Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Massachusetts
Postdoctoral Associate jobs in Massachusetts are concentrated in biomedical research, life sciences, and computational biology, with the state consistently ranking among the most active markets in the country for early-career researchers. Boston, Cambridge, and Worcester anchor most of the hiring, where institutions like Harvard University, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital maintain large and ongoing postdoctoral programs. The most in-demand specialties right now are cancer biology, neuroscience, and structural biology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Working at MIT offers opportunities that just aren’t found anywhere else, including generous and unique benefits that help to ensure that MIT employees are healthy, supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work/life balance.
We welcome people from all walks of life to bring their talent, ideas, and experience to our community. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds – like yours. If you want to be part of our exceptional, multicultural, collaborative, and inclusive community, then take a look at this opportunity.
MIT provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a full time position at the time of posting (if you are applying for a part time salaried job, you will need to prorate the posted pay range). The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.
- Job Number: 25959
- Functional Area: Research - Scientific
- Department: Biology
- School Area: Science
- Pay Range Minimum: $73,308
- Pay Range Maximum: $90,000
- Employment Type: Full-Time
- Employment Category: Exempt
- Visa Sponsorship Available: Yes
- Schedule:
- Pay Grade: No Grade
Posting Description
POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, KEATING LAB, Biology, to join a small, collaborative peptide design team working at the interface of computation and experiment. Working closely with the Principal Investigator and a computational Research Scientist, the Postdoctoral Associate will serve as the experimental lead on a peptide design campaign that will involve driving the synthesis and testing of designed peptides, evaluating early hits with assays developed and run independently, and reporting findings to colleagues and collaborators through presentations, publications, and patents. Results and ideas generated in this role will feed directly into peptide optimization and help refine the design methodology. The Keating Lab is a collaborative and stimulating research environment with strong connections between wet and dry lab, bringing together computational biologists building new methods at the interface of structural biology and machine learning and experimentalists studying how proteins recognize their binding partners across a wide range of biological systems.
The full job description is available, here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:7d84d117-3ccf-4b4c-8003-d26734ef13b3
Job Requirements
REQUIRED: Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology, or a related field; record of original scholarship (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, preprints, patents); proven expertiseand success in executing and interpreting in vitro biophysical assays (SPR, BLI, ITC, fluorescence polarization, etc.); strong understanding of binding kinetics, thermodynamics, and macromolecular structure; ability to drive research independently while collaborating effectively within a team, and a track record of meeting deadlines; and fluency in English for scientific communication. PREFERRED: Experience working with peptides; peptide modification and unnatural amino acids; and protein or peptide design experience.
8/14/2026
Working at MIT offers opportunities that just aren’t found anywhere else, including generous and unique benefits that help to ensure that MIT employees are healthy, supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work/life balance.
We welcome people from all walks of life to bring their talent, ideas, and experience to our community. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds – like yours. If you want to be part of our exceptional, multicultural, collaborative, and inclusive community, then take a look at this opportunity.
MIT provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a full time position at the time of posting (if you are applying for a part time salaried job, you will need to prorate the posted pay range). The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.
- Job Number: 25959
- Functional Area: Research - Scientific
- Department: Biology
- School Area: Science
- Pay Range Minimum: $73,308
- Pay Range Maximum: $90,000
- Employment Type: Full-Time
- Employment Category: Exempt
- Visa Sponsorship Available: Yes
- Schedule:
- Pay Grade: No Grade
Posting Description
POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, KEATING LAB, Biology, to join a small, collaborative peptide design team working at the interface of computation and experiment. Working closely with the Principal Investigator and a computational Research Scientist, the Postdoctoral Associate will serve as the experimental lead on a peptide design campaign that will involve driving the synthesis and testing of designed peptides, evaluating early hits with assays developed and run independently, and reporting findings to colleagues and collaborators through presentations, publications, and patents. Results and ideas generated in this role will feed directly into peptide optimization and help refine the design methodology. The Keating Lab is a collaborative and stimulating research environment with strong connections between wet and dry lab, bringing together computational biologists building new methods at the interface of structural biology and machine learning and experimentalists studying how proteins recognize their binding partners across a wide range of biological systems.
The full job description is available, here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:7d84d117-3ccf-4b4c-8003-d26734ef13b3
Job Requirements
REQUIRED: Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology, or a related field; record of original scholarship (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, preprints, patents); proven expertiseand success in executing and interpreting in vitro biophysical assays (SPR, BLI, ITC, fluorescence polarization, etc.); strong understanding of binding kinetics, thermodynamics, and macromolecular structure; ability to drive research independently while collaborating effectively within a team, and a track record of meeting deadlines; and fluency in English for scientific communication. PREFERRED: Experience working with peptides; peptide modification and unnatural amino acids; and protein or peptide design experience.
8/14/2026
See All 14 Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Associate Job Market in Massachusetts
A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.
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What Massachusetts Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral associate jobs across Massachusetts.
- PhD in a relevant scientific discipline completed before the start date
- Demonstrated peer-reviewed publication record in the field of research
- Experience with grant writing or fellowship application processes
- Proficiency in specialized laboratory techniques such as CRISPR, mass spectrometry, or advanced imaging
- Strong collaborative skills for working within a principal investigator's research group
- Experience mentoring graduate students or junior laboratory members
Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral associate in Massachusetts?
You become a postdoctoral associate in Massachusetts by completing a doctoral degree and then applying directly to principal investigators or institutional postdoctoral offices at universities, research hospitals, or biotechnology companies. Massachusetts does not require a state-issued license for postdoctoral research roles. Most positions are filled through direct academic networking, institutional postdoctoral portals at institutions like Harvard, MIT, and UMass, and national research job boards. Strong publication output and recommendation letters from your doctoral advisor are the most important factors in securing an appointment.
Which companies hire postdoctoral associates in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts postdoctoral associate roles are posted by Umass Lowell, Broad Institute, and Boston University and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Massachusetts's dense concentration of research universities, academic medical centers, and life sciences companies along Route 128 and the Kendall Square corridor makes it one of the most active states for postdoctoral hiring nationwide.
Which Massachusetts cities have the most postdoctoral associate jobs?
Cambridge, Boston, and Lowell have the most postdoctoral associate openings in Massachusetts. Boston and Cambridge dominate because they are home to Harvard, MIT, the Broad Institute, and a dense cluster of teaching hospitals and biotechnology firms, while Worcester draws significant postdoctoral hiring through UMass Chan Medical School and the growing life sciences presence in that metro.
Are there remote postdoctoral associate jobs in Massachusetts?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of postdoctoral associate openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which reflects how heavily the role depends on laboratory access, specialized equipment, and in-person mentorship with a principal investigator. The portions of postdoctoral work most likely to be conducted remotely include computational analysis, bioinformatics, data modeling, and manuscript preparation.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral associate in Massachusetts with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to postdoctoral training programs at Massachusetts academic medical centers and research universities before your doctoral defense, since many positions are offered on a pending-degree basis. Institutions like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Whitehead Institute run structured postdoctoral programs that actively recruit candidates finishing their PhD. Building a relationship with a potential principal investigator through conference presentations or collaborative projects before you finish your degree significantly improves your chances, as does having at least one first-author manuscript in progress.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral associate jobs in Massachusetts?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral associate jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings across research institutions, biotechnology companies, and academic medical centers. Find the roles that fit your research focus and apply directly through the listings.
See All 14 Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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