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National Lab Postdoc Jobs in Oak Ridge, NC (NOW HIRING)

... Postdoctoral Research Associate position will study the metabolic interactions of dietary ... Nationally recognized for its leadership and excellence in STEM education and research, N.C. A&T is ...

National Lab Postdoc information

See Oak Ridge, NC salary details

$12

$20

$28

How much do national lab postdoc jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for national lab postdoc in Oak Ridge, NC is $20.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.36 and $21.97 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a National Lab postdoc?

A National Lab Postdoc is a researcher who has recently completed their Ph.D. and is undertaking postdoctoral research at a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory or similar federally funded research facility. These positions are typically temporary and provide early-career scientists with opportunities to deepen their expertise, work on cutting-edge projects, and collaborate with leading experts in the field. National Lab Postdocs often work on interdisciplinary teams and have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, making these roles highly sought after for those pursuing careers in research or academia.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a National Lab postdoc?

To thrive as a National Lab Postdoc, you need a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or engineering field, a strong research background, and expertise in experimental or computational methods. Familiarity with specialized laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and scientific publishing platforms is typically required. Critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication are essential soft skills for advancing research projects and sharing results. These skills and qualifications are vital for driving innovation, meeting research goals, and contributing to high-impact scientific discoveries in a collaborative environment.

What are some common challenges faced by National Lab postdocs, and how can they be addressed?

National Lab Postdocs often encounter challenges such as balancing independent research with collaborative projects, adapting to the unique mission-driven environment of national laboratories, and managing time between research, publishing, and networking. To address these, it's helpful to set clear project goals with mentors, actively seek interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and participate in lab-wide seminars or workshops. Many labs also offer mentorship programs and professional development resources to support postdocs in overcoming these challenges and advancing their careers.

What is the difference between National Lab Postdoc vs Research Scientist?

AspectNational Lab PostdocResearch Scientist
Required credentialsPhD in relevant fieldPhD or equivalent experience
Work environmentResearch-focused, academic setting within national labsResearch and development in industry or academia
Employer and industry usagePrimarily government-funded national labsPrivate companies, universities, or government agencies
Common search intentPostdoctoral research opportunities at national labsResearch roles in industry or academia

National Lab Postdocs are typically early-career researchers with a PhD working in government-funded labs, focusing on fundamental research. Research Scientists often have similar credentials but work in industry or academia, with more independence and potential for career advancement. Both roles involve research but differ mainly in employer and work environment.

Infographic showing various National Lab Postdoc job openings in Oak Ridge, NC as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,993 per year, or $20.7 per hour.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Radiation Oncology

Winston Salem, NC • On-site

Advocate Aurora Health
Hospitals • 10K+ employees

$30.70 - $46.05/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Advocate Aurora Health rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 782 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Department:
37303 Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Oncology: Radiation
Status:
Full time
Benefits Eligible:
Yes
Hours Per Week:
40
Schedule Details/Additional Information:
Lab Hours - typically 8 AM - 5 PM
Pay Range:
$30.70 - $46.05
Postdoctoral Researcher Positions
The Laboratory at Wake Forest University School of Medicine is seeking two Postdoctoral Researchers to join our NIH-funded interdisciplinary research program in artificial intelligence, medical imaging, computational pathology, and precision oncology.
Responsibilities
Postdoctoral Fellows will play a leading role in advancing the laboratory's research program by:
• Developing novel machine learning and deep learning methodologies for medical imaging, computational pathology, and multimodal biomedical data analysis.
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating AI algorithms using large-scale radiology, pathology, genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical datasets.
• Publishing research in leading biomedical and artificial intelligence journals and conferences.
• Presenting research findings at national and international scientific meetings.
• Mentoring graduate students, medical students, and research staff.
• Establishing collaborations with investigators across multiple disciplines and institutions.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
• PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Statistics, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
• Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, or multimodal AI.
• Ability to conduct independent research while working effectively in a collaborative environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:
• Computational pathology and whole-slide image analysis
• Medical image analysis (CT, MRI, PET/CT)
• Vision-language models and multimodal large language models
• High-performance computing and large-scale biomedical data analysis
Required Application Materials
• CV
• One representative publication
• A research statement (no more than one page)
Professional Development
The Laboratory is committed to supporting the career development of postdoctoral fellows. Fellows will receive mentorship in scientific leadership, grant writing, laboratory management, and career planning. Outstanding candidates will have opportunities to develop independent research directions, compete for individual fellowship and career development awards (e.g., NIH K99/R00 and K01), establish national and international collaborations, and build a competitive portfolio for academic faculty or industry research positions.
Our Commitment to You:
Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more - so you can live fully at and away from work, including:
Compensation
  • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
  • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
  • Incentive pay for select positions
  • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more
  • Paid Time Off programs
  • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
  • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
  • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
  • Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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About Advocate Health

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Advocate Healthcare, based in Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States, is a leading figure in the health care industry. Accessible via their official website, 'advocatehealth.com', this organization provides a wide variety of medical services and treatment options. Founded in 1995 through a merger of Evangelical Health Systems Corporation and Lutheran General HealthSystem, Advocate Healthcare has grown exponentially over the years. Now, it operates more than 400 sites of care, including 12 hospitals that encompass 11 acute care hospitals, the state’s largest integrated children’s network, five Level I trauma centers, and three Level II trauma centers. Upholding their values of equality, compassion, excellence, partnership and stewardship, Advocate Healthcare's mission is centered on building lifelong relationships with patients by delivering the best health outcomes and highest level of service through an integrated approach to care and wellness.

Industry

Hospitals and health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Charlotte, NC, US