Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Missouri
Postdoctoral Researcher jobs in Missouri are concentrated in research-intensive academic and medical institutions, with sustained demand in biomedical sciences, chemistry, neuroscience, and agricultural biotechnology. The busiest hiring metros are St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City, anchored by employers such as Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri, and Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Openings range from newly minted PhDs entering their first postdoctoral appointment to experienced researchers pursuing senior investigator transitions. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 16+ Postdoctoral Researcher jobs
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Postdoctoral Researcher JobsPostdoctoral Researcher Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Postdoctoral Researcher Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Washington University in St. Louis14
- Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics1
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center1
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in postdoctoral researcher jobs across Missouri.
- PhD in a relevant discipline completed prior to or at time of appointment
- Demonstrated research productivity with peer-reviewed publications in applicable field
- Experience with laboratory techniques and instrumentation specific to the advertised research area
- Strong written and oral communication skills for grant writing and scientific presentations
- Ability to mentor graduate students and contribute to a collaborative research environment
- Familiarity with federal grant compliance requirements and institutional research protocols
Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a postdoctoral researcher in Missouri?
Becoming a postdoctoral researcher in Missouri requires a completed doctoral degree, typically a PhD or MD-PhD, in the discipline relevant to the position. No state-issued license is required for the role. Researchers apply directly to principal investigators or departmental postdoctoral offices at Missouri universities, medical schools, and independent research institutes. Strong publication records, recommendation letters from doctoral advisors, and a research proposal aligned with the host lab's focus are the standard hiring criteria in Missouri.
Which companies hire postdoctoral researchers in Missouri?
Employers hiring postdoctoral researchers in Missouri right now include Washington University in St. Louis, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Missouri's concentration of research universities and independent biomedical institutes means opportunities are distributed across both academic and nonprofit research settings throughout the state.
Which Missouri cities have the most postdoctoral researcher jobs?
St. Louis and Kansas City have the most postdoctoral researcher openings in Missouri. St. Louis dominates due to Washington University's medical and science programs and the cluster of research institutes in the Cortex Innovation Community, while Columbia's concentration reflects the University of Missouri's broad research enterprise, and Kansas City draws from institutions such as the Stowers Institute and UMKC.
Are there remote postdoctoral researcher jobs in Missouri?
Yes, but they're rare. Postdoctoral research is overwhelmingly hands-on, requiring bench work, specialized equipment, and close collaboration with lab teams, which limits remote arrangements significantly. About 0% of postdoctoral researcher openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those that are tend to involve computational biology, bioinformatics, data analysis, or theoretical modeling rather than experimental laboratory work.
How can I get hired as a postdoctoral researcher in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to labs at Missouri research universities while completing the final year of your doctoral program. Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri both maintain formal postdoctoral affairs offices that post openings for new graduates and support onboarding. Candidates with experience in adjacent roles such as research associate, laboratory technician, or graduate research assistant gain a clear edge. A strong dissertation chapter, at least one submitted manuscript, and a concise research statement tailored to the lab's active grants are the credentials that move applications forward in Missouri.
Where can I find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to postdoctoral researcher jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current Missouri openings across research universities, medical centers, and independent institutes. Find the roles that fit your research focus and apply directly to the positions that match your background.
See All 16 Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs