Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis, MO
Research associate jobs in St. Louis are concentrated in the Cortex Innovation Community, the medical corridor anchoring the Central West End, and the research campuses along Forest Park Parkway, with strong demand in life sciences, academic research, and healthcare. Employers actively hiring right now include Washington University in St. Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Research Associate JobsOverview
Open roles24
Top employerWashington University in St. Louis
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialDoctoral degree in biochemistry
Companies hiring2
Showing 5 of 24+ Research Associate jobs
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
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Added 4d ago
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago
Research Associate
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Added 4d ago
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
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Added 5d ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Infectious Diseases
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 5d ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
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Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
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Added 2w ago
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Genetics
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 2w ago
Added 4d ago
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center·St. Louis, Missouri
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
51-200 employees
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- 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.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- 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
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- 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).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- 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.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Research Scientist and/or Postdoctoral Associate
St. Louis, Missouri
Added 4d ago51-200 employees
Job functions:
Doctoral degree in biochemistry
Job Description
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is launching a multi-lab research initiative to improve food and cover crops for global food security, agricultural sustainability, and innovation. To support this effort, we are recruiting multiple full time benefits eligible scientists to join laboratories across the Center. These positions span a shared portfolio of projects that incorporate gene editing, plant transformation, quantitative genetics, and analytical biochemistry.
This is a single call for several openings at our independent, nonprofit research institute located in St. Louis. We encourage mission-motivated candidates with backgrounds in any of the skill areas described below to apply; applications will be matched to the laboratory and project that best fit each candidate's expertise and interests. Successful candidates will work in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to the Center's world-class core facilities, including the Plant Growth Facility, Plant Transformation Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, the Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility, the Data Science Core, the Phenotyping Facility, and the Danforth Field Research Site.
Responsibilities:
- 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.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- 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
Who we're looking for
We are hiring across a range of participating laboratories and research areas. Depending on the position, projects address challenges such as increasing yield and nutritional quality in cassava, sorghum, cowpea, and maize; engineering disease and drought resilience; developing cover crops and perennial grains for regenerative agriculture; advancing plant transformation and gene-editing platforms.
Gene editing and molecular biology
- 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).
Genomics, computational biology, and AI
- 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.
Plant Biology, physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and microbiology
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
How to apply
Submit a cover letter (clearly indicating your areas of expertise and any project areas of particular interest), a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the Danforth Center careers portal at danforthcenter.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
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Research Associate Jobs in St. Louis: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a research associate job in St. Louis?
The strongest path into a research associate role in St. Louis is through the city's life sciences and academic sectors, where Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the Cortex Innovation Community anchor most of the hiring. Candidates with hands-on lab experience, a relevant bachelor's or master's degree, and familiarity with grant-funded research environments stand out. Connecting with principal investigators and applying directly to institutional research departments gives you a real edge in this market.
Which companies hire research associates in St. Louis?
St. Louis research associate roles are posted by Washington University in St. Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. St. Louis draws a mix of major academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, and federally funded research institutions, all of which post research associate openings on a rolling basis.
Are there remote research associate jobs in St. Louis?
Yes, though it depends on the role: hands-on bench and clinical research positions are almost entirely on-site, while literature review, data analysis, and research coordination roles are far more likely to be remote or hybrid. About 0% of research associate openings tied to St. Louis are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the mix of lab-based and desk-based work in the market. Analytical and public health research roles posted by St. Louis institutions tend to offer the most scheduling flexibility.
How can I get a research associate job in St. Louis with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point in St. Louis is a research assistant or lab technician role at one of the city's major universities or hospital systems, which regularly hire candidates with a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, public health, or a related field. Saint Louis University and Washington University both run undergraduate and post-baccalaureate research programs that feed directly into associate-level positions. Volunteering in a campus lab or completing a relevant internship through Cortex-affiliated startups also builds the local credibility that hiring managers look for.
Which industries hire the most research associates in St. Louis?
Most research associate openings in St. Louis sit in Education, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. St. Louis's identity as a bioscience and academic research hub, anchored by its major universities and large hospital networks, drives consistent demand for research associates across these sectors.
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