Two researchers in blue lab coats examine green plants together in a laboratory setting.

Postdoctoral Scholars

Welcome to UC Davis!

Congratulations on your postdoc position, and welcome to the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences! Postdoctoral scholars are vital to our research mission, advancing discovery while preparing for careers in academia, industry, government, and beyond. A postdoc is a key stage of professional development, offering the chance to deepen expertise, publish new findings, and mentor students—we’re glad you’re here.

CBS Postdoc Email Newsletter

Organized by the college's graduate academic programs team, CBS distributes a monthly email newsletter to share news, events, fellowship and professional development opportunities, and to connect postdocs across the college to a network of peers and colleagues. If you are a CBS postdoc and have not yet received an email, please sign up to receive our once-a-month message. 

Onboarding Checklist

Your home department will provide you with hiring paperwork and tasks specific to your position. Below are general onboarding tasks that should be completed in addition to your home department paperwork.

  • Attend Postdoc Orientation
  • Graduate Studies hosts a New Postdoctoral Scholar Orientation. This is a critical first step to connect with campus resources and other new postdocs.
  • Set Up Your Accounts
  • Get your UC Davis Computing Account and enroll in Duo Multi-Factor Authentication, which is mandatory for accessing campus systems.
  • Complete UCPath Tasks
  • Log in to UCPath to sign the University patent agreement, set up direct deposit, and complete your W-4 tax forms. Until you enroll in direct deposit, your paychecks will be mailed to your home address.
  • Enroll in Benefits
  • You have a 31-day period from your hire date to enroll in the Postdoctoral Scholars Benefit Plan (PSBP). This plan includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Enrollment is managed by Garnett-Powers & Associates, not UCPath.
  • Get Your Employee ID Card
  • To get your AggieCard (employee ID), send an email to employeeID@ucdavis.edu with a professional photo on a white background, your 8-digit UC Path ID number, your full legal name, and your department information.
  • Complete Required Training
  • Log in to the Learning Management System (LMS) to complete mandatory university trainings, such as Cyber Security Awareness and Sexual Harassment Prevention.

Important Offices

UC Davis is a decentralized campus, meaning you will interact with various offices during your time here. These offices include:

  • Your home department (or center) 
    Your primary contact for hiring paperwork and day-to-day assistance; where your major professor or principle investigator is appointed
  • College of Biological Sciences ("home college") 
    Postdoc support and professional development opportunities specific to biological sciences
  • UC Path
    Digital office for employment and benefit information and self-service
  • Graduate Studies 
    General postdoc support, open to all students on campus
  • Graduate Pathways 
    Professional development opportunities geared towards academic jobs, including Professors for the Future and Leaders for the Future programs
  • Learning and Organizational Development 
    General professional development opportunities
  • Office of Research 
    Trainings required for some grants (ex: Responsible Conduct of Research) and grant writing resources
  • Services for International Students and Scholars (if international) 
    Visa services

Housing

Securing housing in and around Davis can be challenging, so it's best to start looking early. Those working (or preferring to live) in Sacramento may have an easier time securing housing. When looking for housing, consider cost, length of lease, commute time and options, and community resources.

Some housing listing services are below (for informational purposes, not endorsed by UC Davis):

Look out for scams! Be wary of paying anything to reserve your housing before you arrive. Be careful about using companies that promise to find you a place to live, but want you to pay in advance. It is best to make sure that the apartment or room actually exists by going to see it in person. Learn more about protecting yourself from scams.

Banking and Taxes

After arriving in Davis, you may want to open a local account with a bank or credit union. A local account will give you access to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) on campus and around Davis, Sacramento or your local area. This can help prevent you from having to carry large amounts of cash. SISS provides a great banking resource guide with more information.

Your hiring department will provide you with required tax documents. International postdocs will need to create a Glacier record to complete their tax onboarding.

International postdocs will most likely require a Social Security Number (SSN). SISS and the Social Security Administration provide information on how to obtain a SSN.

The nearest Social Security office is in West Sacramento. There are public transportation options to this office. 

Transportation

UC Davis is located near two international airports Sacramento International (SMF) and San Francisco International (SFO). There are several ground transportation options from each airport to your final destination, including hired vans and cars, rideshares and public transit. Please be aware that these options range in cost and convenience, and some need to be booked in advance, so do your research.

For vehicle and driver's license services, there is a DMV in Davis. Appointments are recommended but not required. If you are applying for a California driver's license, you will most likely need to take the knowledge test, even if you have a license from another state. You will have the option to register to vote when applying for your ID card or driver's license.

There are various public transportation methods available in Davis and Sacramento. These include buses (Unitrans, YoloBus, SacRT) and rail (Amtrak, SacRT). The Causeway Connection specifically connects the UC Davis main campus and health campus, with some additional stops along the way. 

Health and Wellbeing

The Benefits Office can help with specific questions related to health insurance, retirement, and other benefits. The information below is provided as a general resource and not an endorsement of services.

There are several medical groups in the Davis and Sacramento area, including Kaiser, UC Davis Health, and Dignity. Check your health plan to see which medical groups are covered by your insurance. If you have an HMO plan, contact your health provider as soon as possible to select a primary care provider; wait times can be long for new patients.

There are various dental offices in Davis and the surrounding area. Some dental providers do not accept dental insurance or require patients to submit reimbursement requests to insurance themselves. It is important to ask about dental insurance coverage when selecting your dental provider.

Eye care, similar to dental care, can vary on costs and insurance coverage. Make sure to ask about coverage and cost when calling eye care providers to make an informed decision.

UC Davis offers some wellness services directly to staff and scholars for no-cost.