Explore Postdoctoral Scientist Jobs

Find postdoctoral scientist opportunities that build on your doctoral training and advance your research career. Postdoctoral scientists conduct focused research, develop specialized expertise, and contribute to scientific discoveries across universities, hospitals, government agencies, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Browse vetted professional openings on Ladders, including roles with salaries of $100,000 or more.

What Does a Postdoctoral Scientist Do?

A postdoctoral scientist, often called a postdoctoral researcher or postdoc, typically holds a Ph.D. or other relevant doctoral degree and works on research projects after completing graduate study. Responsibilities vary by discipline and employer, but may include designing experiments, analyzing data, publishing findings, preparing grant proposals, collaborating with research teams, and presenting results. Some positions also involve mentoring students or managing laboratory and project activities.

Where Postdoctoral Scientists Work

Postdoctoral scientists work in academic departments, research institutes, medical centers, government laboratories, and private-sector organizations. Roles may focus on areas such as life sciences, biomedical research, chemistry, physics, engineering, data science, or environmental science. Search by specialty, location, and employer to find opportunities aligned with your research background and career goals.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek a doctorate in a relevant field, a strong research record, and experience with methods or tools specific to the position. Critical thinking, clear scientific writing, collaboration, and project management are valuable across disciplines. Review each listing for its required qualifications, research focus, and expectations, since postdoctoral roles can differ substantially in scope and compensation.

Build Your Next Research Career Step

A postdoctoral position can deepen subject-matter expertise, expand your publication record, and help you develop a professional network. For candidates considering leadership, industry, or independent research careers, the right role can offer experience that supports the next move. Explore postdoctoral scientist jobs on Ladders and find vetted opportunities paying $100,000 or more.

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$200K - $280K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI in biology by leading a team to design benchmarks and enhance model performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure quali...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Champion the clinical execution of complex studies, leading scientific oversight and medical monitoring while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and deliver impactful resul...

Ontario, CARemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Empower clinical research by leading studies in infectious diseases, ensuring scientific integrity and collaboration with stakeholders. Drive trial design, monitor data, and support medical activities...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$140K - $270K *

Unlock your potential as a Research Scientist, driving AI innovations in healthcare. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement cutting-edge machine learning models that enhance...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Engineer advanced protein design models and collaborate with experts to innovate in AI Drug Discovery, driving the development of candidate antibody therapeutics through deep learning and systems biol...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Elevate clinical research by assisting with study design, medical monitoring, and compliance to ensure effective execution of clinical trials and contribute positively to patient outcomes in alignment...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Drive clinical innovation by supporting the operational delivery of pivotal studies, collaborating cross-functionally, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Play a key role in the medical m...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $300K *

Join a team that's pioneering AI-driven biological research, developing reinforcement learning methods and generative models. Influence core strategies and work with cutting-edge tech to bridge modeli...

Emeryville, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $124K *

Lead the charge in delivering impactful scientific software demonstrations and training. Collaborate with diverse teams to address customer needs and enhance bioinformatics solutions, driving innovati...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $146K *

Lead the charge in advancing downstream filtration technologies by partnering with customers and internal teams to solve complex bioprocessing challenges, drive technology adoption, and enhance custom...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Transform innovative protein design through advanced AI techniques, enhancing antibody drug discovery. Collaborate across disciplines to maximize efficiency and impact, while leading research that set...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $280K *

Unlock the potential of data as you lead advanced analytical projects, collaborating with experts to enhance mission-critical systems for government clients while driving innovation in machine learnin...

Annapolis, MDRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Support clinical studies by assisting teams with tasks like medical monitoring and protocol management. Collaborate across functions and engage with stakeholders to ensure successful trial outcomes wh...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $155K *

Pioneer your career in cell therapy innovation by leading method transfers and validations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and drive quality in late-stage clinical develo...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $150K *

Join a dynamic team driving Phase 1-3 clinical trials in immunology. Lead scientific execution and medical monitoring, ensuring protocol fulfillment and stakeholder collaboration. Your expertise will...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $180K *

Shape the future of neuroscience by leveraging AI to enhance research methodologies. Collaborate with experts to define benchmarks, analyze data, and ensure AI agents meet rigorous scientific standard...

San Francisco, CARemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$124K - $171K *

Champion advanced machine learning techniques to develop multimodal AI systems in biomedical applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance personalized oncology diagnostics and im...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $175K *

Empower scientific innovation by collaborating within product pods to develop and evaluate real-world evidence agents. Drive impactful research and ensure scientific rigor while partnering with indust...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $120K *

Lead the charge in developing high-quality clinical and regulatory documents, providing scientific expertise, and mentoring junior staff to ensure timely and compliant project delivery while supportin...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$163K - $204K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative machine learning methods for cancer detection, collaborating with experts, and mentoring junior scientists to advance research in multi-cancer early detection us...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by providing expert epidemiological insights into occupational exposures for military aviation and firefighter data sets, driving impactful research and analysis to enhance safety...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$101K - $127K *

Advance cancer research by analyzing high-throughput genomic data, developing algorithms, and collaborating with scientists to enhance bioinformatics tools and pipelines for disease management...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$119K - $163K *

Transform the future of bioinformatics by developing innovative algorithms for analyzing large-scale genomic datasets, collaborating with scientists to drive research from prototype to clinical valida...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of oncology by leading biologics process development and manufacturing. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and quality in clinical-stage products, while mentoring scientist...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in developing and overseeing scientific content across multiple therapeutic areas, ensuring high-quality contributions and strategic client interactions to drive growth and innovation...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is a postdoctoral scientist?question toggle

    A postdoctoral scientist is a researcher who has completed a doctorate and takes on a time-limited research role to gain further expertise, contribute to projects, and develop a career in science or a related field.

  • What qualifications do postdoctoral scientist jobs require?question toggle

    Most positions require a Ph.D. or another relevant doctoral degree, along with research experience suited to the subject area. Specific requirements may include laboratory techniques, analytical tools, publications, or specialized technical knowledge.

  • Where can postdoctoral scientists find jobs?question toggle

    Postdoctoral scientists work at universities, research institutes, hospitals, government laboratories, and private companies. Browse Ladders for vetted professional openings, including roles paying $100,000 or more.

  • What does a postdoctoral scientist do day to day?question toggle

    Daily work depends on the research field and employer. It may include planning and conducting studies, analyzing results, writing papers, collaborating with colleagues, presenting findings, and supporting grant or project work.

  • Are postdoctoral scientist jobs available in industry?question toggle

    Yes. Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical technology, and other research-driven companies hire postdoctoral scientists for specialized research and development work, in addition to academic and public-sector employers.