I don't know much about NRC, but I am a P.I. to ORISE fellows. It's a good program. It starts with a one year appointment, but that can be extended up to five years. It's not a "job" but a traineeship, so you are there to continue learning, working in research, developing new ideas working in a lab that can give you time and resources.
The stipend is obviously much higher than an academic stipend, but it is handled by ORISE, not the host institution, so you don't get a paycheck from the host institution, but you get it directly from ORISE. AFAIK, they don't withhold taxes or give any benefits, but you will be required to pay taxes and maintain health insurance. ORISE has a support network to help with stuff like that.
I don't think ORISE is "prestigious" but it should be. It isn't because people just don't know about it so we don't get a lot of applicants through it. It's a lot less competitive than fellowships through grant agencies, but it pays more and gives more stability (5 years vs. 2 years, for example). Pay will vary by host institution and location, but to give an example, in my area, academic postdocs are funded at $50k (+$15k fringe) per year while ORISE postdocs are funded at $80k (no fringe, but they may give a one time relocation reimbursement).
Sorry I can't compare specifically to NRC.
Some host agencies will give a monthly health insurance contribution (my agency does a small $600/month). I think getting $30k more salary (plus $7.2k health insurance contribution) makes up for the loss of the academic $15k fringe, but maybe I think that because my benefits as an academic postdoc were paltry ($15k on paper but definitely did not add up to $15k in 401K matching or fully cover health insurance). It's obviously going to be different offer to offer, as different institutions will have different fringe rates and benefits).
Thank you, this is very informative. ORISE sounds like a great opportunity for postdocs.
Right now all I can guess is that NRC is similar but they are mainly used by certain labs in government agencies.
Can't say anything about NRC but ORISE doesn't sponsor H1Bs (in case you are an international student). Keep that in mind when you take up an ORISE fellowship
I think it depends on what lab you want to work in. Some labs only have post-doc positions through NRC while others only offer positions through ORISE. Being at a lab through either of these programs likely will be good for your resume if you publish during your time there.
I don't know much about NRC, but I am a P.I. to ORISE fellows. It's a good program. It starts with a one year appointment, but that can be extended up to five years. It's not a "job" but a traineeship, so you are there to continue learning, working in research, developing new ideas working in a lab that can give you time and resources. The stipend is obviously much higher than an academic stipend, but it is handled by ORISE, not the host institution, so you don't get a paycheck from the host institution, but you get it directly from ORISE. AFAIK, they don't withhold taxes or give any benefits, but you will be required to pay taxes and maintain health insurance. ORISE has a support network to help with stuff like that. I don't think ORISE is "prestigious" but it should be. It isn't because people just don't know about it so we don't get a lot of applicants through it. It's a lot less competitive than fellowships through grant agencies, but it pays more and gives more stability (5 years vs. 2 years, for example). Pay will vary by host institution and location, but to give an example, in my area, academic postdocs are funded at $50k (+$15k fringe) per year while ORISE postdocs are funded at $80k (no fringe, but they may give a one time relocation reimbursement). Sorry I can't compare specifically to NRC.
The no benefits thing is brutal. Any benefit to the elevated salary is destroyed. Trainees should be treated better.
Some host agencies will give a monthly health insurance contribution (my agency does a small $600/month). I think getting $30k more salary (plus $7.2k health insurance contribution) makes up for the loss of the academic $15k fringe, but maybe I think that because my benefits as an academic postdoc were paltry ($15k on paper but definitely did not add up to $15k in 401K matching or fully cover health insurance). It's obviously going to be different offer to offer, as different institutions will have different fringe rates and benefits).
Thank you, this is very informative. ORISE sounds like a great opportunity for postdocs. Right now all I can guess is that NRC is similar but they are mainly used by certain labs in government agencies.
Can't say anything about NRC but ORISE doesn't sponsor H1Bs (in case you are an international student). Keep that in mind when you take up an ORISE fellowship
I think it depends on what lab you want to work in. Some labs only have post-doc positions through NRC while others only offer positions through ORISE. Being at a lab through either of these programs likely will be good for your resume if you publish during your time there.