Healthcare

• A variety of healthcare plans are available for individuals and families, including vision and dental benefits, along with health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. Open enrollment for medical plans is held in the fall.
• Regardless of whether your health insurance is through Princeton, you and your eligible dependents have access to 2nd.MD at no cost for second opinions on medical issues.
• You and your family members, including parents and in-laws, also can take advantage of Health Advocate, which helps patients to navigate the often complex healthcare system. Health Advocate assists with resolving billing and claim issues, explaining benefits coverage and health conditions, scheduling tests and appointments, finding providers and hospitals, and assisting with a wide variety of eldercare services. Participants do not need to be enrolled in a Princeton health plan to use the benefit.
• Princeton offers three voluntary supplemental health plans through MetLife to complement medical plan coverage, including accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity coverage.

Housing

• Princeton owns and manages a variety of rental housing, including both houses and apartments. Postdocs were raised up the priority list as of the start of the fall 2023 semester to access rental housing. 

Transportation

• The University’s 50% Transit Subsidy program covers commuting costs for employees who take the train, bus or subway to campus, or any combination of public transit.
• The Revise Your Ride program offers rideshare matching, including carpools and vanpools from several locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This service was extended in February 2023 to the high number of postdocs living in Plainsboro.
• Through the Commuter Benefits Program, you can deduct monthly commuting expenses before taxes to use for public transportation, including trains, buses, subways or vanpools. The monthly maximum deduction amount is determined by the IRS annually.

Childcare and Caregiving

• Employees receive up to eight weeks of paid leave for bonding with one's own newborn child, or newly place foster child, adopted child or legal ward.
• Princeton University is a family-friendly community with on-site resources for childcare including the University NOW Day Nursery (UNOW) and Campus Rec’s Summer Day Camp. Discounts are also available to University employees at several local childcare centers.
• The Employee Childcare Assistance Program (ECCAP) provides generous financial assistance of up to $6,500 per child to help meet the cost of childcare for prekindergarten-aged children. Eligibility is determined by total annual household income.
• Bright Horizons Back-up Care Program provides backup care when there are disruptions in your child, adult, and/or elder caregiving arrangements that would otherwise prevent you from fulfilling work obligations. You receive 100 hours of backup care each calendar year, which also can be used to cover gaps in care when attending meetings and conferences. 

Education

• After a year of service, employees qualify for the Staff Educational Assistance Plan, which reimburses up to 85% of tuition and mandatory educational fees, up to a maximum of $5,250 annually, for continuing education.

Mental Health and Wellness

• The Carebridge Employee Assistance Program offers cost-free consultations, assistance and referrals for work, personal or family issues, including anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, substance abuse and more. In addition, Carebridge provides unlimited referral services for child- and eldercare, legal matters, relocation and education planning.
• Your children aged 18 months through 17 years enrolled in a Princeton medical plan have access to Brightline for virtual therapy and coaching.
• Discounted gym memberships are available through Campus Rec at Dillon Gym, which includes the 8,000-square-foot Stephens Fitness Center.

Legal Services

• MetLife Legal Plans provides access to legal representation or advice, and confidential assistance for only $12.80 per month. Services include immigration, wills, trusts, debt matters, defense of civil lawsuits and more.

Retirement

• The Princeton University Retirement Savings Plan allows participants to save money for retirement with tax benefits. The plan’s recordkeeper, TIAA, offers numerous investment choices, and the ability for participants to borrow money against their accounts.

You can always browse what benefits are available to you using the Human Resources Benefits Eligibility Tool. Use the drop-down menu on the page to sort benefits by your employment classification.

For additional information about benefits and the many programs and resources that are available to our postdocs, please contact Karen Haskin, associate dean for academic affairs, or Tithi Basu Mallik, assistant dean for postdoctoral affairs.