Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis, MO
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in St. Louis are concentrated in the Cortex Innovation Community, the Washington University Medical Campus in the Central West End, and the Saint Louis University research corridor, with strong demand across life sciences, biomedical research, and agricultural biotechnology. Employers hiring right now include Washington University in St. Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Open roles16
Top employerWashington University in St. Louis
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialDoctoral degree in biochemistry
Companies hiring2
Showing 5 of 16+ Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
We won't show you this job again
Added 4d ago
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
We won't show you this job again
Added 5d ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 5d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiology
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiology
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Added 4d ago
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center·St. Louis, Missouri
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
51-200 employees
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- 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.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- 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
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- 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).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- 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.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago51-200 employees
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- 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.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- 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
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- 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).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- 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.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis
Find roles in St. Louis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPostdoctoral Research Associate Job Market in St. Louis
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a postdoctoral research associate job in St. Louis?
The strongest path into St. Louis postdoctoral research associate roles runs through its biomedical and life sciences ecosystem, centered on Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the Cortex Innovation Community. Candidates with hands-on bench experience in molecular biology, neuroscience, or oncology have a clear edge here. Attending local research symposia and connecting directly with principal investigators at area institutions accelerates hiring more than broad applications do.
Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in St. Louis?
St. Louis postdoctoral research associate roles are posted by Washington University in St. Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. St. Louis draws from a mix of research universities, academic medical centers, and agribiotech firms that collectively sustain consistent postdoctoral hiring throughout the year.
Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in St. Louis?
Yes, though opportunities are limited because most postdoctoral research associate work requires laboratory access or on-site collaboration. About 0% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to St. Louis are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to be in computational biology, bioinformatics, and data analysis rather than wet-lab research.
How can I get a postdoctoral research associate job in St. Louis with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a graduate research assistantship or lab rotation at Washington University in St. Louis or Saint Louis University, which frequently transition into postdoctoral appointments. Local agribiotech employers in the Creve Coeur and Chesterfield corridors also hire junior researchers into research associate roles that serve as a practical stepping stone. A strong publication record, even from a dissertation, signals readiness to St. Louis hiring committees more than years of postdoctoral tenure alone.
Which industries hire the most postdoctoral research associates in St. Louis?
St. Louis postdoctoral research associate roles concentrate in Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. St. Louis's deep roots in academic medicine and its position as a global agribiotech hub create sustained, year-round demand for postdoctoral talent across those sectors.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis
Find roles in St. Louis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs