Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Los Angeles are concentrated at research universities and medical centers in Westwood, the Health Sciences Campus near Downtown, and the Pasadena corridor, with demand driven by biomedical sciences, neuroscience, and physical sciences. Employers actively hiring include University of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and University of California Los Angeles. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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A position is open for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research laboratory of Dr. Annie Hiniker at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiniker is the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation Endowed Associate Professor in Neuropathology and Director of the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Neuropathology Core.
This NIH-funded research project is a close collaboration with Dr. Allison Kraus’s laboratory at Case Western Reserve University and will study when and where tau seeding emerges in the normal human brain and how tau seeds are modified by age, co-pathologies, inflammatory responses, and regional molecular changes. The project will combine detailed human neuropathology with RT-QuIC seeding assays (performed at the Kraus lab), biochemical characterization, transcriptomic analysis, and multiomic approaches. Applicants should hold, or soon receive, a Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related discipline.
Research Description
The Hiniker lab uses human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and molecular profiling to identify mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease. Broadly, the lab focuses on protein aggregation and degradation in neurodegenerative diseases (please see our lab website). A major focus of this project is to define the distribution, biochemical features, and cellular correlates of tau seeds across aging and disease states, and to define the features of pathogenic tau seeds that drive neurodegenerative disease.
Research Activity
- Studies using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts
- Neuropathologic analysis via immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence of tau, a-synuclein, TDP-43, Ab, and related changes
- Integration of neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays
- Biochemistry and molecular biology of human brain tissue
- Generatio and analysis of multiomic (transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, and related molecular) datasets
- Preparation of manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations
Salary Range:
The annual base salary range for this position is $$70,304- $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.“
Minimum Education: PhD or equivalent doctorate acquired within the previous 4 years. Preferred Qualifications: PhD or equivalent doctorate in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or related areas: • Strong publication record • Experience with neurodegenerative disease research • Experience with transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, or related molecular datasets
A position is open for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research laboratory of Dr. Annie Hiniker at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiniker is the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation Endowed Associate Professor in Neuropathology and Director of the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Neuropathology Core.
This NIH-funded research project is a close collaboration with Dr. Allison Kraus’s laboratory at Case Western Reserve University and will study when and where tau seeding emerges in the normal human brain and how tau seeds are modified by age, co-pathologies, inflammatory responses, and regional molecular changes. The project will combine detailed human neuropathology with RT-QuIC seeding assays (performed at the Kraus lab), biochemical characterization, transcriptomic analysis, and multiomic approaches. Applicants should hold, or soon receive, a Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related discipline.
Research Description
The Hiniker lab uses human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and molecular profiling to identify mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease. Broadly, the lab focuses on protein aggregation and degradation in neurodegenerative diseases (please see our lab website). A major focus of this project is to define the distribution, biochemical features, and cellular correlates of tau seeds across aging and disease states, and to define the features of pathogenic tau seeds that drive neurodegenerative disease.
Research Activity
- Studies using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts
- Neuropathologic analysis via immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence of tau, a-synuclein, TDP-43, Ab, and related changes
- Integration of neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays
- Biochemistry and molecular biology of human brain tissue
- Generatio and analysis of multiomic (transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, and related molecular) datasets
- Preparation of manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations
Salary Range:
The annual base salary range for this position is $$70,304- $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.“
Minimum Education: PhD or equivalent doctorate acquired within the previous 4 years. Preferred Qualifications: PhD or equivalent doctorate in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or related areas: • Strong publication record • Experience with neurodegenerative disease research • Experience with transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, or related molecular datasets
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Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Los Angeles: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a postdoctoral research associate job in Los Angeles?
The strongest hiring in Los Angeles comes from research universities, academic medical centers, and biotech and pharmaceutical companies concentrated in Westwood, the USC Health Sciences Campus area, and the San Gabriel Valley. Candidates who have published peer-reviewed work, have a clear research focus that aligns with an active lab or program, and can demonstrate independent project experience stand out in this market. Reaching out directly to principal investigators at local institutions before a formal posting appears also opens doors that generic applications miss.
Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in Los Angeles?
Companies currently hiring postdoctoral research associates in Los Angeles include University of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and University of California Los Angeles, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The Los Angeles market blends major research universities, academic health systems, and a growing cluster of life sciences and biotechnology employers, particularly in the Westside and Pasadena corridors.
Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in Los Angeles?
Remote postdoctoral research associate positions are uncommon because most roles require hands-on laboratory or clinical work, though computational and data-intensive research tracks are more flexible. About 67% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to Los Angeles are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those tend to be in bioinformatics, computational neuroscience, and data science research within larger academic or industry programs. Fully on-site expectations remain the norm for wet lab and patient-facing roles across Los Angeles institutions.
How can I get a postdoctoral research associate job in Los Angeles with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Los Angeles is securing a postdoctoral appointment directly through a PhD-granting institution, where new doctoral graduates are the primary candidate pool rather than experienced postdocs. Research universities and academic medical centers in Los Angeles regularly onboard first-time postdocs and offer structured training programs, making them the best starting point. Applying to labs whose published work aligns closely with your dissertation research, and attending regional seminars or departmental job talks to build direct relationships with faculty, gives candidates a genuine edge over cold applications.
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