Last week, the executive board of the postdoctoral association met with
the Vice President for Research, Ian Waitz, to discuss ways of improving
the living and working conditions of postdocs at MIT. As a first step, the
VPR and PDA agreed on a closer collaboration to effectively improve
postdoc life at MIT. To maintain continuity, the PDA and VPR will meet on
a monthly instead of semiannual basis. We appreciate the VPR’s
commitment to postdoc issues and want to use this opportunity to
advocate for meaningful changes.
One of the key challenges for postdocs at MIT is the increasing cost of
living, especially in the Cambridge/Boston area. At MIT, the minimum
salary for postdocs is currently 66,900 $/year. While there has been a
significant one-time increase in postdoc salary by 10 k$ in 2023, the
current minimum salary is low compared to peer institutions in the area
and the US as a whole. At MIT there is also no salary ladder, so postdocs
are oftentimes paid the minimum salary irrespective of their experience
level.
We as the PDA are convinced that an increase in the minimum salary and
the implementation of a salary ladder are effective methods for improving
the overall situation of postdocs at MIT. In our meeting with the VPR, we
discussed these points and are continuing to advocate for a timely
implementation.