Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania

Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Pennsylvania are concentrated in life sciences, biomedical research, materials science, and computational neuroscience, with the state ranking among the most active markets in the country for early-career research talent. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and State College are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Penn State University. The most in-demand specialties right now are cancer biology, drug discovery, and machine learning applications in research. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles24
Top employerCarnegie Mellon University
Top cityPhiladelphia, PA
Cities hiring5
Work type80% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 24+ Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs

Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
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Added 3d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Support
Laboratory Science
Doctoral degree in chemistry
5,001-10,000

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Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Added 3d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
Doctoral degree in economics
5,001-10,000

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Postdoctoral Research Associate - Mellon College of Science - Neuroscience Institute
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Added 6d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Mellon College of Science - Neuroscience Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Research & Academia
Doctoral degree
5,001-10,000

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Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Added 3w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Administrative & Office Support
Program Management
Project Management
Doctoral degree
5,001-10,000

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Research postdoctoral Fellow - Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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Added 3w ago
Research postdoctoral Fellow - Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$21k - $110k/yr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

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See All 24 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania

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Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs by City in Pennsylvania

Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Philadelphia
10 jobs
Pittsburgh
9 jobs
Villanova
2 jobs
University Park
2 jobs
Bethlehem
1 job

Postdoctoral Research Associate Job Market in Pennsylvania

A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Carnegie Mellon University9 open roles
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia9 open roles
Villanova University2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education

What Pennsylvania Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research associate jobs across Pennsylvania.

  • PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline required or expected upon start
  • Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication in a related research area
  • Hands-on experience with laboratory techniques, data analysis tools, or computational methods relevant to the position
  • Ability to work independently and contribute to collaborative research projects and grant proposals
  • Strong written and oral communication skills for presenting findings and preparing manuscripts
  • Experience with grant-funded research environments, including compliance with institutional review processes

Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a postdoctoral research associate in Pennsylvania?

You become a postdoctoral research associate in Pennsylvania by completing a doctoral degree and applying directly to posted positions at universities, medical centers, or research institutes. Pennsylvania does not require a state-issued license for this role. Most positions are secured through faculty contacts, institutional postdoc office listings, or direct applications to research groups at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, Temple University, or the University of Pittsburgh.

Which companies hire postdoctoral research associates in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania postdoctoral research associate roles are posted by Carnegie Mellon University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Villanova University and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pennsylvania's deep concentration of research universities, academic medical centers, and pharmaceutical companies along the I-95 corridor means postdoc openings appear consistently throughout the year.

Which Pennsylvania cities have the most postdoctoral research associate jobs?

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Villanova have the most postdoctoral research associate openings in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia leads because of its cluster of major research universities and health systems, Pittsburgh draws heavily from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh's strong science and engineering programs, and State College reflects Penn State's substantial federally funded research portfolio.

Are there remote postdoctoral research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?

Yes, but they're rare. About 20% of postdoctoral research associate openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, since most positions require hands-on laboratory work or on-site collaboration. The portions of the role most likely to be performed remotely are computational analysis, manuscript preparation, and data modeling work within primarily dry-lab or bioinformatics-focused research groups.

How can I get hired as a postdoctoral research associate in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is completing your doctoral dissertation and reaching out to principal investigators directly before your degree is conferred. Many large Pennsylvania research institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Jefferson University, and the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, host postdoctoral office programs that match new doctoral graduates with available research groups. Lateral moves from graduate research assistant, laboratory technician, or clinical research coordinator roles are also common entry points, and a strong publication record or conference presentation gives candidates a concrete edge.

Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?

You can find and apply to postdoctoral research associate jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings across research institutions, universities, medical centers, and industry labs. Search the listings to find roles that match your research background and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 24 Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania

Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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