Research Scientist Jobs in Pennsylvania
Research Scientist jobs in Pennsylvania are in strong and sustained demand, with the state's life sciences corridor, academic medical centers, and energy research institutions driving openings at every level from junior researcher through principal scientist. The heaviest hiring concentrates in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Greater Delaware Valley, where employers like GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and the University of Pennsylvania consistently bring on research talent. The most sought-after specializations include oncology and drug discovery, materials science, and computational biology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Research Scientist Intern, Photorealistic Telepresence (PhD) Responsibilities:
- Solve research problems in enabling photorealistic telepresence and embodied agents
- Collaboration with and support of other researchers across various disciplines
- Communication of research agenda, progress, and results
Minimum Qualifications:
- Experience with solving “inverse problems” in imaging emphasizing modeling and algorithm development
- 2+ years of experience with Machine Learning for solving computer vision and computer graphics problems
- Experience with deep learning frameworks such as Pytorch and TensorBoard
- Experience with scientific programming languages such as Python
- Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by patents and first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences such as ICCV, CVPR, NeurIPS, SIGGRAPH, ICASSP, or similar
- Intent to return to a degree-program after the completion of the internship
- Experience working and communicating cross functionally in a team environment
- Demonstrated software engineer experience via an internship, work experience, coding competitions, or widely used contributions in open source repositories (e.g. GitHub)
- Experience with systems building in Python or C++
- Experience with large-scale generative models such as VLMs, LLMs, and image/video diffusion models
- Experience with Machine Learning for 3D data (such as meshes, point clouds, gaussian splatting, and voxels)
- Experience with Machine Learning for audio and visual synthesis
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$7,650/month to $12,667/month + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
See All 28 Research Scientist Jobs in Pennsylvania
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Find Research Scientist JobsResearch Scientist Jobs by City in Pennsylvania
Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Scientist Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- Technology & Software
What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research scientist jobs across Pennsylvania.
- PhD or master's degree in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, or materials science
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication or applied research output in your specialty area
- Proficiency with laboratory techniques, instrumentation, or computational tools specific to the listed discipline
- Experience designing, executing, and interpreting independent research projects from hypothesis through analysis
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting findings to cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Familiarity with regulatory and compliance frameworks relevant to life sciences or energy research in Pennsylvania
Research Scientist Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research scientist in Pennsylvania?
Most research scientist roles in Pennsylvania require at minimum a master's degree, and many academic or pharmaceutical positions expect a PhD in a relevant field such as chemistry, biology, or engineering. Pennsylvania does not issue a state-level research scientist license, so entry depends on educational credentials and demonstrated research output. Postdoctoral fellowships at institutions like Penn State, Temple, or Carnegie Mellon are a common bridge into independent research positions in the state.
Which companies hire research scientists in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring research scientists in Pennsylvania right now include Carnegie Mellon University, Meta, and Penn State University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pennsylvania's concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters, academic health systems, and Department of Energy-affiliated national laboratories means research scientist openings are distributed across both industry and institutional employers throughout the state.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most research scientist jobs?
The cities with the most research scientist openings in Pennsylvania are Pittsburgh, Malvern, and Philadelphia. Philadelphia leads due to its dense cluster of pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers, and biotech firms, while Pittsburgh's strength in materials science, robotics, and Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh-affiliated research drives significant demand in the western part of the state.
Are there remote research scientist jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields. About 50% of research scientist openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on laboratory work many positions require. Computational biology, bioinformatics, data science-adjacent research, and regulatory affairs roles within research organizations tend to be the most amenable to remote or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a research scientist in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship or graduate research assistantship at a Pennsylvania institution, which provides funded experience and direct access to hiring networks. Large employers such as Merck and GlaxoSmithKline run formal early-career and rotational research programs aimed at recent graduates. Adjacent roles like research associate, laboratory technician, or clinical research coordinator at Pennsylvania hospital systems also serve as launching points, and a strong thesis publication record can substitute for industry experience in early applications.
Where can I find and apply to research scientist jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to research scientist jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to each position through the listing.
See All 28 Research Scientist Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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