Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs
Postdoctoral Researcher jobs are open across academia, pharmaceuticals, biotech, and government research institutions, from entry-level postdoc appointments to senior research associate roles, with specializations in molecular biology, computational research, and materials science. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Postdoctoral Researcher JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 382+ Postdoctoral Researcher jobs











- Chemical Engineering / Henry Samueli School Engr & Ap / UCLA
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: August 1, 2026
Next review date: Saturday, Aug 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Park lab at UCLA is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Scholar to lead cutting-edge research in metabolic engineering, immunometabolism, and integrative omics.
The Park lab focuses on engineering microbial hosts for sustainable biomanufacturing, elucidating metabolic dysregulation in human diseases, and innovating metabolomics and fluxomics technologies. The successful candidate will drive the construction of novel strains/pathways, the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms behind health and disease through hypothesis-driven studies, and the integration of computational and experimental procedures.
Interested candidates should submit the following materials as a single PDF document to parklab@ucla.edu with the subject line "Postdoc Application – [Your Last Name]"
Lab: https://parklab.ucla.edu/
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, or a closely related discipline (completed or near completion at time of application).
- Expertise in molecular biology techniques.
- Strong background in fermentation, culturing, and physiological characterization.
- Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation (HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, or NMR).
- A strong track record of scientific productivity.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Experience with Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA), kinetic modeling, or constraint-based genome-scale modeling (COBRA).
- Strong mathematical background in differential equations, linear algebra, and optimization.
- Background in thermodynamics and reaction kinetics.
- Background in engineering non-conventional host organisms [e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica].
- Experience with bioinformatics, transcriptomics (RNA-seq), or metabolomics data analysis pipelines.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter (Optional)
Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.
The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:
Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
Expand our reach as a global university
Enhance our research and creative activities
Elevate how we teach
Become a more effective institutionPrompt for candidates for recruitment:
Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service
- 3 required (contact information only)
Contact information for 3 professional references (including your primary Ph.D. advisor).
Help contact: baclagon@seas.ucla.edu
About UCLA
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Job location
Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs by Experience Level
Top Cities Hiring Postdoctoral Researchers
Explore postdoctoral researcher openings in the cities hiring most right now.
See All 382+ Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Postdoctoral Researcher JobsPostdoctoral Researcher Job Market
Who's Hiring
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital19

- Los Alamos National Laboratory17

- University of Arizona15

- Washington University in St. Louis13

- University of Virginia12

Top Industries Hiring
- Education94
- Healthcare & Medical Services30
- Science & Research22
- Investment & Asset Management10
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral researcher jobs.
- PhD in a relevant field completed or defended prior to start date
- Demonstrated first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Proficiency with field-specific software such as R, Python, MATLAB, or ImageJ
- Experience designing and independently executing original research projects
- Strong written and oral communication skills for grant writing and presentations
- Ability to mentor graduate students and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams
Tips for Your Postdoctoral Researcher Job Search
Tailor your CV to each institution
Academic and industry postdoc applications weight your CV differently. For industry roles, move your methods and technical skills above publications. For academic positions, lead with your dissertation work and any independent funding you've secured.
Target labs with active funding cycles
A PI's grant cycle determines whether a postdoc position is real or aspirational. Check NIH Reporter or NSF Award Search to confirm a lab has active R01s or equivalent grants before investing time in a cover letter.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists postdoctoral researcher openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Write a research statement that lands
Your research statement should spend two-thirds on your past work and one-third on a specific future project. Committees reject vague future directions. Name the exact question you'll pursue and explain why the host lab's resources make it answerable.
Prepare for a chalk talk, not just questions
Many postdoc interviews include an informal chalk talk where you sketch a project at the whiteboard. Practice explaining your most recent experiment from scratch to a non-specialist, because hiring committees often include faculty outside your subfield.
Negotiate start date and lab resources directly
Salary in postdoc offers is often fixed by NIH scale, but start date, equipment access, travel funding, and authorship agreements are negotiable. Confirm these in writing before accepting, because they shape your productivity and publication timeline.
Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most postdoctoral researchers?
The companies hiring the most postdoctoral researchers right now include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and University of Arizona, with the largest share of openings in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Research universities and federally funded national laboratories consistently account for the largest volume of postdoc openings nationwide.
How many postdoctoral researcher jobs are remote?
About 16% of postdoctoral researcher openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is lower than most professional roles because bench science requires on-site lab access. Computational biology, bioinformatics, data science, and theoretical physics postdocs are the sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become a postdoctoral researcher?
You become a postdoctoral researcher by completing a doctoral degree, identifying a PI whose research aligns with your expertise, and submitting a CV, cover letter, and research statement directly to that lab or through a formal institutional posting. Networking at conferences, reaching out to PIs whose papers you cite, and applying through university career offices are all standard entry points into postdoc positions.
Can you get a postdoctoral researcher role with no prior postdoc experience?
Yes, a postdoctoral position is itself the entry-level role in academic research, so no prior postdoc experience is required or expected. What matters is a completed PhD, a strong dissertation with at least one first-author manuscript, and a clear research proposal. Candidates who publish during their PhD and present at national conferences are consistently more competitive than those who wait until after graduation to begin applying.
What does the postdoctoral researcher interview process look like?
The postdoctoral researcher interview typically begins with a one-hour seminar presenting your doctoral research to the department, followed by individual meetings with the supervising PI, collaborating faculty, and current lab members. Some labs add an informal chalk talk where you outline a proposed project. The process usually concludes with a lab tour and a discussion of funding, timeline, and authorship expectations before an offer is made.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from research universities, national laboratories, and industry sponsors across the United States. Find roles that match your field and career stage, then apply directly to each listing.
See All 382+ Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs