Postdoctoral Scientist Jobs

Explore postdoctoral scientist jobs for experienced researchers ready to advance scientific discovery and grow their careers. Postdoctoral scientists conduct specialized research, analyze data, publish findings, and collaborate with academic, clinical, government, and industry teams. Browse vetted opportunities on Ladders, including roles with compensation of $100,000 or more.

What Does a Postdoctoral Scientist Do?

Postdoctoral scientists typically lead or contribute to research projects after completing a doctoral degree. Depending on the role and field, responsibilities may include designing experiments, developing research methods, managing laboratory or computational workflows, interpreting results, preparing manuscripts and grant materials, and presenting findings. Many positions also involve mentoring students or coordinating with multidisciplinary collaborators.

Where Postdoctoral Scientists Work

Postdoctoral scientists work in universities, research institutes, hospitals, government laboratories, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, and other research-focused employers. Their specialties may include molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, genetics, chemistry, biomedical engineering, data science, and related fields. Industry and translational research roles can offer opportunities to apply scientific expertise to product development and real-world challenges.

Qualifications and Career Development

Most postdoctoral scientist roles require a Ph.D. or another relevant doctoral degree, along with research experience aligned to the position. Employers may seek expertise in particular techniques, instruments, programming languages, or subject areas, as well as strong communication and project-management skills. A postdoctoral appointment can deepen subject-matter expertise and build a foundation for careers in academia, industry, government, and scientific leadership.

Find Postdoctoral Scientist Opportunities on Ladders

Use Ladders to discover vetted professional research opportunities, review role requirements, and compare positions that match your experience and goals. Search postdoctoral scientist jobs by specialty, employer, or location to find opportunities aligned with your next career step. Compensation and eligibility vary by posting, so review each listing for current details.

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$120K - $165K *

Innovate and develop advanced inspection systems while analyzing data and designing experiments. Collaborate with teams to define specifications, troubleshoot issues, and guide junior scientists in a...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$75K - $90K *

Develop and optimize cell-based assays while analyzing data to enhance product efficacy. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust experimental design and execution, contributing to qua...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of fermentation-derived products through strategic leadership in downstream processing. Guide a team to develop and scale up purification processes, ensuring robust and cost-effective...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$66K - $148K *

Lead the development and management of reference standards, ensuring compliance and technical integrity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality materials for pharmaceutical ap...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Help us advance new therapies by designing and executing bioanalytical methods. This role requires expertise in LC/MS techniques, leading projects across various client programs while ensuring complia...

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$121K - $159K *

Develop and validate screening technologies to enhance nanoparticle delivery systems. Collaborate across disciplines to improve molecular technologies and drive scientific discoveries for therapeutic...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$106K - $176K *

Champion innovative solid-state chemistry solutions to advance drug development, leading multidisciplinary teams to define optimal drug substance forms and particle properties, ensuring successful mar...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$85K - $115K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of laboratory automation and cell line development. Join a dynamic team to optimize high-throughput workflows and enhance CHO cell line performance through innovat...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$167K - $260K *

Partner with us to develop cutting-edge AI-powered climate models, leveraging historical data for accurate multidecadal forecasts. Collaborate with a skilled team and advance innovative research in cl...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Develop advanced endometrial model systems to explore implantation mechanisms, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to translate reproductive biology into innovative technologies for ex utero ge...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Innovate in advanced diffusion models for text-to-video generation, leading research initiatives to improve quality and consistency, while collaborating with teams to integrate breakthroughs into prod...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Empower research by leveraging LLMs to design software and systems. You'll shape projects spanning maintenance to groundbreaking scientific exploration, enhancing researcher capabilities while cultiva...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in advancing human health through innovative research, conducting complex clinical studies, and developing methodologies to improve disease understanding and treatment outcomes...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$113K - $121K *

Create cutting-edge EUV source technologies through hands-on experimentation, collaboration, and prototype development, advancing both new and existing systems while driving innovation and performance...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Advance the field of research by applying simple yet scalable methods on large datasets, optimizing for efficiency and effectiveness in diverse multimodal applications. Collaborate closely with expert...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$148K - $168K *

Drive innovative pharmacology research to optimize pipeline assets through in vivo and in vitro studies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support drug development and IND-enabling studies, e...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Drive the development and validation of analytical methods for drug formulation. Manage projects in a GMP laboratory, support stability testing, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate with cross-fu...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Drive impactful scientific communication by overseeing content development across therapeutic areas, ensuring strategic alignment with client goals while managing a team and collaborating with various...

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$115K - $230K *

Join a dynamic team to advance quantum research, providing technical expertise and leadership in cutting-edge projects. Collaborate on innovative solutions in quantum information science, ensuring ali...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$139K - $176K *

Advance analytical development by leading method validation, troubleshooting, and regulatory submissions for APIs and drug products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and ensure compliance with...

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$81K - $116K *

Optimize bioanalytical methods and lead complex studies to deliver high-quality scientific solutions. Collaborate with diverse teams to tackle technical challenges and communicate findings effectively...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$148K - $240K *

Join a team that's revolutionizing drug discovery through advanced ML and physics-based infrastructure. Collaborate with scientists to build a robust provenance system that enhances reproducibility an...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $165K *

Shape the future of scientific collaboration by managing complex proteostasis projects. Coordinate reporting, compliance, and communication among diverse teams to ensure successful outcomes and innova...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$69K - $99K *

Grow your career with us to support clinical trial execution, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while collaborating with teams to drive innovative medicines from concept to reality...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$124K - $150K *

Lead the charge in advancing viral vector platform development, optimizing processes for groundbreaking cell therapies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and support clinical...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What qualifications are commonly required for postdoctoral scientist jobs?question toggle

    Most positions require a Ph.D. or a related doctoral degree and research experience relevant to the role. Specific technical, computational, or subject-area expertise may also be required.

  • Where can postdoctoral scientists find jobs?question toggle

    Postdoctoral scientists work at universities, research institutes, hospitals, government laboratories, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, and other research-focused employers.

  • What are typical postdoctoral scientist responsibilities?question toggle

    Responsibilities may include designing and conducting research, analyzing data, maintaining research workflows, writing papers or grant materials, presenting findings, and collaborating with colleagues.

  • Can postdoctoral scientist roles pay $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Some postdoctoral scientist and related research positions may meet or exceed $100,000, depending on the employer, location, specialty, and seniority. Review individual job listings for compensation details.

  • How can I find a postdoctoral scientist job on Ladders?question toggle

    Search Ladders for postdoctoral scientist roles and refine your search by specialty, employer, or location. Review each listing’s qualifications, responsibilities, and compensation information.