Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Missouri
Postdoctoral associate jobs in Missouri are concentrated in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, where research universities, medical schools, and life sciences employers drive consistent demand at both early-career and senior postdoc levels. Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri, and Stowers Institute for Medical Research are among the most active and enduring employers in the state. The most in-demand specialties are biomedical research, oncology, and computational biology. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Postdoctoral Associate JobsOverview
Open roles15
Top employerWashington University in St. Louis
Top citySt. Louis, MO
Work type100% On-site
Top industryEducation
Companies hiring2
Showing 5 of 15+ Postdoctoral Associate jobs
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
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Added 3d ago
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 3d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
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Added 4d ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
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Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
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Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiology
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Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiology
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Added 3d ago
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center·St. Louis, Missouri
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
51-200 employees
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- Independently designs and conducts research, develops and presents reports based on research findings.
- Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products.
- Maintains knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
- Assists PI in writing research reports, grants and proposals, and may serve as co-PI.
- Mentors graduate students and junior lab members on research techniques and protocols.
- Makes contributions to scientific publications and participates in conferences in their fields.
- Writes and assembles sections of patent applications and/or scientific papers of broad scope within and outside their immediate area of expertise.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and direct independent research
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; capable of handling complex and multidisciplinary datasets
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for publications, proposals, and team leadership
- Experience mentoring students or junior staff in research settings
- Track record of scholarly publications and contributions to the scientific community
- Understanding of intellectual property, scientific publishing, and research grant processes
- Capacity to think creatively and strategically about new research directions
- Collaborative spirit and the ability to engage with cross-functional and cross-disciplinary teams
- Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- CRISPR/Cas design and multiplexed editing in crop species, construct assembly, and molecular characterization of edited and transgenic lines.
- Plant transformation, tissue culture, and regeneration, including work with recalcitrant genotypes and morphogenic regulator systems.
- Trait engineering through overexpression, targeted knockout, and gene stacking (e.g., disease resistance, biofortification).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- Quantitative and population genetics, GWAS, genomic and phenomic prediction, and pangenome-enabled analyses.
- Machine learning and computer vision applied to image, genomic, environmental, and process data — including predictive models for transformation efficiency and decision-support tools.
- Bioinformatics and data integration across multimodal datasets, with strong programming skills (e.g., Python, R) and reproducible workflows.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- In-field high-throughput phenotyping to evaluate developmental timing and trajectories, reproductive and vegetative yield, below-ground architecture and root anatomy, and senescence dynamics.
- Analytical characterization of grain and root quality — protein digestibility, amino acid profiling, mineral and phytate content, and processing effects.
- Plant–microbe interactions, including plant-virus interactions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and engineered microbial consortia for soil health.
- Crop physiology related to regenerative agriculture systems, nutrient-use efficiency, water-use efficiency, drought and heat resilience, and stress tolerance.
- Plant–soil interface dynamics, including the characterization of soil structure, chemical composition, and gas flux profiles within diverse cash and cover crop systems.
Qualifications
- A PhD in plant biology, molecular biology, genetics, plant breeding, physiology, biochemistry, computational biology, agricultural engineering, agroecology, or a closely related field.
- A record of scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications.
- Specific requirements vary by laboratory; relevant hands-on experience in one or more of the skill areas above is expected for each position.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 3d ago51-200 employees
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- Independently designs and conducts research, develops and presents reports based on research findings.
- Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products.
- Maintains knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
- Assists PI in writing research reports, grants and proposals, and may serve as co-PI.
- Mentors graduate students and junior lab members on research techniques and protocols.
- Makes contributions to scientific publications and participates in conferences in their fields.
- Writes and assembles sections of patent applications and/or scientific papers of broad scope within and outside their immediate area of expertise.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and direct independent research
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; capable of handling complex and multidisciplinary datasets
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for publications, proposals, and team leadership
- Experience mentoring students or junior staff in research settings
- Track record of scholarly publications and contributions to the scientific community
- Understanding of intellectual property, scientific publishing, and research grant processes
- Capacity to think creatively and strategically about new research directions
- Collaborative spirit and the ability to engage with cross-functional and cross-disciplinary teams
- Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- CRISPR/Cas design and multiplexed editing in crop species, construct assembly, and molecular characterization of edited and transgenic lines.
- Plant transformation, tissue culture, and regeneration, including work with recalcitrant genotypes and morphogenic regulator systems.
- Trait engineering through overexpression, targeted knockout, and gene stacking (e.g., disease resistance, biofortification).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- Quantitative and population genetics, GWAS, genomic and phenomic prediction, and pangenome-enabled analyses.
- Machine learning and computer vision applied to image, genomic, environmental, and process data — including predictive models for transformation efficiency and decision-support tools.
- Bioinformatics and data integration across multimodal datasets, with strong programming skills (e.g., Python, R) and reproducible workflows.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- In-field high-throughput phenotyping to evaluate developmental timing and trajectories, reproductive and vegetative yield, below-ground architecture and root anatomy, and senescence dynamics.
- Analytical characterization of grain and root quality — protein digestibility, amino acid profiling, mineral and phytate content, and processing effects.
- Plant–microbe interactions, including plant-virus interactions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and engineered microbial consortia for soil health.
- Crop physiology related to regenerative agriculture systems, nutrient-use efficiency, water-use efficiency, drought and heat resilience, and stress tolerance.
- Plant–soil interface dynamics, including the characterization of soil structure, chemical composition, and gas flux profiles within diverse cash and cover crop systems.
Qualifications
- A PhD in plant biology, molecular biology, genetics, plant breeding, physiology, biochemistry, computational biology, agricultural engineering, agroecology, or a closely related field.
- A record of scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications.
- Specific requirements vary by laboratory; relevant hands-on experience in one or more of the skill areas above is expected for each position.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
See All 15 Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Missouri
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Find Postdoctoral Associate JobsPostdoctoral Associate Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Associate Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral associate jobs across Missouri.
- Doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant scientific or research discipline
- Prior research experience in a laboratory or academic setting within the specialty area
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication or manuscript submission in the field
- Strong technical proficiency in research methodologies relevant to the position's discipline
- Ability to design, conduct, and interpret independent experiments with minimal supervision
- Effective written and oral communication skills for presenting findings to research teams
Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral associate in Missouri?
You become a postdoctoral associate in Missouri by earning a doctoral degree and then applying directly to a university, medical institution, or independent research organization. No state-issued license is required for the role itself. Most Missouri postdoc positions are posted through institutional research offices at places like Washington University in St. Louis or the University of Missouri, and candidates apply with a CV, research statement, and faculty recommendations.
Which companies hire postdoctoral associates in Missouri?
Companies currently hiring postdoctoral associates in Missouri include Washington University in St. Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Missouri's strong concentration of academic medical centers and independent research institutes means postdoc openings appear year-round across both university and private-sector settings.
Which Missouri cities have the most postdoctoral associate jobs?
St. Louis have the most postdoctoral associate openings in Missouri. St. Louis dominates because of its density of research universities, teaching hospitals, and life sciences firms, while Columbia is driven by the University of Missouri's flagship campus, and Kansas City draws from its growing biomedical and children's health research institutions.
Are there remote postdoctoral associate jobs in Missouri?
Yes, but they're rare. Postdoctoral associate work is largely lab-based and hands-on, making fully remote arrangements uncommon. About 0% of postdoctoral associate openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be in computational biology, bioinformatics, or data-intensive research that does not require bench work.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral associate in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly after completing your doctoral program, often with a faculty sponsor already identified during your PhD. Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri both post dedicated new-investigator postdoc openings through their research offices. Candidates who have rotated through a lab, contributed to a published manuscript, or hold a graduate research assistantship in a relevant discipline are competitive even without a prior postdoc appointment.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral associate jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral associate jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current Missouri openings across research institutions and private employers. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your discipline and experience, and apply directly through each listing.
See All 15 Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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