New Postdocs

We are thrilled to have you as part of our dynamic community of over 1,300 biomedical postdocs spanning Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Nursing, and the Department of Biology at the School of Arts & Sciences, as well as our affiliated researchers at the Wistar Institute, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Swarthmore College, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center.

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania combines a rich history of innovation in both the liberal arts and the sciences, and is seen as a global leader in biomedical research. With over $1.37 billion in annual R&D expenditures across fields like medicine, technology, business, and science, Penn and our collaborators are driving discoveries that expand knowledge and make meaningful impacts on people’s lives every single day.

The Office of Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs (BPP) plays a key role in fostering this groundbreaking work, by providing administrative support, training opportunities, and career development for all of our postdoctoral trainees, all with a focus on personal well-being. Our mission is to ensure you have what you need to thrive both professionally and personally.

As you begin this exciting next step in your career, we want to make sure you have all the resources necessary for success. In thiis packet you will find information about how to get started here at Penn and to learn more about the various resources available to you as a postdoc. Our office also offers regular information sessions and bi-annual campus-wide orientations in collaboration with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA). These events will introduce you to Penn’s vibrant academic community and essential resources such as Career Services, Human Resources, and International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), and give you an opportunity to network.

If you are affiliated with CHOP, Monell, Swarthmore, or Wistar, please be sure to review your institution’s internal policies, as they may differ from Penn’s.

We are excited to have you join us and look forward to supporting you throughout this important chapter of your career. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone, email, or in person—we’re here to help!

These will be critical for you access resources and log into many Penn systems. On the first day of your appointment look for an automated email from pennkey@isc.upenn.edu sent to the email address you used during your application process. Please note that once selected, your PennKey cannot be changed, and that Multi-Factor Authentication is required for all Penn Community members.

If you are a member of one of our affiliated research institutes, please contact your internal HR team to register for a PennKey and PennID number. These will be necessary to register for BPP events.

You should also receive a series of emails from the Workday@Penn system notifying you to complete required onboarding paperwork, enroll in direct deposit, elect benefits, and update your profile. Once your Pennkey and password is activated, please make sure Workday has your correct and current contact information and all forms are complete.

Before going to the Onboarding Center - Contact with the departmental administrator who processed your appointment. Your administrator can assist you and answer questions about the administrative process as you begin your postdoctoral training. You will then need to schedule your onboarding appointment with Onboard@Penn. Please be aware that to legally continue in your role, you must provide the following documentation to the Onboard@Penn team within three days of starting your appointment:

1. Verification of your identity and right to work in the United States - Per the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the University must obtain documentation that establishes your identity and right to work in the United States. To meet this requirement, employers must obtain a completed I-9 form for every employee.

2. Social Security Card - You are required to present your Social Security Card on your first day of work so that your Social Security Number can be verified for payroll purposes. If you have misplaced your Social Security Card and need a replacement, you can apply for a replacement card at your local Social Security Administration office. You also may be able to apply for a replacement card online. See https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ for additional information. The Social Security Administration office closest to the University is located at 2 PENN CTR, STE 2000B, 1500 JFK BLVD, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102. For a list of other Social Security Administration offices, visit the Social Security Administration website at https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf. If you do not have a Social Security Number, you will need to provide your passport number and country code to your Business Administrator.

To learn more about electing benefits visit our

Stipends and Benefits page.

As a Penn Postdoc you will now be able to access the BPP Appointment system with your PennKey and Password through this link: https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/bpp-appointments/ or by clicking the link below.

Access the BPP Appointment System here

Please be sure to delete your cache, cookies, and history if you have any issues accessing the site. You should no longer need to enter your email and password used as a candidate. All postdocs in Penn Dental, Penn Nursing, Penn Vet, and the Pereleman School of Medicine will need to upload their CV and proof of degree, review and sign the participation agreement, and update the personal and education tabs. For international postdocs, we request you to submit your I-94, visa, and passport. For permanent resident postdocs, we request you to submit your green card and passport.

Your PennCard will grant you access to the building, specific floors, and identify you as a Penn employee. On the first day, please visit the PennCard Center located at 3601 Walnut St above the bookstore. You will need a valid photo identification to get your card, and it will take 1-2 hours to become activated.

You should always carry your PennCard with you while on campus - even if just walking between floors. The PennCard is the official University of Pennsylvania identification card for students, faculty, staff and other members of the University community. You can use your PennCard to access a variety of services at Penn. The PennCard is University property, and should be treated with the same care as a credit card or government-issued identification card. 

Postdocs may be asked to present an active PennCard to attend BPP events.

The Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs office offers new postdoc information sessions every other week on Thursdays at noon. A representative from our office will contact you shortly after your appointment officially starts to share a copy of our digital welcome packet with you and to share upcoming information session dates with you. It is important that all new BPP postdocs attend an information session within the first month of joining Penn.

Each January and July, BPP partners with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs to host a campus-wide postdoc orientation event. It is important that every postdoc at Penn attends an orientation session to learn more about the resources available to them around campus. Dates and times for orientation sessions will be shared with new postdocs as they are set.