Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in California
Post Doctoral Fellow jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in life sciences, biomedical research, computer science, and engineering, with opportunities from newly minted PhDs through senior research scientists. The heaviest hiring clusters around the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where institutions like UC San Francisco, Stanford University, and the Salk Institute maintain large, ongoing research programs. The most in-demand specialties are computational biology, oncology research, and machine learning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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JOB SUMMARY:
Contributes quality research outputs and conceptual support to projects. Works on problems of complex and diverse scope where analysis of situation or data requires an in-depth, independent evaluation of intangible variables or of various factors within defined parameters. Determines methods and procedures to carry out assignments and manages data and analysis for the project grant. Provides data management and analyses services. Conducts studies of related literature and research to support the design and implementation of projects and development of reports, ensuring conceptual relevance, comprehensiveness, and currency of information. Writes and publishes articles in peer-reviewed journals/digests that highlight findings from research and experimental activities ensuring consistency with the highest standards of academic publication.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctorate Degree
- 1 year of experience
- Familiar with statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, SAS and or equivalent analytical software)
- Strong scientific problem solving skills, ability to analyze and interpret experimental data, ability to communicate results in a concise manner both verbally and in writing, and have a solid track record of scientific achievement as documented by peer-reviewed scientific journal publications
- Extensive training and at least 1 year experience in relevant research area
- Proficient in internet use and able to conduct literature searches using search engines such as Psych Info and Pub Med
- Background in administering diagnostic assessments in relevant research area
The current salary range for this position is $24.26 to $33.36
Rady Children’s Hospital is committed to compensation that is externally competitive and internally equitable. We demonstrate this commitment by conducting regular market reviews to remain competitive with organizations of similar size in the nonprofit, healthcare sector. The range listed above does not represent the full salary range for the position but is the expected hiring range for qualified candidates. Compensation decisions consider a variety of factors including experience, education, licensure, unique skillsets, organizational need, and internal equity. This posting will remain open from the “date posted” until the hiring manager has determined there is a sufficient applicant pool or until the position is filled.
JOB SUMMARY:
Contributes quality research outputs and conceptual support to projects. Works on problems of complex and diverse scope where analysis of situation or data requires an in-depth, independent evaluation of intangible variables or of various factors within defined parameters. Determines methods and procedures to carry out assignments and manages data and analysis for the project grant. Provides data management and analyses services. Conducts studies of related literature and research to support the design and implementation of projects and development of reports, ensuring conceptual relevance, comprehensiveness, and currency of information. Writes and publishes articles in peer-reviewed journals/digests that highlight findings from research and experimental activities ensuring consistency with the highest standards of academic publication.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctorate Degree
- 1 year of experience
- Familiar with statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, SAS and or equivalent analytical software)
- Strong scientific problem solving skills, ability to analyze and interpret experimental data, ability to communicate results in a concise manner both verbally and in writing, and have a solid track record of scientific achievement as documented by peer-reviewed scientific journal publications
- Extensive training and at least 1 year experience in relevant research area
- Proficient in internet use and able to conduct literature searches using search engines such as Psych Info and Pub Med
- Background in administering diagnostic assessments in relevant research area
The current salary range for this position is $24.26 to $33.36
Rady Children’s Hospital is committed to compensation that is externally competitive and internally equitable. We demonstrate this commitment by conducting regular market reviews to remain competitive with organizations of similar size in the nonprofit, healthcare sector. The range listed above does not represent the full salary range for the position but is the expected hiring range for qualified candidates. Compensation decisions consider a variety of factors including experience, education, licensure, unique skillsets, organizational need, and internal equity. This posting will remain open from the “date posted” until the hiring manager has determined there is a sufficient applicant pool or until the position is filled.
See All 47 Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Post Doctoral Fellow JobsPost Doctoral Fellow Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Post Doctoral Fellow Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- City of Hope14
- Calico Life Sciences10
- Genentech10
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies4
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory3
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research20
- Healthcare & Medical Services12
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals7
- Medical Devices5
- Education3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in post doctoral fellow jobs across California.
- PhD in a relevant field required, typically conferred within the last five years
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication in the specialty area
- Experience with discipline-specific laboratory techniques, instruments, or computational tools
- Ability to design, execute, and independently troubleshoot research experiments or studies
- Strong written communication skills for grant proposals, manuscripts, and progress reports
- Capacity to mentor graduate students and collaborate across interdisciplinary research teams
Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a post doctoral fellow in California?
Becoming a post doctoral fellow in California requires a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant field, followed by applying directly to posted fellowship openings at universities, research institutes, or industry labs. California does not require a state-issued license for post doctoral research roles. Candidates typically contact principal investigators whose work aligns with their dissertation research, submit a CV and research statement, and secure an offer letter that establishes the fellowship appointment through the hosting institution's graduate or postdoctoral affairs office.
Which companies hire post doctoral fellows in California?
Employers hiring post doctoral fellows in California right now include City of Hope, Calico Life Sciences, and Genentech, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense concentration of research universities, national laboratories, and biotechnology firms means fellowship openings arise continuously across both academic and industry settings throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most post doctoral fellow jobs?
Duarte, San Francisco, and South San Francisco have the most post doctoral fellow openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its clustering of major research universities, national labs like Lawrence Berkeley, and a large biotech and tech industry presence, while Los Angeles and San Diego draw significant volume from UC campuses, research hospitals, and life sciences companies anchored in those metro corridors.
Are there remote post doctoral fellow jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Post doctoral work is heavily lab- and campus-based, so most positions require physical presence. About 2% of post doctoral fellow openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to be in computational, data-intensive, or dry-lab disciplines such as bioinformatics, machine learning research, or theoretical modeling where bench access is not required.
How can I get hired as a post doctoral fellow in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to principal investigators at UC campuses or California-based research institutes whose funded projects match your doctoral training, even before a position is formally posted. Many UC system labs and institutions such as the Gladstone Institutes and Scripps Research onboard fellows directly from PhD programs. A strong dissertation chapter submitted for publication, a clear research proposal tailored to the lab's active grants, and letters from your doctoral committee give candidates a genuine edge over waiting for open listings.
Where can I find and apply to post doctoral fellow jobs in California?
You can find and apply to post doctoral fellow jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across research universities, biotech firms, hospitals, and independent research institutes. Find roles that fit your training and research focus and apply directly to each opening.
See All 47 Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs