Research Assistant Professor Jobs in California
Research Assistant Professor jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where major research universities and life science institutions maintain large faculty pipelines. UC San Francisco, UCLA, and UC San Diego are among the most established employers of research assistant professors, with consistent openings in biomedical sciences, computational biology, and public health. California stands as one of the most active markets in the country for early-career academic researchers, with demand running across both bench and translational research tracks. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The mission of the USC Rossier School of Education is to prepare leaders to achieve educational equity through practice, research and policy. We work to improve learning opportunities and outcomes in urban settings and to address disparities that affect historically marginalized groups. We teach our students to value and respect the cultural context of the communities in which they work and to interrogate the systems of power that shape policies and practices. Through innovative thinking and research, we strive to solve the most intractable educational problems.
The Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice is seeking an assistant research professor to conduct mixed-methods research for a 2-3 grant focused on bolstering the STEM identity of minoritized students. The position entails assisting with survey data collection and leading a team of researchers in longitudinal data collection in the Los Angeles area, collaborating on RCT (Randomized Controlled Trials), quasi-experimental design (QED) analyses, and mixed-methods project data in support of producing manuscripts for conferences and publications, and disseminating results to various stakeholders (e.g., campus stakeholders or conference presentations, reports, journal manuscripts). Candidates must have an earned doctoral degree. Candidates should have expertise in educational equity and social justice, a strong publication record, and a commitment to collaboration and collegiality. Candidates should have direct experience working with middle school students in STEM interventions and public-private partners in the Los Angeles area. Candidates with a background and commitment to equity and improving opportunity and outcomes for historically underserved groups are especially desired.
The Rossier School of Education is ranked in the top 10 private schools of education. Our faculty is nationally recognized for scholarly activity, external research funding, and professional service. Our work is guided by five sets of values, characterized as: results-oriented, collaborative inquiry, combining research and practice, innovation, and commitment to diversity, which is improving urban education locally, nationally, and globally. We achieve this mission through rigorous scholarship, innovative degree programs, and multiple partnerships with schools, community groups, and other organizations.
The annual base salary range for this position is $95,000-$100,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
Applicants must provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three names for references. The cover letter should include specific examples of the applicant’s commitment to equity and improving opportunity and outcomes for historically underserved groups. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.
USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
A doctorate is required.
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Find JobsResearch Assistant Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Assistant Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research assistant professor jobs across California.
- PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant scientific or academic discipline
- Active record of peer-reviewed publications demonstrating independent research contributions
- Experience securing or contributing to extramural grant funding from agencies like NIH or NSF
- Demonstrated ability to mentor graduate students or postdoctoral researchers
- Proficiency with discipline-specific research methods, tools, or laboratory techniques
- Strong written communication skills for manuscript preparation and grant applications
Research Assistant Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research assistant professor in California?
Becoming a research assistant professor in California requires a completed doctoral degree in your field and a postdoctoral research appointment at a university or research institute. California institutions typically expect candidates to show an emerging independent research program, peer-reviewed publications, and some experience with grant writing. There is no state-issued license or board examination for this academic role, so your academic record and research output are the primary credentials reviewed.
Which companies hire research assistant professors in California?
Employers hiring research assistant professors in California right now include University of Southern California, UC San Diego, and City of Hope, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of research universities, academic medical centers, and federally funded research institutes makes it one of the most active states for these appointments year-round.
Which California cities have the most research assistant professor jobs?
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Duarte have the most research assistant professor openings in California. The Bay Area and Los Angeles dominate because of their large University of California campuses, academic medical centers, and proximity to biotech and pharmaceutical corridors, while San Diego's concentration of Scripps Research, Salk Institute, and UC San Diego sustains strong demand in life sciences.
Are there remote research assistant professor jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 33% of research assistant professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how lab-based and clinically embedded most of these roles are. The portions most likely to allow remote or hybrid arrangements are computational, bioinformatics, and social or behavioral science positions where the work centers on data analysis and writing rather than physical laboratory access.
How can I get hired as a research assistant professor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a postdoctoral fellowship at a California research institution before applying, since most research assistant professor appointments treat postdoc experience as a baseline requirement. UC campuses, Cedars-Sinai, Stanford Health Care, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles all run structured postdoctoral programs that serve as direct pipelines. Candidates transitioning from a senior research scientist or research associate role can also make competitive applications, particularly if they hold first-author publications and have contributed to grant proposals.
Where can I find and apply to research assistant professor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to research assistant professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Search the listings to find roles that match your discipline and institution type, then apply directly to the ones that fit your background and career stage.
See All 28 Research Assistant Professor Jobs in California
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