Information for Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Review our Prospective Postdocs page.

This provides information on Nashville, campus life, and housing resources. 

Check All Initial Appointment Requirements Have Been Completed

Check with your department to make sure that the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) has verified that all appointment requirements have been completed, including your background check.

Please note: the background check includes both the criminal portion and graduate degree verification. Under no circumstances can a postdoc begin employment until all OPA requirements have been met.

If work authorization is needed, please refer to your prospective department for questions regarding visas and costs associated with work authorization.

Complete Both Parts of the I-9

Part 1 of the I-9 must be completed before your first day of work. Part 2 of the I-9 must be completed within three days of your hire date. If you have questions regarding your I-9, please submit an email for assistance. Note: Visiting Research Fellow (9136) should refer to their department for guidance regarding I-9 completion.

Complete your W-4

Once you receive your VUMCNetID, you can complete your W-4 in Workday. This is typically completed within your first week of employment at VUMC.

Your VUMC ID and password are required by anyone who wants to login to the VUMC network and use Medical Center resources. Once new hire paperwork has been processed, new hire postdocs will receive an email with instruction to claim their VUMC ID. New users can also visit AccessVUMC Identity Management.

VUMC employees with a valid VUMC ID and password can reset a forgotten password by choosing Existing Users and I Forgot My Password at AccessVUMC Identity Management.

VUMC employees are required to change their VUMC ID password once a year. Employees will be notified via email with instructions.

OPA holds VUMC postdoc orientation on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Your department staff administrator will register you for this session. If you do not receive registration confirmation from OPA, contact the staff administrator in your department to make sure they have submitted your registration.

OPA orientation is open to all VUMC Postdocs, which includes:

• 9132: Research Fellows
• 9134: Research Fellow Trainees
• 9136: Visiting Research Fellows

Postdocs classified as Research Fellows (job code 9132) will additionally attend the VUMC Human Resources New Staff Orientation the first Monday following your hire date. The BRET Office will register Research Fellows for the orientation. Information will be sent to the postdoc prior to the orientation date.

To contact the BRET Office, please email SOMPostdocs@vanderbilt.edu.

Hiring managers will submit paperwork allowing new postdocs to receive their VUMC ID badge. ID badges can be requested online with photo uploads via computer or smart phone.

For more information on how to receive your ID badge, please visit the Medical Center Card Services website.

Postdocs must enroll for health insurance within 30 days of your hire date (both Research Fellows and Research Fellow Trainees). For enrollment and plan information, visit the postdoc HR benefits overview.

Postdocs employed through VUMC can set up Direct Deposit through My Workday. 

Employees without bank accounts can join the Vanderbilt Credit Union. 

All postdocs are expected to read and abide by organizational policies on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Human Resources website and in the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Handbook. 

Postdocs are required to complete all Medical Center compliance programs including, immunizations, Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP), Conflicts of Interest (COI), and Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR). 

Postdocs should also visit the Occupational Health Clinic website for information on submitting records of immunization compliance or receiving required immunizations. 

Postdocs will be assigned medical center compliance modules in Learning Exchange. They may be assigned specialized trainings such as IRB or Protection of Minors dependent upon department or lab. Most trainings can be completed on your own time in Learning Exchange. 

The Medical Center provides secure and convenient parking with a variety of options available for Medical Center faculty and staff. Parking registration is required of anyone that parks on the Vanderbilt campus. For registration information, including how to register your vehicle, please visit the Parking Services website.

Please note that you must have your VUMC badge and license plate information to register for parking in person. 

Free parking & shuttle service is available at Lot 127 near Greer Stadium.

For more information on commuting options, please visit the Commuting, Maps and Shuttle Schedules tab on the Parking Services website.

VUMC Postdocs should claim Dual Identity to access Vanderbilt University resources. An email will be sent to all new VUMC postdocs within the first two weeks of their hire date. This is a compliance requirement.

For more information on Dual Identity, visit the Dual Identity for VUMC Postdocs webpage.

Postdocs are invited to new postdoc coffee on the fourth Thursday of each month*. This is open to all postdocs on campus, and gives new postdocs a chance to meet administrators, members of the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association, and other postdocs.

*unless otherwise stated