Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Missouri
Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs in Missouri are concentrated in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, where anchor institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri, and Saint Luke's Health System sustain consistent demand. The most active specialties are oncology and cancer biology, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering, reflecting Missouri's strength in academic medical research and life sciences. Openings range from early postdoctoral appointments to senior research associate roles with independent project leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 16+ Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPostdoctoral Research Associate Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Washington University in St. Louis14
- Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics1
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center1
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research associate jobs across Missouri.
- PhD in a relevant biological, chemical, or biomedical sciences discipline required
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication or dissertation research in a relevant field
- Proficiency with laboratory techniques such as PCR, flow cytometry, or cell culture
- Experience with statistical analysis software including R, Python, or MATLAB
- Ability to work independently and collaborate within a multidisciplinary research team
- Strong written and oral communication skills for grant writing and conference presentations
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral research associate in Missouri?
Becoming a postdoctoral research associate in Missouri requires a completed doctoral degree, typically a PhD, in a discipline aligned with the hiring lab or research program. Missouri has no state-issued license specific to postdoctoral research, but positions at medical research institutions often require credentialing through the host institution's research compliance office. Most candidates apply directly to principal investigators at universities or research hospitals, with appointments formalized through the institution's postdoctoral affairs office.
Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in Missouri?
Employers hiring postdoctoral research associates in Missouri right now include Washington University in St. Louis, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Missouri's concentration of research universities and academic medical centers means the largest postdoctoral pipelines run through institutions in St. Louis and Columbia.
Which Missouri cities have the most postdoctoral research associate jobs?
St. Louis and Kansas City have the most postdoctoral research associate openings in Missouri. St. Louis dominates because of Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the affiliated academic medical complexes, while Columbia's activity is driven by the University of Missouri's flagship research campus and its affiliated health system.
Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in Missouri?
Yes, but they're rare. Postdoctoral research associate work is predominantly hands-on and laboratory-based, making fully remote appointments uncommon. About 0% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions 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 research associate in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a dissertation project with a strong publication record, then applying directly to principal investigators at Missouri research institutions whose work aligns with your training. Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri both run formal postdoctoral onboarding programs that support candidates transitioning from graduate school. Candidates without prior postdoctoral experience can also strengthen their applications by pursuing postdoctoral training grants, presenting at regional research conferences, or seeking bridge research associate roles within Missouri's academic medical centers before moving into a full postdoctoral appointment.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current Missouri openings across institutions and research organizations. Find roles that fit your research background and apply directly.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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