Postdoctoral Fellows' Manual
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Postdoctoral Scholars Manual Compiled by the Graduate School and the Division of Research University of Maryland, College Park Welcome Postdoctoral scholars play an integral role in our intellectual and social environment. We look forward to your contributions to our community, and we invite you to take part in the facilities and activities that make the University of Maryland such a great place to work, study, and play. Whether it be advancing the frontiers of science, or moving the ball down the field in an intramural flag football match, we encourage you to take part in all that the University of Maryland and College Park has to offer. If you are new to the campus, you will find the following information to be very helpful in getting settled in. The manual includes everything from a checklist for essentials such as Photo IDs and email addresses to guides to on and off campus housing, dining, and recreation. Even if you have been on campus for years, you should find this manual to be a handy resource for on and off campus living. Patrick O'Shea Jeffrey Franke Vice President Interim Dean Office of Research The Graduate School POSTDOC CONTACTS Blessing Enekwe, Ph.D. Barbara Ferguson Coordinator Fellowships Coordinator Office of Postdoctoral Affairs The Graduate School The Graduate School 2131 Lee Building 2100A Lee Building University of Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 College Park, MD 20742 Phone: +1 301 405-0371 Phone:+1 301 405-6009 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2 Table of Contents Welcome....................................................................................................................................................2 Postdoc Contacts ............................................................................................................................ 2 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................3 Your Fellow Appointment .........................................................................................................................5 Checklist ....................................................................................................................................................7 Benefits Information ..................................................................................................................................9 Health Benefits.................................................................................................................................. 9 Insurance And Compensation Benefits...................................................................................... 10 Retirement And Other Benefits .................................................................................................... 11 Information for International Fellows .....................................................................................................13 The University Postdoc Ombuds Office .................................................................................................16 Emergency and Health Services ...........................................................................................................17 Safety ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Health............................................................................................................................................... 18 Weather........................................................................................................................................... 19 Getting Settled.........................................................................................................................................20 Finding Housing............................................................................................................................... 20 U.S. Post Offices .............................................................................................................................. 21 Local Banks ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Libraries ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Local Child Care Resources ......................................................................................................... 25 Supermarkets And Other Shopping ............................................................................................ 26 International Food Markets........................................................................................................... 27 Transportation..........................................................................................................................................28 State of Maryland - Motor Vehicle Administration ................................................................... 28 3 Parking ............................................................................................................................................. 28 Campus Shuttle .............................................................................................................................. 28 Metro................................................................................................................................................ 29 ZIPCARS............................................................................................................................................ 29 Motor Transportation Services ...................................................................................................... 30 Local AIrports .................................................................................................................................. 30 Marc ................................................................................................................................................. 30 Recreation ...............................................................................................................................................31 Local Restaurants........................................................................................................................... 31 Local Malls....................................................................................................................................... 33 Local Movie Theaters..................................................................................................................... 35 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center .................................................................................. 36 Campus Recreation Services ....................................................................................................... 36 Resources ................................................................................................................................................38 General Support............................................................................................................................. 38 Career Development Resources ................................................................................................. 39 Postdoc Resources......................................................................................................................... 41 Glossary of Acronyms.............................................................................................................................43 Campus Map...........................................................................................................................................44 Suggestions, Comments & Questions....................................................................................................45 4 Your Fellow Appointment For the purposes of classification institutionally, the University of Maryland embraces a definition of postdoctoral scholar utilizing the same general characteristics of the definition published jointly by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health in January 2007, as follows: "[A postdoctoral scholar is] an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path." Postdoctoral researchers and scholars are a critical part of the University of Maryland academic community, bringing valuable expertise, national prestige, and additional research funding into the University. A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary one designed to give individuals an opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The time spent as a postdoctoral appointee is in preparation for a career progression in academe, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector. For many, especially those in the physical and life sciences, postdoctoral work is a critical step in securing future employment. The University of Maryland welcomes qualified researchers with postdoctoral fellowships in all disciplines to College Park, and hopes that the relationships formed and research done during their tenure here will be most helpful in their professional development. An individual