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Lab Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

UAB

RESEARCHER SENIOR

Tampa, FL · On-site

As a Researcher Senior, you will have expanded responsibilities, overseeing complex research ... Additional duties include ordering, general lab maintenance, and ensuring compliance with ...

The Pennsylvania State University

AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS The Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab is seeking a part-time research assistant to perform the following job duties: * Assist with onboarding for research assistants * Create ...

Harvard University

Research Assistant I Lab

Boston, MA · On-site

$52/hr

We invite applicants for a Research Assistant position in the Brugge lab at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. The Brugge lab has identified populations of breast epithelial cells that ...

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do lab researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for lab researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

In the US, high-paying roles for lab researchers or scientists can reach or exceed $300,000 annually, especially for those with advanced degrees, extensive experience, or leadership positions such as principal investigators or senior research directors in biotech, pharmaceuticals, or medical research. These roles often require specialized skills, publications, and management responsibilities, and may involve working in highly regulated or competitive environments.

What are lab researchers?

Lab researchers are professionals who conduct scientific experiments, investigations, and analyses in laboratory settings. They may work in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, or engineering to develop new knowledge, test hypotheses, or create innovative products. Lab researchers are responsible for designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and ensuring that laboratory procedures follow safety protocols. Their work is essential for advancing scientific understanding and technological progress.

How much do lab researchers get paid?

Lab researchers' salaries vary based on experience, education, location, and the specific field. In the United States, entry-level lab researchers typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually, with more experienced professionals earning over $70,000. Salaries can also be influenced by certifications, specialized skills, and the type of research environment.

What is the highest paid lab job?

The highest paid lab research jobs are often senior roles such as Principal Investigator or Laboratory Director, especially in pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical research fields. These positions typically require advanced degrees, extensive experience, and management skills, and they can earn six-figure salaries or higher depending on the industry and location.

What are some common challenges faced by lab researchers when working on collaborative projects?

Lab researchers often work as part of interdisciplinary teams, which can present challenges such as coordinating schedules, aligning research goals, and communicating effectively with colleagues from different backgrounds. Managing shared resources and ensuring consistent documentation are also important aspects. Developing strong organizational and interpersonal skills can help researchers navigate these challenges and contribute effectively to collaborative projects.

What is the difference between Lab Researcher vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLab ResearcherLaboratory Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field; research experienceAssociate's degree or certification; technical training
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, pharmaceutical companiesClinical labs, industrial labs, manufacturing facilities
Job FocusDesigning experiments, analyzing data, developing new methodsPerforming routine tests, maintaining equipment, sample preparation

Lab Researchers typically hold higher education degrees and focus on experimental design and data analysis, often working on innovative projects. Laboratory Technicians usually have technical certifications and handle routine testing and equipment maintenance. Both roles are essential in laboratory settings but differ in responsibilities and qualifications.

What does a laboratory researcher do?

A laboratory researcher conducts experiments, collects and analyzes data, and documents findings to support scientific studies or product development. They often work with laboratory equipment, follow safety protocols, and may specialize in fields like biology, chemistry, or medicine.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lab Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lab Researcher, you need a strong background in scientific methods, analytical skills, and a relevant degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and safety protocols is typically required, along with certifications like GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) when applicable. Attention to detail, critical thinking, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for conducting accurate experiments, ensuring safety, and effectively sharing research findings.
More about Lab Researcher jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Lab Researcher jobs? The most popular types of Lab Researcher jobs are:
What states have the most Lab Researcher jobs? States with the most job openings for Lab Researcher jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Lab Researcher jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lab Researcher jobs are:
Lab Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lab Researcher job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Horns Lab

Postdoctoral Researcher, Horns Lab

Arc Institute

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$136K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

About Arc Institute
Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.
Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.
Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:
  • Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.
About the position
The Horns Lab is seeking motivated, hard-working, and curious scientists. Our lab develops and applies technologies that bridge synthetic biology and genomics to answer fundamental and translational questions in human health, with a particular emphasis on immunology and neuroscience. We build new tools and use them to discover mechanisms in complex, dynamic systems, including the immune system, the brain, and other tissues.
Postdocs in the lab are encouraged to lead ambitious, independent projects, resulting in high-impact publications, and to prepare for long-term careers in academia or industry. You will have the opportunity to collaborate widely across Arc, Stanford, and the broader Bay Area ecosystem, with access to strong platforms in our lab and our institutions for genomics, single-cell technologies, synthetic biology, computation, and experimental model systems.
The questions we ask:
We are interested in how cells change over time and how those dynamics drive health and disease, and in building technologies to measure and control those dynamics. Example questions include:
  • How can we measure cellular dynamics non-destructively at scale, capturing histories, interactions, and functional outputs?
  • How do extracellular vesicles (EVs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) interact with cells and tissues, and what molecular rules govern secretion, trafficking, uptake, and cargo delivery?
  • How can we engineer delivery systems to target specific cell types and achieve efficient cytosolic delivery with minimal off-target effects?
  • How do immune cells change state, migrate, and interact with tissues over time during homeostasis, inflammation, and disease?
  • How can we profile immune receptor specificity and function at scale (TCRs/BCRs) to decipher immune recognition and control immune behaviors?

The approaches we take:
We combine synthetic biology, genomics, cellular and mammalian models, and computation. Depending on the project, approaches may include:
  • Mammalian synthetic biology
  • Single-cell and spatial multi-omics
  • Engineering and mechanistic study of EVs, VLPs, and other delivery systems
  • Immune cell engineering and functional assays
  • Sequencing-based measurement technologies
  • Computational analysis and modeling of high-dimensional datasets

About you
  • You are extremely curious and self-motivated.
  • You thrive in a fast-paced environment while conducting rigorous and impactful research.
  • You are intellectually independent and enjoy proposing and driving new research directions (with input from your PI).
  • You are eager to learn and adopt new techniques.
  • You are excited to solve puzzles that have translational impact and/or enable new discovery and therapeutic approaches.
  • You have a strong foundation in synthetic biology or genomics technology development, and/or in immunology or neuroscience.

In this position you will
  • Conduct high-impact research: Design, execute, and analyze experiments; take end-to-end ownership of a research project within the lab's scientific focus, with guidance from the PI and increasing independence as you develop expertise.
  • Develop as a future scientific leader: Publish first-author papers in high-impact journals, present at national and international conferences, and build a network of collaborators across Arc, Stanford, and beyond.
  • Foster scientific excellence: Mentor and train research associates, technicians, and students; engage in Arc-wide activities (seminars, symposia); contribute to a collaborative research environment; maintain rigorous experimental records and documentation; and contribute to lab operations including protocol development and maintaining shared infrastructure.

Requirements
  • Doctorate (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, DVM, or equivalent) in bioengineering, synthetic biology, genomics, immunology, neuroscience, molecular biology, or a related field.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including a track record of scientific writing (manuscripts, preprints, or equivalent).
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and be both an independent thinker and a highly collaborative team player.

Preferred Qualifications
Our research group thrives on bringing together people with diverse expertise. The best fit is typically someone strong in at least one area and excited to learn the others. Experience in one or more of the following is a plus:
  • Single-cell sequencing and analysis (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, CITE-seq)
  • Spatial transcriptomics and multi-omics
  • Pooled perturbation screens (CRISPRi/a/KO, Perturb-seq)
  • Building new sequencing-based assays or new measurement modalities
  • Molecular engineering (e.g. protein design and engineering)
  • Mammalian synthetic biology (e.g. genetic circuit design)
  • High-throughput library design and screening in mammalian cells
  • Immune cell biology or engineering
  • Immune receptor biology and profiling
  • Neurobiology
  • EVs, VLPs, or related nanoparticle systems
  • In vivo models (e.g. mouse)
  • Expertise in analysis of high-dimensional datasets (e.g. single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, pooled screening, using Python or R)
  • Strong quantitative mindset

How to Apply
Please submit:
  1. CV
  2. Brief cover letter describing your research interests, what kinds of projects you're excited to lead, and why the Horns Lab is a fit. Please be sure to include contact information for 3+ references.

The minimum base salary for this position is $80,000. Base salary for this role is determined by how many months of relevant postdoctoral experience a successful candidate has. Base salary for this role is not negotiable.

Apply