Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Illinois
Postdoctoral Researcher jobs in Illinois are concentrated in academic research, biomedical sciences, and physical sciences, with the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Argonne National Laboratory among the most consistent long-term hirers in the state. Chicago, Evanston, and Champaign-Urbana anchor the market, drawing candidates into high-output environments across cancer biology, computational science, materials research, and neuroscience. Demand is strong at both entry postdoc and senior research associate levels, particularly for candidates with wet lab or large-scale data analysis backgrounds. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job description: A post-doctoral position is available immediately in the Lydy lab at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL, USA). The successful candidate will work on several projects including determining the impacts of pesticide exposure on predator prey relationships for salmon and striped bass, incorporation of contaminants into salmon life cycle models, and conducting field-lab research identifying pesticide exposure pathways and hotspots in aquatic waterways. The postdoc will be an important member of our ecotoxicology team, which is made up of toxicologists, chemists and wildlife biologists. The successful candidates will ideally have a background in either environmental toxicology, ecology or analytical chemistry. The aquatic toxicology lab (www.aquatictox.siu.edu) at SIU houses a well-equipped analytical chemistry lab, as well as a large modern aquatics facility. Carbondale is in a scenic portion of the state, and is near several state parks and national refuges, including the Shawnee National Forest.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in toxicology, environmental chemistry, fish ecology or related field
- Experience working with predatory prey interactions and life cycle models
- Experience working with tracking fish data and use of tracking software
- Demonstrated record analyzing data, writing results, and publishing scientific manuscripts
- Proficiency programming or coding in R, Python, or other software packages·
- Strong organizational and data management skills
- Ability to work independently and on a team
- Ability to stay on schedule and meet deadlines
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with the USGS Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3)
- Experience with pesticide analyses quantification using GC-MS.
Salary: Commensurate with experience (100% time) and includes a benefit package.
Effective Date of Employment: Applications are being accepted immediately with the position starting in Fall 2026. The position is expected to continue for two years; continuation is contingent upon availability of future grant funding.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026, or until filled.
Application Procedure: Send letter of intent describing research interest and goals (including specific experience conducting predatory prey studies) and a resume to: Dr. Michael Lydy, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on analytical experience?
Education:
- Doctorate (Preferred)
Experience:
- Laboratory Experience: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Job description: A post-doctoral position is available immediately in the Lydy lab at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL, USA). The successful candidate will work on several projects including determining the impacts of pesticide exposure on predator prey relationships for salmon and striped bass, incorporation of contaminants into salmon life cycle models, and conducting field-lab research identifying pesticide exposure pathways and hotspots in aquatic waterways. The postdoc will be an important member of our ecotoxicology team, which is made up of toxicologists, chemists and wildlife biologists. The successful candidates will ideally have a background in either environmental toxicology, ecology or analytical chemistry. The aquatic toxicology lab (www.aquatictox.siu.edu) at SIU houses a well-equipped analytical chemistry lab, as well as a large modern aquatics facility. Carbondale is in a scenic portion of the state, and is near several state parks and national refuges, including the Shawnee National Forest.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in toxicology, environmental chemistry, fish ecology or related field
- Experience working with predatory prey interactions and life cycle models
- Experience working with tracking fish data and use of tracking software
- Demonstrated record analyzing data, writing results, and publishing scientific manuscripts
- Proficiency programming or coding in R, Python, or other software packages·
- Strong organizational and data management skills
- Ability to work independently and on a team
- Ability to stay on schedule and meet deadlines
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with the USGS Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3)
- Experience with pesticide analyses quantification using GC-MS.
Salary: Commensurate with experience (100% time) and includes a benefit package.
Effective Date of Employment: Applications are being accepted immediately with the position starting in Fall 2026. The position is expected to continue for two years; continuation is contingent upon availability of future grant funding.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026, or until filled.
Application Procedure: Send letter of intent describing research interest and goals (including specific experience conducting predatory prey studies) and a resume to: Dr. Michael Lydy, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on analytical experience?
Education:
- Doctorate (Preferred)
Experience:
- Laboratory Experience: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
See All 8 Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Illinois
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Find Postdoctoral Researcher JobsPostdoctoral Researcher Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Researcher Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
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What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral researcher jobs across Illinois.
- PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline completed prior to start date
- Demonstrated research output including peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations
- Hands-on laboratory or computational skills directly aligned with the hosting lab's work
- Ability to independently design, execute, and interpret experiments or analytical projects
- Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary research teams and mentoring graduate students
- Strong written communication skills for grant applications, manuscripts, and internal reporting
Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral researcher in Illinois?
A postdoctoral researcher position in Illinois requires a completed doctoral degree in a relevant field, typically verified before the appointment start date. Illinois does not issue a state license for this role. Hiring is handled directly by universities, national laboratories, and research hospitals through competitive application processes. Institutions such as the University of Illinois system and the University of Chicago post openings through their research offices, and applicants typically submit a CV, research statement, and faculty references.
Which companies hire postdoctoral researchers in Illinois?
Illinois postdoctoral researcher roles are posted by University of Illinois, Fermilab, and The Field Museum and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of research universities, federally funded national laboratories, and major academic medical centers makes it one of the more active postdoc hiring markets in the Midwest.
Which Illinois cities have the most postdoctoral researcher jobs?
Chicago, Campus, and Batavia account for the largest share of postdoctoral researcher openings in Illinois. Chicago leads because of its dense cluster of research hospitals, the University of Chicago, and corporate R&D labs, while Evanston draws heavily from Northwestern University and Champaign-Urbana reflects the large research enterprise at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Are there remote postdoctoral researcher jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of postdoctoral researcher openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on laboratory nature of most positions. Computational, bioinformatics, and data-intensive research roles are the most likely to accommodate remote or hybrid arrangements within Illinois-based research programs.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral researcher in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic path for candidates without prior postdoc experience is applying directly to faculty-supervised research positions while completing a PhD, since most Illinois institutions hire postdocs from their own graduate programs or through direct faculty referral. The University of Illinois system and Northwestern University both offer competitive postdoctoral fellowships designed for early-career researchers. Lateral entry from research scientist or graduate research assistant roles is common, and a strong publication record or demonstrated technical skill in high-demand methods such as CRISPR, single-cell sequencing, or machine learning gives Illinois applicants a clear edge.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across universities, national laboratories, and research institutions. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 8 Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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