Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs
Postdoctoral research associate jobs are open across universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and government laboratories, from entry-level postdoc to senior research associate, with specializations in molecular biology, computational science, and materials research. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health – San Francisco VA / UCSF
San Francisco VA Health Care System | University of California, San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, CaliforniaAppointment: Full-time, two-year fellowshipApplication cycle: 2027–2028Compensation: [Insert approved VA fellowship stipend range]
About the Fellowship
The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is accepting applications for its Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health.
This interdisciplinary, two-year fellowship prepares physicians, psychologists, and other doctoral-level researchers for independent careers in women’s health research, clinical care, and academic medicine.
Fellows receive individualized mentorship from established investigators across multiple research programs at SFVAHCS and UCSF. The program is designed to support each fellow’s research interests, scientific development, and long-term career goals.
Research Areas
Opportunities span a wide range of women’s health topics, including:
- Reproductive and midlife health: Menopause, ovarian aging, reproductive health, and hormonal influences on health.
- Cancer and prevention: Breast cancer risk, screening, prevention, and epidemiology.
- Mental health: PTSD, depression, trauma exposure, substance use, and mental health treatment.
- Cardiovascular and metabolic health: Cardiovascular risk, aging, osteoporosis, and related health outcomes.
- Sleep and biological mechanisms: Insomnia, psychophysiology, neuroendocrinology, inflammation, and sex differences in health.
- Other women’s health concerns: Urinary incontinence, chronic pain, and related conditions.
Fellows can pursue projects within a single research area or collaborate across disciplines, drawing on existing datasets, ongoing studies, and opportunities for new research.
Fellowship Training and Career Development
The fellowship provides mentored research and education, with clinical training opportunities for eligible fellows.
Training opportunities include:
- Developing and conducting independent research projects.
- Analyzing clinical, epidemiological, and biological datasets.
- Preparing first-author manuscripts and scientific presentations.
- Developing competitive research grants and career development awards.
- Participating in research seminars, workshops, and UCSF coursework.
- Receiving individualized mentorship and guidance toward an independent academic or research career.
Clinically qualified fellows may spend up to 25% of their time in supervised clinical activities, including care for women Veterans, depending on professional background and individualized training goals.
Mentorship and Research Environment
The program is co-directed by Karla Kerlikowske, MD, and Sabra Inslicht, PhD, and provides access to multidisciplinary faculty mentors across SFVAHCS and UCSF.
The San Francisco VA offers a substantial research infrastructure, a strong academic partnership with UCSF, and opportunities to collaborate with investigators across women’s health, primary care, psychiatry, epidemiology, and clinical research.
Fellows are encouraged to pursue their own research interests and identify mentors whose expertise best aligns with their goals.
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- An MD with completed approved residency training; or
- A PhD in clinical or counseling psychology, nursing, neuroscience, epidemiology, health psychology, data science, or another relevant allied health field.
Clinical and counseling psychology applicants must have completed an APA-accredited doctoral program and APA-accredited internship.
All doctoral requirements must be completed before the fellowship begins. U.S. citizenship is required for the VA appointment.
Both clinical and nonclinical researchers are encouraged to apply.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:
- A letter of interest describing research experience, research interests, career goals, and potential faculty mentor(s).
- A curriculum vitae.
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from current or recent research mentors.
Please combine the letter of interest and CV into a single PDF. Recommendation letters should be sent directly by the recommenders in accordance with program instructions.
For psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience applicants:
Sabra Inslicht, PhD: Sabra.Inslicht@va.gov
For medicine and other allied health applicants:
Karla Kerlikowske, MD: Karla.Kerlikowske@va.gov
For further information about the fellowship, visit:
https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/fellowship/
Applications are being accepted for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle. Contact the program for current review dates.
Help advance women’s health research and improve care for women Veterans through interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and clinical training.
Pay: $68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
- University of Arizona43
- Northeastern University38
- Los Alamos National Laboratory33
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital32
- Washington University in St. Louis25
Top Industries Hiring
- Education85
- Healthcare & Medical Services16
- Science & Research15
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals7
- Non-Profit & Social Services2
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research associate jobs.
- PhD in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication or manuscript preparation
- Proficiency in laboratory techniques specific to the hiring lab's research area
- Experience with data analysis tools such as Python, R, MATLAB, or ImageJ
- Ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for grant writing and presentations
Tips for Your Postdoctoral Research Associate Job Search
Tailor your CV to each lab's focus
Postdoc applications live or die on specificity. Mirror the principal investigator's active research agenda in your cover letter and reorder your publications list so the work most relevant to that lab's current grants appears first.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists postdoctoral research associate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Lead your CV with your dissertation output
Hiring committees scan for publications, preprints, and conference presentations before reading anything else. List first-author papers at the top of your CV, including accepted manuscripts and preprints, not just final published versions.
Contact principal investigators directly before applying
Many postdoc positions are filled through direct outreach before a formal listing goes live. Email the PI with a concise research statement tied to a specific paper they published in the last two years, then follow up through the official application portal.
Prepare a chalk talk for the interview stage
Most postdoc interviews include a research seminar and a chalk talk where you outline your independent research agenda. Practice articulating two or three original project ideas that complement the lab's existing work without duplicating it.
Negotiate startup resources, not just stipend
When you receive an offer, ask about access to core facilities, conference travel funding, and authorship norms before you accept. These shape your productivity and your publication record far more than a small stipend difference.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most postdoctoral research associates?
The companies hiring the most postdoctoral research associates right now include University of Arizona, Northeastern University, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, with the largest share of openings in Massachusetts, Texas, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Research universities and national laboratories tend to post the highest volume of openings at any given time.
How many postdoctoral research associate jobs are remote?
About 32% of postdoctoral research associate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most lab-based research. Computational, bioinformatics, and data-science-focused postdoc roles are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, since their work centers on software and modeling rather than bench work.
How do you become a postdoctoral research associate?
You become a postdoctoral research associate by completing a doctoral degree, then securing a position in a research group led by a principal investigator in your field. The process involves identifying labs whose work aligns with your dissertation research, submitting a CV and research statement, interviewing with the PI and lab members, and negotiating a start date and project scope before joining.
Can you get a postdoctoral research associate position with no prior postdoc experience?
Yes, a postdoc is itself an entry-level position for researchers who have just completed their PhD, so prior postdoc experience is not expected. What matters most is the strength of your doctoral research, your publications or manuscripts in progress, strong letters from your dissertation committee, and a clear alignment between your expertise and the hiring lab's active projects.
What does the postdoctoral research associate interview process look like?
The interview process typically involves an initial call with the principal investigator, followed by an in-person or virtual visit that includes a research seminar where you present your doctoral work and a chalk talk where you outline future research directions. You will also meet with other lab members and sometimes department faculty, who assess how well your research vision fits the lab's goals and funding priorities.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your research background and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits your goals and qualifications.
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