Can an MSTP student legally take on a part time job?

[SciFan]

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I am currently on my University's MSTP training grant, which is great. But I have financial obligations such that I really could use a little extra money at the end of every term.

I am in my research phase, and I have the opportunity to take on a part time job that would only require me to work a couple evenings per week -- something I could do easily and without cutting into my research time, especially during the summer when I don't have journal club or teaching responsibilities.

The only thing stopping me is that my MSTP program director has told us we are not allowed to work outside of lab without his permission. I have friends who have worked with his permission, but they have always been research-related jobs. I have other friends who have worked without his permission, too, but they have been jobs where they have been paid under the table.

I wouldn't have moral qualms about taking on a real, non-scientific, taxable-income-generating part-time job without my MSTP director's permission, but only if I was sure that his prohibition of working while on the training grant is simply his preference, and not something that is actually prohibited by the NIH. I have tried to find this information on the NIH website and my own school's website, but have had no success. I know I could always ask someone in the MSTP office at my school, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of trying to do this without them knowing.

In summary, if anyone can tell me, I would love to know:

1. Is there any law or code or NIH policy that specifically states that MSTP students are prohibited from working a part-time job?

2. Prohibited or not; is there any possibility that the IRS or some other government agency would notify the MSTP director or grant administrator at my school that I have been earning income elsewhere?

3. Has anyone out there worked during their time in an MSTP? And if so, do you have any advice for someone who is considering getting started with it?

Thanks for any information you can share with me.

 

[Shifty B]

1. Is there any law or code or NIH policy that specifically states that MSTP students are prohibited from working a part-time job?

I'm not sure but I don't believe that anywhere in the terms of the grant specifically prohibits you from working elsewhere. It's likely your program's policy. With that in mind, you face more possibility of sanctions from your program (such as dismissal from the program) than legal issues. I can't imagine going to court because you were moonlighting on your PhD time.

2. Prohibited or not; is there any possibility that the IRS or some other government agency would notify the MSTP director or grant administrator at my school that I have been earning income elsewhere?

Zero possibility. Different branches of government are simply not that organized. If your program found out it would be because someone either told them or accidentally let it slip. The human element is much more important.

3. Has anyone out there worked during their time in an MSTP? And if so, do you have any advice for someone who is considering getting started with it?

Of the people in my program, a significant portion had some sort of other work to supplement their income. The most popular thing was teaching for Kaplan. I built some web sites and did computer work for a few small companies. Another person I know actually had a consulting arrangement with an outside company. The best advice I have is to do something that takes advantage of your advanced knowledge because it will pay much more. If you're only making $10/hour it would be better for you to spend that extra time on your PhD to try to finish faster.

 

[bd4727]

Yeah from what I remember some programs allow you and others don't. In fact I thought some programs almost encouraged it in that they gave students contacts to MCAT classes and stuff. But anyway, my impression is that it is completely programmatic.

 

[URHere]

1. Is there any law or code or NIH policy that specifically states that MSTP students are prohibited from working a part-time job?

I am not aware of any MSTP blanket rule about outside employment, but I do know that several programs have rules just like your program. The general purpose is to make sure that students do not take on outside jobs, drag out their own training, and benefit financially from the arrangement.

If the job you are interested in is truly a flexible two evening per week commitment, why not just ask your program director for permission? He would be hard-pressed to argue that your part-time work would impinge on your research, especially since some students spend similar hours at the gym or on the basketball court, and you would have no fear of being reprimanded by your program.

2. Prohibited or not; is there any possibility that the IRS or some other government agency would notify the MSTP director or grant administrator at my school that I have been earning income elsewhere?

As far as the IRS is concerned, you are just another student with a "scholarship". They have no desire or reason to contact your program or even to ask you about it unless you are audited. Even in that situation, they would just ask for proof of your stipend/tuition/fee amounts, they would have no legal grounds to lay your financial information at your program director's feet.

3. Has anyone out there worked during their time in an MSTP? And if so, do you have any advice for someone who is considering getting started with it?

I worked part time at a local theatre during my MS1 year, and I've worked for an MCAT company since the beginning of my MS2 year. My only advice would be to make sure that you really have time for what you are taking on. When I worked at the theatre, I didn't have to report until 7pm, but getting home in the early hours of the morning took a toll on my school-time regardless. There are always things like transit time, job-related training, and paperwork to keep in mind.

 

[Vader]

This is a common thing you will run up against during training. There is nothing illegal about it (as in you won't face criminal prosecution), but program directors tend to frown upon anything that takes their trainee's time besides training-related activities.

Unless you signed an explicit agreement to not moonlight (which some residency programs, including my future one make you do), you can do it.

I certainly know people who tutored, worked as TAs, MCAT instructors, etc during the PhD phase of their training, so long as these things did not consume an inordinate amount of time and did not detract from the overall training experience.

 

[gorgias]

Work as a tutor. Easy, flexible hours.