ranging from 30-55K depending on experience and funds available: these salaries are typically higher than the average in Italy. The collaboration contract is not constrained by working hours, remote work and annual leave limits, which can be flexibly managed in agreement with Federico depending on the project milestones. Additional benefits include an optional health insurance, which paid by IIT top of the salary, which can be extended to any family member: while the insurance cost adds to the taxable income, its value is paid by IIT. At the end of the contract, a researcher may be rewarded with a one off bonus (compenso aggiuntivo di fine incarico, CAFI).

3. Please refer to the guidelines of the specific fellowship, which may warrant different contracts/salaries than what outlined in 1,2.

Even when an advertised postdoctoral position is fully funded via the lab funds, Federico will require all postdocs to apply for funding and fellowships when accepting a position, if eligible. This is for three reasons: it helps to crystalise their project approach and hypotheses; its demonstrates independence in a researcher’s CV; it can provide additional funding for professional activities (e.g. travel).

InoueGroup_2026:

A typical preparation process is as follows. You contact me with your CV and research idea. We discuss whether the research fit is strong enough. If we both decide to proceed, we choose the appropriate JSPS call. AIST starts the internal pre-registration and screening process. You prepare the JSPS application forms (FORM 2), especially the research proposal. I prepare the host-side parts (FORM 1) of the application. You arrange a recommendation letter from your current or former supervisor. AIST checks and submits the final application to JSPS. JSPS reviews the application and announces the result. If selected, we prepare your visit to AIST.

MizunoLab_2026:

Currently, we are only able to consider candidates who have secured their own funding or are actively applying for external fellowships. In light of the large volume of inquiries we receive asking simply if a postdoctoral position is available without any information on funding, we have decided not to respond to such emails. One example of an external fellowship is the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships program, offered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to international postdoctoral researchers. We are willing to support those who plan to apply for this program and join us. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your academic CV to Prof. Mizuno for consideration. Please note that acceptance into this highly competitive program is dependent on the situation and may not be granted in all cases.

CoenLab_2025:

Any advertised postdoctoral position is fully funded for the duration specified on the job advertisement. However, all postdocs are required to apply for funding and fellowships when accepting a position in the lab. This is for three reasons:

1. It helps to crystalise their project approach and hypotheses
2. Fellowships are valuable additions to a researcher’s CV
3. It can provide additional funding for professional activities (e.g. travel)

GallianoLab_2026:

At any time, if you are interested in our science and would like to discuss applying for fellowships (e.g., EMBO, HFSP, Wellcome Trust Early Careeer Awards, Cambridge Herchel Smith, Branco Weiss, DFG, L’Oréal-UNESCO, EU Marie Curie), email Elisa ideally one year before your proposed start date.

AeryJonesLab_2026:

All positions are fully funded.

BerkeleyAgroecologyLab_2026:

Postdocs typically come into my lab funded on grants from federal or state agencies. This does dictate what must be done in the immediate future to satisfy granting requirements; however, I expect after year one that postdocs will take on the responsibility of writing annual grant reports, or helping to do so, depending on the project.

Let’s have a conversation about whether pursuing external funding makes sense. Grant-writing is an important skill and I enjoy it. However, it is also time consuming and can take away from time spent on publishing, which is of primary importance for next steps in an academic career. It is important to be strategic about when to spend time applying for grants or fellowships.

Grants include both small grants (e.g., Organic Farming Research Foundation) and large fellowships (e.g. AFRI postdoc fellowships). As with experimental designs and publication drafts, I will review all proposals. Be sure to allocate plenty of time for these applications. Almost all proposals must go through UC Berkeley’s Sponsored Projects Office, which requires materials 10 business days before the grant deadline. Last minute proposals are rarely successful. For larger grants, at a minimum, I expect to see a full draft at least 3 weeks prior to the internal deadline to allow for at least two rounds of comments. The more drafts I see, and the more drafts you work on, the more likely it is to get funded. For smaller grants, this deadline will be more flexible, but I expect a full draft 2 weeks prior to the internal deadline and a goal of submitting to SPO before their deadline.

I will sometimes have funds that are flexible enough to use as “seed funding” for projects in the lab. So, even if you are working on something peripheral to my major grants, please talk to me about your funding needs. One of my major priorities is securing external funds for the lab and everyone’s projects.

DolbowGroup_2026:

Students and post-docs in the lab have an expectation of being informed what projects are providing them with stipend support, the timelines for those projects, and any concerns. If a change in support is expected, students and post-docs should be given at least three months notice.

EvLab_2026:

If I accept you to the lab, that means I commit to funding you. I always encourage students and postdocs to apply to fellowships—those help both me (by lowering the financial burden) and you (by strengthening your CV).

JimenezGroup_2026:

The two sources of funding are our research grants and postdoctoral fellowships. In the US postdoctoral fellowships are more scarce than PhD student fellowships.

• As of January 2012, the fraction of postdoc-months for all past and current postdocs in our group supported by each source was: research grants 83%, fellowships 17%.
• Teaching is not a viable funding source for postdocs, as you would need to teach an extremely heavy schedule to have a reasonable salary, but then you would have no time for research at all.

LowePowerLab_2026:

Apply for grants/fellowships (USDA NIFA, NSF, LSRF, JGI, NIH, UCPP or others). Although I will only hire you if I can support you for at least one year (and ideally 2 years), it is in your best interest to get independent funding.

MemoLab_2026:

Apply for external funding (e.g., NRSA, K99). I will hire postdocs only when there is funding available for at least a year; however, applying for external funding is a valuable experience and, if awarded, it will release those dedicated funds for other purposes.

PoldrackLab_2026:

Most postdocs in the lab are funded through postdoctoral fellowships or grants that they write themselves.

• Some postdocs are funded through existing grants. In this case, the postdoc must spend a significant portion of their time working on that project. However, the lab also provides postdocs the room to develop their own ideas.

Postdocs should pay close attention to the details of their funding arrangement. For example, F32 NIH funding to the university comes with a financial account where the institutional allowance is included. Stanford taps this allowance for ‘university insurance’, so one should be aware that funds will deplete faster than may be presumed.

Schloss_2026:

Talk with me about pursuing funding opportunities

• Work with me to find a project
• Own and drive your project
• Look to me more for suggests than direction
• Create a plan to average publishing at least one paper per year
• Look for opportunities to mentor undergraduates
• Complete and keep up to date your Individual Development Plan (IDP)
• Contracts are renewed each year depending on progress towards these goals
• My goal will be to give you three months notice if funding is short or I think it is time for you to move on

SchumerLab_2026:

Apply for fellowships and grants that you are eligible for, this will help on the job market! Apply for jobs when you’re ready, it’s a good idea to talk with your mentors about when this is and will be dependent on your specific career goals. If you have independent funding, plan to talk to Molly about your plans about one year before your funding ends.

WebbGroup_2026:

When a graduate student joins the group, I am responsible for funding that individual for the duration of their Ph.D (subject to satisfactory progress in the program and in accordance to departmental standards). For postdoctoral researchers, terms of appointment and renewal are described in the offer letter.

Fellowships/External Funding If current/prospective students or postdocs are interested in applying for external funding opportunities, such as fellowships, I highly encourage you let me know, and I will do what I can to help you craft a competitive application. If I think that you are a good candidate for a specific opportunity, I will share that with you as well. Some specific relevant opportunities are listed below:

Graduate Students

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (usually due in mid-late October)
• Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (usually due in the first half of January)
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (usually due end of October)
• Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship (nominations by early June, submission by early July; for rising 3rd year students)
• National Institute of Health F31 Predoctoral Fellowships (standard NIH due dates)

Postdotoral Researchers

• Presidential Postdoral Research Fellowship (requires nomination by November)
• Princeton Center for Theoretical Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (requires nomination, usually in October)
• Andlinger Center Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (usually due in December with interviews in Spring; competitive applicants usually work with multiple advisors)
• Princeton Materials Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (due in October)