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Postdoc Chemical Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary Reporting to the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CCE) Division Operations Officer ... Prepares and coordinates appointments, re-appointments, and promotions of all postdoctoral scholars ...

Post Doctoral

Los Angeles, CA

$53K - $73K/yr

... The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct research on the computational design of soft materials ... Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Computational Chemistry ...

Showing results 21-40

Postdoc Chemical Engineering information

See California salary details

$39.5K

$86.3K

$138.2K

How much do postdoc chemical engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoc chemical engineering in California is $86,341.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,600.00 and $105,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a postdoc chemical engineering?

A Postdoc in Chemical Engineering is a temporary research position for PhD graduates to conduct advanced studies in areas such as reaction engineering, materials science, or process optimization. Postdoctoral researchers work under the supervision of a principal investigator, contributing to ongoing projects or developing independent research initiatives. The role often involves publishing research findings, mentoring students, and collaborating with industry or academic partners. The position typically lasts 1-3 years and helps researchers gain experience before pursuing academic, industry, or government roles.

What does a postdoc chemical engineering do?

A typical day for a Postdoc in Chemical Engineering often involves designing and running experiments, analyzing data, reviewing scientific literature, and writing research papers or grant proposals. You will frequently collaborate with other researchers, graduate students, and sometimes industry partners to advance projects. Regular lab meetings and presentations are common, providing opportunities for feedback and professional development. Many postdocs also mentor junior team members and contribute to teaching or outreach activities, making the role varied and dynamic. This hands-on and collaborative environment is ideal for building a strong research portfolio and expanding your professional network.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in postdoc chemical engineering?

To thrive as a Postdoc Chemical Engineering, you generally need a Ph.D. in chemical engineering or a related field, strong research experience, and expertise in experimental or computational techniques related to the discipline. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, data analysis software such as MATLAB or Python, and adherence to safety protocols are typically important. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, collaboration skills, and project management abilities set exceptional candidates apart. These skills are essential for conducting high-quality research, publishing results, and contributing to interdisciplinary scientific teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of Postdoc Chemical Engineering jobs in California?

The most popular types of Postdoc Chemical Engineering jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Postdoc Chemical Engineering jobs in California?

For Postdoc Chemical Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Postdoc Chemical Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Postdoc Chemical Engineering job openings:

Infographic showing various Postdoc Chemical Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,341 per year, or $41.5 per hour.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Metabolic Engineering & Synthetic Biology

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$125K/yr

Other

Posted 19 days ago


UCLA rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 76 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

189th of 620 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Position description
The Park lab at UCLA is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Scholar to lead cutting-edge research in metabolic engineering, immunometabolism, and integrative omics.
The Park lab focuses on engineering microbial hosts for sustainable biomanufacturing, elucidating metabolic dysregulation in human diseases, and innovating metabolomics and fluxomics technologies. The successful candidate will drive the construction of novel strains/pathways, the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms behind health and disease through hypothesis-driven studies, and the integration of computational and experimental procedures.
Interested candidates should submit the following materials as a single PDF document to parklab@ucla.edu with the subject line "Postdoc Application - [Your Last Name]"
Lab: https://parklab.ucla.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications
• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, or a closely related discipline (completed or near completion at time of application).
• Expertise in molecular biology techniques.
• Strong background in fermentation, culturing, and physiological characterization.
• Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation (HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, or NMR).
• A strong track record of scientific productivity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Preferred qualifications
• Experience with Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA), kinetic modeling, or constraint-based genome-scale modeling (COBRA).
• Strong mathematical background in differential equations, linear algebra, and optimization.
• Background in thermodynamics and reaction kinetics.
• Background in engineering non-conventional host organisms [e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica].
• Experience with bioinformatics, transcriptomics (RNA-seq), or metabolomics data analysis pipelines.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter (Optional)
  • Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
  • UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.
    The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:
    Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
    Expand our reach as a global university
    Enhance our research and creative activities
    Elevate how we teach
    Become a more effective institution
    Prompt for candidates for recruitment:
    Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Contact information for 3 professional references (including your primary Ph.D. advisor).
Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF11227
Help contact: baclagon@seas.ucla.edu
About UCLA
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
  • "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
  • APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Los Angeles, CA

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