Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in California
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in academic research, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences across institutions ranging from R1 universities to major life-sciences campuses. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers such as UC San Francisco, Stanford University, and Salk Institute for Biological Studies maintain large and ongoing postdoctoral programs. The most in-demand specialties are computational biology, neuroscience, and cancer biology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Our dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff are driven by a common mission: Contribute to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting-edge research.
The laboratory of Dr. Adam de Smith in the Department of Pediatrics is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to study the etiology and early-life origins of childhood acute leukemia. The de Smith lab uses molecular and epidemiological methodologies to advance our understanding of the germline genetic risk, somatic drivers, and early-life origins of childhood leukemia, with the goal of developing strategies for disease prevention.
You will have opportunities to analyze large-scale germline genotyping data, as well as tumor whole-genome sequencing data from childhood leukemia patients to investigate the etiologic role of early-life environmental exposures and the prenatal origins of childhood leukemia, for example in our ReCord Study (https://record.umn.edu).
Your qualifications should include:
- Ph.D. degree in genetics, genetic epidemiology, biological sciences, or a related discipline is required.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in one or more programming languages is essential.
- Evidence of productivity reflected in first author publications in peer-reviewed journals. Ability to conduct independent research and work effectively in a team.
- Experience in conducting human genetics research and analyzing large genetic datasets is preferred.
City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please CLICK HERE.
Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Our dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff are driven by a common mission: Contribute to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting-edge research.
The laboratory of Dr. Adam de Smith in the Department of Pediatrics is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to study the etiology and early-life origins of childhood acute leukemia. The de Smith lab uses molecular and epidemiological methodologies to advance our understanding of the germline genetic risk, somatic drivers, and early-life origins of childhood leukemia, with the goal of developing strategies for disease prevention.
You will have opportunities to analyze large-scale germline genotyping data, as well as tumor whole-genome sequencing data from childhood leukemia patients to investigate the etiologic role of early-life environmental exposures and the prenatal origins of childhood leukemia, for example in our ReCord Study (https://record.umn.edu).
Your qualifications should include:
- Ph.D. degree in genetics, genetic epidemiology, biological sciences, or a related discipline is required.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in one or more programming languages is essential.
- Evidence of productivity reflected in first author publications in peer-reviewed journals. Ability to conduct independent research and work effectively in a team.
- Experience in conducting human genetics research and analyzing large genetic datasets is preferred.
City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please CLICK HERE.
See All 43 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in California
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Find JobsPostdoctoral Research Associate Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research associate jobs across California.
- PhD in a relevant scientific discipline required by the hiring institution or department
- Demonstrated peer-reviewed publication record in the applicable research area
- Hands-on experience with laboratory techniques specific to the posted research program
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for grant writing and team collaboration
- Ability to design, execute, and analyze independent research projects with minimal supervision
- Experience presenting findings at scientific conferences or in departmental seminars
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral research associate in California?
You become a postdoctoral research associate in California by completing a doctoral degree and applying directly to postdoctoral programs at universities, research institutes, or biotechnology companies. California has no state-issued license specific to the postdoctoral role itself. Most positions are secured through faculty connections, institutional postdoctoral affairs offices at UC campuses or Caltech, and published position announcements from research groups actively seeking candidates.
Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in California?
Companies currently hiring postdoctoral research associates in California include Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, City of Hope, and University of California Los Angeles, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's dense concentration of biotech firms, academic medical centers, and national laboratories means postdoctoral openings appear consistently across both traditional university settings and private research organizations throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most postdoctoral research associate jobs?
Los Angeles, Livermore, and Woodland Hills account for the largest share of postdoctoral research associate openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its concentration of UC campuses, Stanford, and the biotech corridor along the Peninsula and South Bay, while San Diego's strength reflects the Torrey Pines research cluster and UC San Diego, and Los Angeles draws volume from UCLA, USC, and Cedars-Sinai.
Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Most postdoctoral research associate work is laboratory-based and requires on-site access to specialized equipment and research teams. About 63% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in computational, bioinformatics, or data-intensive research where wet-lab access is not required.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral research associate in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to postdoctoral training programs at UC campuses, which are structured for researchers completing their PhD with limited independent postdoctoral experience. UC San Francisco, UCLA, and UC San Diego each run formal postdoctoral scholars programs that welcome new graduates, and many California biotech companies such as Genentech and Gilead Sciences offer research associate roles that serve as stepping stones for candidates with doctoral training but no prior postdoc appointment.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in California?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across universities, research institutes, and life-sciences companies. Find roles that fit your research background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 43 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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