Policies
Leaves of Absence
Procedure for Taking a Leave of Absence
- Notify your mentor, Program Director, and Training Grant Coordinator of your need to take a leave of absence and the approximate dates and duration.
- Submit the General Medical Leave Form to the Peds Payroll Group (PedsPayrollGroup@kids.wustl.edu).
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Periodically update the Training Grant Coordinator on the status of your leave (especially if you anticipate having to extend it).
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|
Type of Leave
|
Postdoctoral Scholars |
Clinical Trainees |
| Vacation |
15 days paid |
15 days paid |
| Sick |
12 days paid |
15 days paid |
| Extended Leave for Childbirth/Adoption * |
12 weeks (only portion of leave that is paid is the portion covered by the trainee's sick and vacation days) |
12 weeks (only portion of leave that is paid is the portion covered by the trainee's sick and vacation days) |
| Holidays |
All WUSM holidays |
Holidays are subject to clinical service duties |
* All extended leave requires prior approval of the Program Director.
During the initial 12 months of a postdoctoral appointment on a training grant, trainees incur a payback obligation to the NIH. The payback obligation may be met in the following ways: a subsequent 12 months of support from a training grant or engaging in research, teaching, and/or health-related activities for at least 20 hours per week for 12 months (NIH definitions of research, teaching, and health-related activities).
NIH Loan Repayment Program
The NIH Loan Repayment Program is available to individuals pursuing research at any nonprofit, university, or government organization in the following areas: Clinical Research, Pediatric Research, Health Disparities Research, Clinical Research for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds, and Contraception and Infertility Research.
In exchange for a two-year research commitment (which cannot be concurrently served with the T32 payback commitment), the NIH will: repay qualified educational debt up to $35,000 per year, reimburse Federal and State taxes resulting from your repayment award, repay qualified educational debt after completion of the two-year commitment through competitive renewals (provided that the debt remains and the candidate still meets eligibility requirements).
Please note that the NIH Loan Repayment Program has a service requirement of two years, and the service requirement of the training grant and the LRP may not be fulfilled concurrently.
Per the Tax Department, all NIH training grant funds received are considered taxable income. This includes, but is not limited to an individual's stipend, health allowance, supplies, travel, and tuition.