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Exercise Science Postdoc Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Exercise Science Postdoc information

What types of research collaboration opportunities are typically available for exercise science postdocs?

Exercise Science Postdocs often have the chance to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including physiologists, clinicians, nutritionists, and biomechanists. These collaborations may involve joint research projects, grant writing, or co-authoring publications, providing valuable experience and networking opportunities. Engaging with other departments or external institutions can also broaden your research scope and help you develop new technical skills. Such collaboration is not only encouraged but is often essential for career advancement in academia and industry.

What is an exercise science postdoc?

Exercise Science Postdocs are individuals who have completed a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in exercise science or a related field and are engaged in advanced research training, usually at a university or research institution. Their work often focuses on studying the physiological, biomechanical, and behavioral aspects of physical activity, exercise, and health. Postdoctoral positions are designed to help early-career scientists build research skills, publish scholarly work, and prepare for independent careers in academia, industry, or clinical settings. These positions typically last from one to three years and may involve teaching, mentoring, and grant writing in addition to research.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an exercise science postdoc, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Exercise Science Postdoc, you need a Ph.D. in exercise science or a related field, strong research skills, and a solid understanding of human physiology and movement. Experience with laboratory equipment, statistical analysis software (such as SPSS or R), and peer-reviewed publishing is typically required. Critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication are standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualifications are essential for advancing research, publishing impactful studies, and contributing meaningfully to academic and scientific communities.

What is the difference between Exercise Science Postdoc vs Exercise Physiologist?

AspectExercise Science PostdocExercise Physiologist
Required CredentialsDoctoral degree (PhD or equivalent), research experienceBachelor's or Master's degree, certification (e.g., ACSM)
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, academic settingsClinics, hospitals, fitness centers, rehabilitation facilities
Employer & IndustryUniversities, research institutions, academiaHealthcare, sports, wellness industry
Common Search & ComparisonYesNo

The Exercise Science Postdoc primarily focuses on research and academic pursuits, often working in universities or research institutions. In contrast, an Exercise Physiologist applies practical skills in clinical or fitness settings to improve patient or client health. While both roles involve exercise and health, the Postdoc emphasizes research credentials, whereas the Exercise Physiologist centers on certification and direct client care.

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Exercise Science Postdoc jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Exercise Science Postdoc job openings:
Infographic showing various Exercise Science Postdoc job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 93% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Postdoctoral Scientist - Schulze Lab

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Ashburn, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Primary Work Address: 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147
Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.
About the role:
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist with hybrid expertise spanning systems neuroscience, computer-vision, pose-tracking, behavioral ML, and VR technology to join the Schulze Lab. In this role, you will integrate custom hardware and software with computational analysis pipelines to probe the neural circuits underlying collective behavior and social cognition. To design and apply your own virtual reality paradigms, you will be working closely with our lab's VR specialist and collaborate across the team to investigate the rich, naturalistic behavior we study in Danionella. Further, you will use multi-animal tracking and behavioral classification to study latent structures and create brain-behavior maps.
This is an excellent opportunity for a scientifically driven researcher who is comfortable tinkering and who is motivated to advance the understanding of how individuality, sex differences, and stress shape the brain and decision-making in groups.
About the lab:
The Schulze Lab addresses a central question: how do neural circuits compute the experience-dependent actions animals deploy in complex, social worlds? The lab studies how individual traits, internal state, and context interact to shape both personal behavioral trajectories and group-level outcomes. We put a particular focus on the neural basis of inter-individual differences, sexually dimorphic and stress-related features expressed in social contexts such as schooling behavior. We use data-driven approaches for realistic closed-loop controlled VR-experiments, combined with two-photon calcium imaging and molecular phenotyping at single-cell resolution to investigate brain-wide circuits in the adult vertebrate brain. Further, we use LICONN for ultrastructural analyses. More information about the Schulze lab can be found here: the Schulze Lab page.
In addition, the HHMI Janelia Research Campus provides a highly collaborative, resource-rich environment for our work.
What we provide:
  • A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
  • Access to Janelia's facilities and engineering support for imaging, custom-hardware, scientific computing, Unity-based visual environments, in-situ hybridization, and dissection.
  • A highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research campus with close ties to labs working across systems neuroscience, computation, modeling, and tool development.
  • One-on-one mentorship.
  • Support to attend and present at scientific conferences.
  • Amenities that enhance work-life balance such as on-site childcare, free gyms, available on-campus housing, social and dining spaces, and convenient shuttle bus service to Janelia from the Washington D.C. metro area.

What you'll do:
  • Design VR systems and paradigms to present naturalistic, socially rich stimuli.
  • Write software to integrate ML-based/agentic approaches for multi-animal studies.
  • Develop and execute experiments investigating the neural circuits underlying inter-individual differences, sexually dimorphic and stress-related traits in social behavior.
  • Analyze the multivariate whole-brain activity, behavioral, and stimulus data using computational approaches. Interpret results in the context of project goals.
  • Prepare technical reports, protocols, and quantitative analyses, and maintain familiarity with current literature in systems neuroscience and VR-based behavioral neuroscience.
  • Collaborate with the lab's VR specialist and other members of the Janelia community.

What you bring:
  • A Ph.D. in neuroscience, computer science, engineering, or a closely related field.
  • A hybrid background bridging software-hardware integration and computational as well as ML skills with a solid grounding in systems neuroscience.
  • Demonstrated experience building or working with complex rigs, such as VR systems for behavioral neuroscience research.
  • Working knowledge of scientific principles and the ability to exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
  • Ability to perform highly complex experiments with high levels of reliability and accuracy within time constraints.
  • Genuine interest in the neural basis of inter-individual differences, including sexually dimorphic and stress-related features in social contexts such as schooling behavior.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and contribute to publications.

Physical Requirements
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word "may," the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are "essential functions" of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Compensation:
A Postdoc 00 (0 to 1 year research experience after obtaining a PhD) is compensated at a rate of $74,200.00 annually at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus.
Pay Type:
Annual
HHMI's salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity when making job offers.
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Compensation and Benefits
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.
HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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