Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in Illinois
Post Doctoral Fellow jobs in Illinois are concentrated in academic research, life sciences, and biomedical sciences, with the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois system driving the majority of openings. Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, and Evanston are the primary hiring hubs, where federally funded labs and major research medical centers sustain demand for fellows in molecular biology, computational science, and materials research. Argonne National Laboratory and the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole's Chicago-area affiliate add further depth to the market, particularly for physical and environmental sciences. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Post Doctoral Fellow JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 8+ Post Doctoral Fellow jobs
Hourly Pay Range
$0.00 - $0.00 - The hourly pay rate offered is determined by a candidate's expertise and years of experience, among other factors.
Position Highlights
Position: Post-Doc Research Fellow-Center for Psychiatric Genetics
Location: Evanston, IL
Compensation: Salary determined by NIH Salary Guidelines ($63,480-$77,076)
Full Time
* Hours: Monday-Friday, standard business hours, onsite
A Brief Overview
Looking for a self-motivated postdoctoral fellow to join the Center for Psychiatric Genetics of Endeavor Health Research Institute, academically affiliated with the University of Chicago. This position will be reporting to a PI/Supervisor who is a Professor at the University of Chicago. The lab’s research focus is on using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons and brain organoids models to study the molecular and neurobiological basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders (Forrest MP. et a., Cell Stem Cell. 2017; Zhang S. et al., Science. 2020; Zhang S. et al., Cell Genomics 2023; Kozlova A. et al., Nature 2025; Liang L. et al., Science 2026). The laboratory work will involve iPSC neural modeling, single cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, CRISPRi/a for gene perturbation, scaled morphological and electrophysiological analyses of neurons and brain organoids. The current position is NIH grant-funded. In this role, you will take a lead in developing brain organoid models carrying disease risk alleles to study molecular and cellular phenotypes relevant to neurodevelopmental and/or neurodegenerative disorders. You will also have the opportunity to take part in single-cell ATAC-seq/RNA-seq experiment and analyses. This position reports directly to the PI. This is a full-time position and is benefits eligible.
What You Will Do
Take a lead in work involved in NIH funded projects
Work independently under supervision of the PI
Ability to prepare scientific manuscripts for publication
Ability to develop scientific proposals to apply for fellowships
Capable of identifying problems that may adversely affect experiment or reporting of results and of taking corrective action or notifying appropriate supervisory personnel
Comply with NorthShore University HealthSystem research guidelines
Follow Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations and local, state, and federal research regulations
Ability to assist in submission of research applications, revisions, periodic progress reports
What You Will Need
Education: PhD or MD required in a science field
Experience: Background in Molecular/Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, or functional Genomics preferred. Experience with neuroscience research, especially iPSC culture and organoid differentiation is preferred.
* Skills: Excellent communication skills
Benefits (For Full Time Or Part Time Positions)
Premium pay such as shift, on call, holiday and more based on an employee’s job (For eligible positions)
Incentive pay for select positions
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
Career Pathways to Promote Professional Growth and Development
Various Medical, Dental, Pet and Vision options
Tuition Reimbursement
Free Parking
Wellness Program Savings Plan
Health Savings Account Options
Retirement Options with Company Match
Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
Community Involvement Opportunities
Endeavor Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 25,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights) Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) – all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence.
When you work for Endeavor Health, you will be part of an organization that encourages its employees to achieve career goals and maximize their professional potential. Endeavor Health is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.
At Endeavor Health, we are united by a shared commitment to working together to create a culture of connection and belonging—each of us bringing different skills and experiences as we deliver safe, seamless, and personal care. Every person, every time. We are committed to fostering an environment where all team members can be their best, learn, and pursue excellence together.
EOE: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets, VEVRRA Federal Contractor.
Hourly Pay Range
$0.00 - $0.00 - The hourly pay rate offered is determined by a candidate's expertise and years of experience, among other factors.
Position Highlights
Position: Post-Doc Research Fellow-Center for Psychiatric Genetics
Location: Evanston, IL
Compensation: Salary determined by NIH Salary Guidelines ($63,480-$77,076)
Full Time
* Hours: Monday-Friday, standard business hours, onsite
A Brief Overview
Looking for a self-motivated postdoctoral fellow to join the Center for Psychiatric Genetics of Endeavor Health Research Institute, academically affiliated with the University of Chicago. This position will be reporting to a PI/Supervisor who is a Professor at the University of Chicago. The lab’s research focus is on using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons and brain organoids models to study the molecular and neurobiological basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders (Forrest MP. et a., Cell Stem Cell. 2017; Zhang S. et al., Science. 2020; Zhang S. et al., Cell Genomics 2023; Kozlova A. et al., Nature 2025; Liang L. et al., Science 2026). The laboratory work will involve iPSC neural modeling, single cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, CRISPRi/a for gene perturbation, scaled morphological and electrophysiological analyses of neurons and brain organoids. The current position is NIH grant-funded. In this role, you will take a lead in developing brain organoid models carrying disease risk alleles to study molecular and cellular phenotypes relevant to neurodevelopmental and/or neurodegenerative disorders. You will also have the opportunity to take part in single-cell ATAC-seq/RNA-seq experiment and analyses. This position reports directly to the PI. This is a full-time position and is benefits eligible.
What You Will Do
Take a lead in work involved in NIH funded projects
Work independently under supervision of the PI
Ability to prepare scientific manuscripts for publication
Ability to develop scientific proposals to apply for fellowships
Capable of identifying problems that may adversely affect experiment or reporting of results and of taking corrective action or notifying appropriate supervisory personnel
Comply with NorthShore University HealthSystem research guidelines
Follow Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations and local, state, and federal research regulations
Ability to assist in submission of research applications, revisions, periodic progress reports
What You Will Need
Education: PhD or MD required in a science field
Experience: Background in Molecular/Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, or functional Genomics preferred. Experience with neuroscience research, especially iPSC culture and organoid differentiation is preferred.
* Skills: Excellent communication skills
Benefits (For Full Time Or Part Time Positions)
Premium pay such as shift, on call, holiday and more based on an employee’s job (For eligible positions)
Incentive pay for select positions
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
Career Pathways to Promote Professional Growth and Development
Various Medical, Dental, Pet and Vision options
Tuition Reimbursement
Free Parking
Wellness Program Savings Plan
Health Savings Account Options
Retirement Options with Company Match
Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
Community Involvement Opportunities
Endeavor Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 25,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights) Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) – all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence.
When you work for Endeavor Health, you will be part of an organization that encourages its employees to achieve career goals and maximize their professional potential. Endeavor Health is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.
At Endeavor Health, we are united by a shared commitment to working together to create a culture of connection and belonging—each of us bringing different skills and experiences as we deliver safe, seamless, and personal care. Every person, every time. We are committed to fostering an environment where all team members can be their best, learn, and pursue excellence together.
EOE: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets, VEVRRA Federal Contractor.
See All 8 Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Post Doctoral Fellow JobsPost Doctoral Fellow Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Post Doctoral Fellow Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in post doctoral fellow jobs across Illinois.
- PhD completed or conferred before the fellowship start date in a relevant discipline
- Demonstrated peer-reviewed publication record in the field of specialization
- Experience with grant writing or funded independent research projects
- Proficiency in discipline-specific laboratory techniques, computational tools, or data analysis methods
- Strong record of presenting research at regional or national conferences
- Ability to mentor graduate students and contribute to departmental teaching as needed
Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a post doctoral fellow in Illinois?
You become a post doctoral fellow in Illinois by earning a doctoral degree and then applying directly to university departments, research institutes, or national laboratories that post fellowship openings. Illinois does not require a state license for post doctoral research roles. Strong candidates in Illinois secure positions by identifying faculty whose research aligns with their dissertation work, reaching out proactively, and submitting a tailored cover letter, CV, and writing samples before or alongside any formal application.
Which companies hire post doctoral fellows in Illinois?
Illinois post doctoral fellow roles are posted by Endeavor Health, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, and Advocate Aurora Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's deep concentration of research universities, academic medical centers, and federally funded national laboratories makes it one of the more active states for post doctoral hiring in the country.
Which Illinois cities have the most post doctoral fellow jobs?
Chicago, Evanston, and Skokie are the cities with the most post doctoral fellow openings in Illinois. Chicago leads because of its cluster of research universities and academic medical centers, while Urbana-Champaign is driven by the flagship University of Illinois campus and Evanston by Northwestern University's research programs.
Are there remote post doctoral fellow jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of post doctoral fellow openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how heavily the role depends on laboratory access, shared equipment, and direct faculty mentorship. Computational, data science, and certain social science fellowships are the sub-areas most likely to allow partial remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a post doctoral fellow in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is applying during the final year of your PhD before the degree is formally conferred, since most Illinois institutions accept candidates who are ABD. The University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Illinois system all post fellowship openings that accept incoming PhDs and often run structured onboarding cohorts. Lateral entry from a research scientist or staff scientist role at an Illinois hospital or national lab is another common route, especially when paired with at least one first-author publication or a funded grant application.
Where can I find and apply to post doctoral fellow jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to post doctoral fellow jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across research universities, medical centers, and national laboratories. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your research background and career stage, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 8 Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs