Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Illinois
Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs in Illinois concentrate in academic research, biomedical sciences, and physical and computational sciences, with the state ranking among the most active markets in the country for early-career research talent. Most hiring is anchored in Chicago, Evanston, and Urbana-Champaign, where institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sustain large and continuous postdoctoral programs. The most in-demand specializations are cancer biology, materials science, and computational neuroscience. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job description: A post-doctoral position is available immediately in the Lydy lab at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL, USA). The successful candidate will work on several projects including determining the impacts of pesticide exposure on predator prey relationships for salmon and striped bass, incorporation of contaminants into salmon life cycle models, and conducting field-lab research identifying pesticide exposure pathways and hotspots in aquatic waterways. The postdoc will be an important member of our ecotoxicology team, which is made up of toxicologists, chemists and wildlife biologists. The successful candidates will ideally have a background in either environmental toxicology, ecology or analytical chemistry. The aquatic toxicology lab (www.aquatictox.siu.edu) at SIU houses a well-equipped analytical chemistry lab, as well as a large modern aquatics facility. Carbondale is in a scenic portion of the state, and is near several state parks and national refuges, including the Shawnee National Forest.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in toxicology, environmental chemistry, fish ecology or related field
- Experience working with predatory prey interactions and life cycle models
- Experience working with tracking fish data and use of tracking software
- Demonstrated record analyzing data, writing results, and publishing scientific manuscripts
- Proficiency programming or coding in R, Python, or other software packages·
- Strong organizational and data management skills
- Ability to work independently and on a team
- Ability to stay on schedule and meet deadlines
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with the USGS Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3)
- Experience with pesticide analyses quantification using GC-MS.
Salary: Commensurate with experience (100% time) and includes a benefit package.
Effective Date of Employment: Applications are being accepted immediately with the position starting in Fall 2026. The position is expected to continue for two years; continuation is contingent upon availability of future grant funding.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026, or until filled.
Application Procedure: Send letter of intent describing research interest and goals (including specific experience conducting predatory prey studies) and a resume to: Dr. Michael Lydy, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on analytical experience?
Education:
- Doctorate (Preferred)
Experience:
- Laboratory Experience: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Job description: A post-doctoral position is available immediately in the Lydy lab at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL, USA). The successful candidate will work on several projects including determining the impacts of pesticide exposure on predator prey relationships for salmon and striped bass, incorporation of contaminants into salmon life cycle models, and conducting field-lab research identifying pesticide exposure pathways and hotspots in aquatic waterways. The postdoc will be an important member of our ecotoxicology team, which is made up of toxicologists, chemists and wildlife biologists. The successful candidates will ideally have a background in either environmental toxicology, ecology or analytical chemistry. The aquatic toxicology lab (www.aquatictox.siu.edu) at SIU houses a well-equipped analytical chemistry lab, as well as a large modern aquatics facility. Carbondale is in a scenic portion of the state, and is near several state parks and national refuges, including the Shawnee National Forest.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in toxicology, environmental chemistry, fish ecology or related field
- Experience working with predatory prey interactions and life cycle models
- Experience working with tracking fish data and use of tracking software
- Demonstrated record analyzing data, writing results, and publishing scientific manuscripts
- Proficiency programming or coding in R, Python, or other software packages·
- Strong organizational and data management skills
- Ability to work independently and on a team
- Ability to stay on schedule and meet deadlines
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with the USGS Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3)
- Experience with pesticide analyses quantification using GC-MS.
Salary: Commensurate with experience (100% time) and includes a benefit package.
Effective Date of Employment: Applications are being accepted immediately with the position starting in Fall 2026. The position is expected to continue for two years; continuation is contingent upon availability of future grant funding.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026, or until filled.
Application Procedure: Send letter of intent describing research interest and goals (including specific experience conducting predatory prey studies) and a resume to: Dr. Michael Lydy, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on analytical experience?
Education:
- Doctorate (Preferred)
Experience:
- Laboratory Experience: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
See All 8 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPostdoctoral Research Associate Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
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What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research associate jobs across Illinois.
- PhD in a relevant discipline completed before the appointment start date
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication in the candidate's research area
- Proficiency with discipline-specific laboratory techniques, computational tools, or analytical methods
- Ability to work independently on a defined research project while collaborating with a principal investigator
- Strong scientific writing skills for grants, manuscripts, and research reports
- Experience presenting research findings at seminars, conferences, or departmental meetings
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral research associate in Illinois?
You become a postdoctoral research associate in Illinois by completing a doctoral degree and then securing an appointment through a university, research institute, or national laboratory. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this role. Most appointments are obtained by applying directly to principal investigators at institutions like the University of Illinois system, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, or federally funded labs such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab.
Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in Illinois?
Illinois postdoctoral research associate roles are posted by University of Illinois, Fermilab, and The Field Museum and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of research universities and national laboratories means openings are distributed across academic medical centers, physical sciences facilities, and life sciences institutes throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most postdoctoral research associate jobs?
Chicago, Campus, and Batavia are the Illinois cities with the most postdoctoral research associate openings. Chicago drives volume through its academic medical centers and large research universities, while Evanston and Urbana-Champaign anchor substantial pipelines through Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the collar communities around Lemont and Batavia see demand from Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab.
Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Postdoctoral research associate work is largely hands-on, requiring bench access, shared instrumentation, or in-person collaboration with a research group. About 0% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to cluster in computational, bioinformatics, and data-intensive research areas where lab presence is not required.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral research associate in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a dissertation and applying to postdoctoral programs directly at Illinois research institutions before your degree is formally conferred, since many labs hire ABD candidates. The University of Illinois system, University of Chicago, and Northwestern all accept applications from newly minted PhDs with limited independent research history. Strengthening your application with a preprint, a strong thesis chapter, and a recommendation from your dissertation advisor significantly improves your chances at competitive Illinois programs.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your research background and discipline, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 8 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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