Postdoctoral Research Fellow Jobs
Postdoctoral research fellow jobs are open across universities, research hospitals, government laboratories, and private research institutes, from entry postdoc to senior research associate, with specializations in biomedical sciences, computational biology, and materials science. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health – San Francisco VA / UCSF
San Francisco VA Health Care System | University of California, San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, CaliforniaAppointment: Full-time, two-year fellowshipApplication cycle: 2027–2028Compensation: [Insert approved VA fellowship stipend range]
About the Fellowship
The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is accepting applications for its Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health.
This interdisciplinary, two-year fellowship prepares physicians, psychologists, and other doctoral-level researchers for independent careers in women’s health research, clinical care, and academic medicine.
Fellows receive individualized mentorship from established investigators across multiple research programs at SFVAHCS and UCSF. The program is designed to support each fellow’s research interests, scientific development, and long-term career goals.
Research Areas
Opportunities span a wide range of women’s health topics, including:
- Reproductive and midlife health: Menopause, ovarian aging, reproductive health, and hormonal influences on health.
- Cancer and prevention: Breast cancer risk, screening, prevention, and epidemiology.
- Mental health: PTSD, depression, trauma exposure, substance use, and mental health treatment.
- Cardiovascular and metabolic health: Cardiovascular risk, aging, osteoporosis, and related health outcomes.
- Sleep and biological mechanisms: Insomnia, psychophysiology, neuroendocrinology, inflammation, and sex differences in health.
- Other women’s health concerns: Urinary incontinence, chronic pain, and related conditions.
Fellows can pursue projects within a single research area or collaborate across disciplines, drawing on existing datasets, ongoing studies, and opportunities for new research.
Fellowship Training and Career Development
The fellowship provides mentored research and education, with clinical training opportunities for eligible fellows.
Training opportunities include:
- Developing and conducting independent research projects.
- Analyzing clinical, epidemiological, and biological datasets.
- Preparing first-author manuscripts and scientific presentations.
- Developing competitive research grants and career development awards.
- Participating in research seminars, workshops, and UCSF coursework.
- Receiving individualized mentorship and guidance toward an independent academic or research career.
Clinically qualified fellows may spend up to 25% of their time in supervised clinical activities, including care for women Veterans, depending on professional background and individualized training goals.
Mentorship and Research Environment
The program is co-directed by Karla Kerlikowske, MD, and Sabra Inslicht, PhD, and provides access to multidisciplinary faculty mentors across SFVAHCS and UCSF.
The San Francisco VA offers a substantial research infrastructure, a strong academic partnership with UCSF, and opportunities to collaborate with investigators across women’s health, primary care, psychiatry, epidemiology, and clinical research.
Fellows are encouraged to pursue their own research interests and identify mentors whose expertise best aligns with their goals.
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- An MD with completed approved residency training; or
- A PhD in clinical or counseling psychology, nursing, neuroscience, epidemiology, health psychology, data science, or another relevant allied health field.
Clinical and counseling psychology applicants must have completed an APA-accredited doctoral program and APA-accredited internship.
All doctoral requirements must be completed before the fellowship begins. U.S. citizenship is required for the VA appointment.
Both clinical and nonclinical researchers are encouraged to apply.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:
- A letter of interest describing research experience, research interests, career goals, and potential faculty mentor(s).
- A curriculum vitae.
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from current or recent research mentors.
Please combine the letter of interest and CV into a single PDF. Recommendation letters should be sent directly by the recommenders in accordance with program instructions.
For psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience applicants:
Sabra Inslicht, PhD: Sabra.Inslicht@va.gov
For medicine and other allied health applicants:
Karla Kerlikowske, MD: Karla.Kerlikowske@va.gov
For further information about the fellowship, visit:
https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/fellowship/
Applications are being accepted for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle. Contact the program for current review dates.
Help advance women’s health research and improve care for women Veterans through interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and clinical training.
Pay: $68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsPostdoctoral Research Fellow Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Northeastern University36
- MD Anderson Cancer Center19
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute15
- UTHealth Houston10
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia9
Top Industries Hiring
- Education20
- Healthcare & Medical Services6
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
- Science & Research2
- Technology & Software1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral research fellow jobs.
- PhD in a relevant scientific or technical field completed within the past five years
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication in the area of specialization
- Proficiency with laboratory techniques or computational tools specific to the research program
- Experience designing and independently executing research projects from hypothesis to analysis
- Ability to write grant proposals, manuscripts, and progress reports with minimal supervision
- Strong oral communication skills for presenting findings at lab meetings and conferences
Tips for Your Postdoctoral Research Fellow Job Search
Tailor your CV to each PI
Principal investigators read dozens of postdoc CVs and notice generic ones immediately. Reorder your publications, methods, and research aims to mirror the language in each job posting and the PI's recent papers before you submit.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists postdoctoral research fellow openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight first-author output specifically
Many postdoc candidates list publications without distinguishing authorship position. Move every first-author paper to its own clearly labeled section so hiring committees can gauge your independent contribution without parsing a full publication list.
Contact the PI before the deadline
Reaching out with a focused two-paragraph email about your research overlap signals genuine interest and gives you a name to reference in your cover letter. PIs frequently pre-select candidates this way before the formal review even begins.
Prepare a concise research presentation
Most postdoc interviews include a research talk. Practice compressing your dissertation or current project into a tight presentation that non-specialists in the lab can follow, then pivot cleanly into your proposed future directions within the host lab's resources.
Negotiate start date and lab resources early
Salary bands at most institutions are fixed, but start dates, equipment access, travel funds, and conference budgets are often negotiable. Raise these in the offer conversation, not after you sign, while the hiring committee still has flexibility.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most postdoctoral research fellows?
Northeastern University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are hiring the most postdoctoral research fellows right now, with openings concentrated in Massachusetts, Texas, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Research-intensive universities and federally funded laboratories account for the largest share of active postings.
How many postdoctoral research fellow jobs are remote?
About 35% of postdoctoral research fellow openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is lower than most professional roles because bench and wet-lab work requires on-site access to equipment. Computational, bioinformatics, and data-science postdoc positions are the sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become a postdoctoral research fellow?
You become a postdoctoral research fellow by completing a doctoral degree, identifying a lab whose research aligns with your expertise, and applying with a CV, cover letter, and research statement addressed to the principal investigator. Many positions are filled through direct outreach to PIs, professional society job boards, and institutional postdoc offices before they are broadly advertised.
Can you get a postdoctoral research fellow position with limited research experience?
Most postdoc roles require a completed PhD and at least some independent research output, but candidates with fewer publications can strengthen their applications by emphasizing technical skills, dissertation chapters under review, and strong faculty recommendations. Applying to labs at earlier stages of their funding cycle and to teaching-focused postdoc programs can also improve your odds when your publication list is still developing.
What does the postdoctoral research fellow interview process look like?
The postdoctoral research fellow interview typically begins with a video screening call with the principal investigator, followed by an in-person or virtual visit that includes a research seminar, one-on-one meetings with lab members and department faculty, and a conversation about your proposed research directions. The process usually concludes with a reference check before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral research fellow jobs?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral research fellow jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from institutions and research organizations across the United States. Search the listings for roles that match your research area and apply directly to each one that fits your background and career goals.
See All 258+ Postdoctoral Research Fellow Jobs
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