Research Fellow Jobs in California
Research Fellow jobs in California concentrate in academic medicine, life sciences, and public health research, with demand at every level from postdoctoral associates to senior research scientists. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where institutions like UC San Francisco, UCLA, and the Salk Institute maintain active research programs. The most in-demand specialties include oncology, genomics, and clinical translational research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health – San Francisco VA / UCSF
San Francisco VA Health Care System | University of California, San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, CaliforniaAppointment: Full-time, two-year fellowshipApplication cycle: 2027–2028Compensation: [Insert approved VA fellowship stipend range]
About the Fellowship
The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is accepting applications for its Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health.
This interdisciplinary, two-year fellowship prepares physicians, psychologists, and other doctoral-level researchers for independent careers in women’s health research, clinical care, and academic medicine.
Fellows receive individualized mentorship from established investigators across multiple research programs at SFVAHCS and UCSF. The program is designed to support each fellow’s research interests, scientific development, and long-term career goals.
Research Areas
Opportunities span a wide range of women’s health topics, including:
- Reproductive and midlife health: Menopause, ovarian aging, reproductive health, and hormonal influences on health.
- Cancer and prevention: Breast cancer risk, screening, prevention, and epidemiology.
- Mental health: PTSD, depression, trauma exposure, substance use, and mental health treatment.
- Cardiovascular and metabolic health: Cardiovascular risk, aging, osteoporosis, and related health outcomes.
- Sleep and biological mechanisms: Insomnia, psychophysiology, neuroendocrinology, inflammation, and sex differences in health.
- Other women’s health concerns: Urinary incontinence, chronic pain, and related conditions.
Fellows can pursue projects within a single research area or collaborate across disciplines, drawing on existing datasets, ongoing studies, and opportunities for new research.
Fellowship Training and Career Development
The fellowship provides mentored research and education, with clinical training opportunities for eligible fellows.
Training opportunities include:
- Developing and conducting independent research projects.
- Analyzing clinical, epidemiological, and biological datasets.
- Preparing first-author manuscripts and scientific presentations.
- Developing competitive research grants and career development awards.
- Participating in research seminars, workshops, and UCSF coursework.
- Receiving individualized mentorship and guidance toward an independent academic or research career.
Clinically qualified fellows may spend up to 25% of their time in supervised clinical activities, including care for women Veterans, depending on professional background and individualized training goals.
Mentorship and Research Environment
The program is co-directed by Karla Kerlikowske, MD, and Sabra Inslicht, PhD, and provides access to multidisciplinary faculty mentors across SFVAHCS and UCSF.
The San Francisco VA offers a substantial research infrastructure, a strong academic partnership with UCSF, and opportunities to collaborate with investigators across women’s health, primary care, psychiatry, epidemiology, and clinical research.
Fellows are encouraged to pursue their own research interests and identify mentors whose expertise best aligns with their goals.
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- An MD with completed approved residency training; or
- A PhD in clinical or counseling psychology, nursing, neuroscience, epidemiology, health psychology, data science, or another relevant allied health field.
Clinical and counseling psychology applicants must have completed an APA-accredited doctoral program and APA-accredited internship.
All doctoral requirements must be completed before the fellowship begins. U.S. citizenship is required for the VA appointment.
Both clinical and nonclinical researchers are encouraged to apply.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:
- A letter of interest describing research experience, research interests, career goals, and potential faculty mentor(s).
- A curriculum vitae.
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from current or recent research mentors.
Please combine the letter of interest and CV into a single PDF. Recommendation letters should be sent directly by the recommenders in accordance with program instructions.
For psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience applicants:
Sabra Inslicht, PhD: Sabra.Inslicht@va.gov
For medicine and other allied health applicants:
Karla Kerlikowske, MD: Karla.Kerlikowske@va.gov
For further information about the fellowship, visit:
https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/fellowship/
Applications are being accepted for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle. Contact the program for current review dates.
Help advance women’s health research and improve care for women Veterans through interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and clinical training.
Pay: $68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
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Find Research Fellow JobsResearch Fellow Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Fellow Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research fellow jobs across California.
- Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific or academic discipline required by most California employers
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in a relevant research area
- Experience designing and executing independent research projects within a laboratory or academic setting
- Proficiency with statistical or data analysis tools such as R, Python, SPSS, or STATA
- Ability to prepare and contribute to grant proposals for NIH, NSF, or California-specific funding bodies
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting findings to multidisciplinary research teams
Research Fellow Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research fellow in California?
Most research fellow positions in California require a completed doctoral degree, such as a PhD or MD, in a discipline relevant to the hiring institution's work. Candidates typically apply directly to university departments, medical centers, or research institutes following dissertation completion or residency. California's major research universities and health systems post postdoctoral fellowship openings through their own portals. A strong publication record and prior lab experience are the clearest differentiators during the application process.
Which companies hire research fellows in California?
Companies currently hiring research fellows in California include City of Hope, Stanford University, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of academic medical centers, biotechnology firms, and public research institutions means openings appear across a broad range of employer types, from university health systems to private life sciences companies headquartered in the Bay Area and San Diego.
Which California cities have the most research fellow jobs?
The cities with the most research fellow openings in California are San Francisco, Duarte, and Pomona. This distribution reflects the location of California's largest research universities, academic medical centers, and biotechnology campuses, with San Francisco anchored by UCSF and major biotech firms, Los Angeles driven by UCLA and Cedars-Sinai, and San Diego home to the Salk Institute, UC San Diego, and a dense cluster of life sciences companies.
Are there remote research fellow jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 75% of research fellow openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, laboratory-based nature of most research fellow work. The portions of the role most likely to carry remote flexibility are data analysis, manuscript preparation, and grant writing rather than bench science or clinical research activities.
How can I get hired as a research fellow in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for postdoctoral training programs at California's research universities before seeking independent fellow positions. UC campuses, Stanford, and major health systems like Cedars-Sinai and UCSF Health run structured postdoctoral programs open to candidates immediately after doctoral graduation. Lateral moves from roles such as research associate or clinical research coordinator are also common. A completed dissertation, a strong letter from a principal investigator, and any published or submitted manuscripts give early-career candidates a concrete edge.
Where can I find and apply to research fellow jobs in California?
You can find and apply to research fellow jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your research area, institution type, and career stage, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
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