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Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

VUMC New Postdoc Onboarding

Welcome to Vanderbilt!

This orientation site is designed to help you navigate your arrival and first few weeks at Vanderbilt.  If you need additional information not covered here, please contact OPA.

For additional activities and to get involved in the Vanderbilt postdoc community, consider joining the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA).

Please note: the information below is for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) postdocs appointed by the OPA. 

 

Prior to Your Arrival at Vanderbilt

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.

 

An Introduction to Nashville

 

Look for Housing

Vanderbilt does not provide housing for postdocs. Here are some helpful resources:

Get to Know Nashville

 

VUMC VUNet ID & Email

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.

Orientation

All Vanderbilt University Medical Center postdocs should schedule to meet with a representative in the Biomedical Research Education and Training (BRET) Office to go over postdoc policies and resources during your time at Vanderbilt.

  • Effective January 2023, VUMC Postdocs will attend New Postdoc Orientation with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Department administrators will register the postdoc after they have been cleared for hire.

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.

New Postdoc Coffee

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

 

 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center ID Badge

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.

Setting Up Direct Deposit

Postdocs employed through VUMC can set up Direct Deposit through C2HR.  

Required Training

Postdocs are required to complete all Medical Center training programs and Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR). In addition, postdocs may be assigned trainings such as IRB or Protection of Minors dependent upon department or lab.

Transportation and Parking

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.

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.

Dual Identity

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 webpage.

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