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Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Bloomington, IN · On-site

$45K - $61K/yr

... a highly motivated postdoctoral associate to work on HIV-1 related projects with minimal ... D. degree in virology and preferably on HIV-1 research are encouraged to apply. The lab combines ...

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Postdoctoral Research Associate information

See Indiana salary details

$40.4K

$81.8K

$110.9K

How much do postdoctoral research associate jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoctoral research associate in Indiana is $81,796.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,300.00 and $110,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a postdoctoral research associate?

A Postdoctoral Research Associate, often called a postdoc, is a person who has recently completed their doctoral studies (PhD or equivalent) and is engaged in scholarly research as part of a temporary position, usually at a university or research institution. The role is designed to deepen their expertise in a specific field, contribute to research projects, publish academic papers, and develop skills for future independent research or academic positions. Postdocs typically work under the supervision of a principal investigator (PI) and may also mentor graduate or undergraduate students.

What is a postdoctoral research associate?

Postdoctoral research associates are professionals who have completed their doctorate and are continuing their research to gain hands-on experience before starting their academic careers. Their duties usually include researching with the support of a small team and writing papers for academic journals. Depending on the field of research, a postdoctoral research associate may also have other responsibilities. These positions are typically short-term.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a postdoctoral research associate?

To thrive as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you need an advanced degree (typically a Ph.D.) in a relevant field, strong research methodology skills, and a track record of scholarly publications. Familiarity with specialized laboratory equipment, data analysis software, or programming languages is often required, depending on the research area. Excellent problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and effective written and verbal communication set outstanding candidates apart. These skills are crucial for producing high-quality research, contributing to scientific advancement, and securing future academic or industry positions.

What are some common challenges faced by postdoctoral research associates when transitioning to independent research roles?

Postdoctoral Research Associates often encounter challenges such as balancing multiple research projects, securing independent funding, and developing a unique research identity separate from their advisor. Navigating the transition also involves building professional networks and gaining experience in grant writing, mentoring, and publishing as a lead author. Proactively seeking mentorship and collaborating across disciplines can help ease these challenges and support a successful move to an independent research career.

What is the difference between Postdoctoral Research Associate vs Research Scientist?

AspectPostdoctoral Research AssociateResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsDoctoral degree (Ph.D.) in relevant fieldMaster's or Ph.D., often with more industry experience
Work EnvironmentAcademic or research institutions, labsIndustry, corporate R&D, or academic settings
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, government labs, research institutesPrivate companies, biotech, pharma, tech firms
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Postdoctoral Research Associates typically hold a Ph.D. and work in academic or research institutions focusing on specialized research projects. Research Scientists often have similar credentials but may work in industry settings with broader responsibilities, including product development and applied research. The main difference lies in the work environment and career stage, with Postdoctoral Research Associates usually in early career research roles and Research Scientists in more advanced, industry-focused positions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Postdoctoral Research jobs in Indiana?

The most popular types of Postdoctoral Research jobs in Indiana are:

What cities in Indiana are hiring for Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs?

Cities in Indiana with the most Postdoctoral Research Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Postdoctoral Research Associate job openings in Indiana as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,796 per year, or $39.3 per hour.

Postdoctoral Scientist, Biophysics

Eli Lilly and Company

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago


Eli Lilly and Company rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 63 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work-but it's work worth doing. If you're driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Organization Overview:
For 150 years, scientists at Lilly have worked diligently to develop medicines that make life better for patients. These discoveries start in the Lilly Research Laboratories, where our scientists solve complex problems to develop new medicines that will help solve our world's greatest health challenges. We are looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Biophysical Chemist to join a cross-functional team in Indianapolis, IN to support our small molecule Early Molecule Discovery (EMD). Our team integrates biophysical and structural methods with computational approaches (i.e. quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, free energy calculations, and AI/ML) to accelerate the identification and advancement of molecules to develop medicines.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will join an interactive, collaborative, and innovative cross-functional team to develop and apply integrative biophysical and computational methods that accelerate the discovery of new medicines.
  • Execute biophysical and biomolecular NMR experiments to explore biomolecular energy landscapes and conformations.
  • Integrate experimental data with advanced quantum mechanical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to study protein motion, protein-ligand interactions, and protein-protein interactions in support of structure-based drug design.
  • Develop and implement novel AI and neural networks for analyzing experimental and molecular dynamics simulations into integrated structural models.
  • Script and automate workflows across computational software platforms to maximize throughput and reproducibility of molecular calculations.
  • Stay current with emerging methods in computational drug discovery, including AI and machine learning models for ligand binding and model building.
  • Maintain critical timelines and communicate progress clearly through oral and written presentations at internal and external team meetings.
  • Collaborate with discovery scientists to advance portfolio molecules from leads to quality drug candidates.

Basic Requirements:
  • Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry, Biophysics, Computational Chemistry, or a related field.
  • Strong foundation in biomolecular NMR with expertise in protein structure and dynamics.
  • Demonstrated experience integrating experimental data with molecular dynamics.
  • Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Additional Skills/Preferences:
  • Experience in generative AI, especially building and training neural networks (CNN, GNN, etc.)
  • Experience with molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanical or free energy calculation methods applied to protein-ligand systems
  • Proficiency in Python and/or other scientific scripting and programming languages
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and in a collaborative team environment
  • Experience working on an HPC or Cloud computing environment
  • Experience integrating structural biology data (cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, NMR or AI-predicted structures) with computational models
  • Strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Additional Information:
  • This is an onsite position based in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • This position is not permanent. It is a fixed-term position up to 2 years.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$58,000 - $123,200
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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About Eli Lilly

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis, IN, US, is one of the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry with a rich history dating back to 1876. This global pharmaceutical company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical products in approximately 120 countries. The company's product categories include endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and immunology. Having invested over $9 billion in research and development in the past decade, Eli Lilly is also committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs. As a recipient of several awards and recognitions, Eli Lilly is known for its focus on life-saving research and drug development. Their mission is to make medicines that help people live longer, healthier, and more active lives.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Indianapolis, IN, US

Year founded

1876