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Phd Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Exelixis

Senior Scientist II (Pharmacology)

Alameda, CA · On-site

$132K - $188K/yr

PhD in Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Cellular Biology, or a closely related field with a minimum of 2 years of industrial experience after post-doctoral training; or * Equivalent ...

Exelixis

Senior Scientist II (Pharmacology)

Alameda, CA · On-site

$132K - $188K/yr

PhD in Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Cellular Biology, or a closely related field with a minimum of 2 years of industrial experience after post-doctoral training; or * Equivalent ...

TPIRC

Mid-Career Scientist

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$180K - $225K/yr

This role is designed for an emerging, independent PhD scientist who is approximately 5-7 years into an independent or near-independent research career. The successful candidate will leverage strong ...

TPIRC

Mid-Career Scientist

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$180K - $225K/yr

This role is designed for an emerging, independent PhD scientist who is approximately 5-7 years into an independent or near-independent research career. The successful candidate will leverage strong ...

Canva

PhD Research Scientist Intern

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$157K/yr

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, , hallo, vitejte! We're looking for current PhD students ready to ... You can design, run, and interpret machine-learning experiments with strong scientific rigour.

Canva

PhD Research Scientist Intern

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$157K/yr

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte! We're looking for current PhD students ready ... You can design, run, and interpret machine-learning experiments with strong scientific rigour.

Exelixis

Senior Scientist II (Pharmacology)

Alameda, CA · On-site

$132K - $188K/yr

PhD in Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Cellular Biology, or a closely related field with a minimum of 2 years of industrial experience after post-doctoral training; or * Equivalent ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPhd Science JobsPhd Science Jobs in California

Phd Science information

See California salary details

$24.2K

$47.8K

$78K

How much do phd science jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for phd science in California is $47,757.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,000.00 and $51,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a PhD in science?

A PhD in Science is the highest academic degree awarded in scientific fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental science. It typically involves several years of advanced coursework, followed by original research that contributes new knowledge to the field. Graduates must defend a dissertation before a panel of experts. Earning a PhD in Science prepares individuals for careers in academia, research, industry, and leadership roles within scientific organizations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a PhD scientist?

To thrive as a PhD Scientist, you need advanced expertise in your scientific discipline, strong research skills, and a doctoral degree (PhD) in a relevant field. Familiarity with specialized laboratory equipment, data analysis software (such as R or Python), and publication processes is typically required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for presenting complex findings and collaborating with peers. These skills and qualifications are crucial for driving innovative research, producing publishable results, and contributing to scientific advancement.

What are the typical career advancement paths for someone with a PhD in science in academia and industry?

Individuals with a PhD in Science often start in postdoctoral or entry-level research positions, where they build specialized expertise and publish their findings. In academia, advancement typically involves progressing to assistant, associate, and full professor roles, with additional opportunities to lead research groups or departments. In industry, PhD holders can move into senior scientist, project manager, or R&D director roles, with the potential to transition into leadership, policy, or consulting positions. Building a strong professional network, publishing impactful research, and developing leadership skills are key to advancing in both sectors.

What is the difference between Phd Science vs Data Scientist?

AspectPhd ScienceData Scientist
Required CredentialsPhD in a scientific field, research experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS, stats, or related field; often a PhD preferred
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academia, industry R&DTech companies, finance, healthcare, consulting
Industry UsageResearch roles, scientific analysis, product developmentData analysis, machine learning, predictive modeling

While both roles involve analytical skills and data handling, Phd Science focuses on scientific research and experimentation, often in academic or R&D settings. Data Scientists primarily analyze large datasets to inform business decisions and develop models in industry environments. The key difference lies in their application areas and typical work environments.

Is a PhD worth it in science?

A PhD in science is valuable for careers in research, academia, and specialized industry roles that require advanced expertise and critical thinking skills. However, it often involves several years of study and research, and job prospects can vary depending on the field and geographic location. The decision to pursue a PhD should consider personal career goals and the demand for advanced scientific skills in the job market.

What can a PhD in science get you?

A PhD in science can lead to careers in research, academia, industry, or government, often involving roles such as scientist, researcher, or professor. It demonstrates advanced expertise and critical thinking skills, and may require additional certifications or experience depending on the field and position.

What is the salary of a PhD scientist?

The salary of a PhD scientist varies depending on the industry, experience, and location, but typically ranges from $70,000 to over $120,000 annually. Advanced skills, research experience, and specialized knowledge can lead to higher compensation, especially in biotech, pharmaceuticals, or research institutions.

What jobs can I do with a PhD in science?

A PhD in science qualifies individuals for research scientist, university professor, laboratory manager, or scientific consultant roles. These positions often require strong analytical skills, familiarity with laboratory tools, and the ability to conduct independent research or teach at higher education institutions.

What are popular job titles related to Phd Science jobs in California?

For Phd Science jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Phd Science jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Phd Science jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Phd Science jobs?

Cities in California with the most Phd Science job openings:

Phd Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Phd Science job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,757 per year, or $23 per hour.

Machine Learning PhD Student Contributor

Cobalt

Sonoma, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Produce written reasoning traces on complex ML problems and draft expert reference answers to technical questions.

  • Evaluate model-generated technical content by comparing responses, articulating strengths, and identifying points of failure in reasoning.

  • Assess whether conclusions are supported by derivations, code, or experimental evidence, and contribute to project guidelines and benchmarking efforts.

Job description

About the role:

Cobalt is seeking PhD-qualified machine learning researchers with direct experience designing, running, and evaluating original ML research. This opportunity is suited to researchers who have worked in academic ML labs, industry research groups, or frontier lab environments, and who understand how technical claims are established, tested, and supported by evidence.

You may currently work, or have previously worked, as a PhD candidate, Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Scientist, Research Engineer, Applied Scientist, Member of Technical Staff, or in a related role.

You do not need prior experience in data annotation or model evaluation. You must, however, have contributed meaningfully to at least one substantive ML research output, and you must be comfortable reading papers, interpreting experimental results, and judging whether stated conclusions follow from the underlying evidence.


What you'll do:

Depending on the project, you may:

  • Produce written reasoning traces on hard ML problems, capturing how you reach a solution rather than only the solution itself, and draft expert reference answers to technical questions
  • Author novel problems in your subfield that have verifiable or defensible correct answers
  • Evaluate model-generated technical content: compare and rank responses, articulate what makes the stronger one stronger, and identify the specific step at which a chain of reasoning breaks down
  • Assess whether stated conclusions are supported by the underlying derivation, code, or experimental evidence
  • Design rubrics and partial-credit criteria for scoring multistep technical tasks, and contribute subject-matter expertise to benchmark and dataset development

Projects follow their own annotation guidelines and quality standards, and you will work with feedback from reviewers and lab research teams.


Required qualifications:

  • PhD, completed or in progress, in machine learning, computer science, statistics, mathematics, physics, or a closely related quantitative discipline, with research that is substantially ML focused
  • Direct experience authoring, co-authoring, or substantively contributing to at least one ML research output, such as a peer-reviewed paper, preprint, thesis chapter, or comparable technical artifact
  • Demonstrated depth in at least one area, for example optimization, reinforcement learning, language model training and post-training, learning theory, probabilistic methods, computer vision, natural language processing, or systems for ML
  • Ability to interpret papers, derivations, code and experimental results, and to explain your reasoning clearly in writing
  • Strong attention to detail, a commitment to factual accuracy, and the ability to work independently to agreed timelines


Why join Cobalt AI:

  • Advance frontier AI where it counts. Apply your research expertise to the data that frontier labs cannot obtain any other way, where your reasoning directly shapes how the next generation of models works through technical problems.
  • Grow professionally. Expand your influence through evaluation projects, advisory roles, and research collaborations, while deepening your understanding of how frontier models are trained and assessed.
  • Work with a top-tier network. Collaborate with researchers from leading institutions and labs on high-impact, flexible work.
  • Set your own schedule. Flexible 10 to 40 hour weeks that fit around your research position and your life.
  • Competitive pay. Rates vary by project and are determined by a number of factors, including scope, skillset, and experience.

Apply