Pros
Good views from work location and get free public transport with University ID
Cons
The benefits for postdocs could be improved. Previously, I received a retirement contribution of 14.2%, which is not offered here. I had to negotiate extensively to secure this benefit due to my prior experience, but most postdocs do not receive it at all. Annual pay raises are limited to 0-3%, and there are no clear HR regulations to ensure salaries increase in line with NIH guidelines. Standard practice is annual salary adjustments based on NIH guidelines, but here, even if you negotiate an NIH-scale salary initially, it won’t increase annually based on NIH standards. Instead, only a modest 0-3% raise is provided, which often doesn’t cover inflation. Overall, the limited benefits and pay adjustments make it challenging for postdocs to manage, especially for those supporting families given the high cost of living and rent. The current structure makes it difficult for postdoctoral researchers to sustain a reasonable quality of life on a single income.
