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Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in Lafayette, IN

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Postdoctoral Research Associate information

See Lafayette, IN salary details

$41K

$82.8K

$112.3K

How much do postdoctoral research associate jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoctoral research associate in Lafayette, IN is $82,849.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $111,800.00 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.

More about Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Postdoctoral Research jobs in Lafayette, IN?

The most popular types of Postdoctoral Research jobs in Lafayette, IN are:

What cities near Lafayette, IN are hiring for Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs?

Cities near Lafayette, IN with the most Postdoctoral Research Associate job openings:

Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Postdoctoral Research Associate job openings in Lafayette, IN 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 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,849 per year, or $39.8 per hour.

Post Doc Research Associate

West Lafayette, IN • On-site

Purdue University
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Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

Post Doc Research Associate
City: West Lafayette
Job Description:
Job Summary
Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate - Bioinformatics, Pharmacogenomics, and AI/Machine Learning
Job Description: A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is immediately available for a highly motivated, independent, and ambitious candidate in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Purdue University College of Pharmacy (Indianapolis campus). This position offers extensive collaborative research opportunities with the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, scientists, clinicians, informaticians, health professionals, and trainees across institutions to develop and apply computational methods for biomedical discovery and precision therapeutics.
This position is ideal for candidates seeking advanced training and leadership opportunities in bioinformatics, pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational drug discovery, and precision medicine.
Research Area
The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to projects in one or more of the following areas:
• Bioinformatics and computational biology
• Multi-omics data integration and analysis
• Pharmacogenomics and computational drug discovery
• Pharmacogenomics and precision medicine
• AI and machine learning applications in biomedical research
• Deep learning and predictive modeling
• Natural language processing and large language models for biomedical data
• Drug response prediction and treatment optimization
• Biomedical knowledge graphs and network medicine
• Translational data science for therapeutic discovery
Primary Responsibilities:
The Postdoctoral Research Associate is expected to lead and contribute to independent and collaborative research projects, including but not limited to:
• Developing and applying bioinformatics, pharmacogenomics, AI, machine learning, and deep learning methods
• Analyzing and integrating large-scale biomedical datasets, including omics, pharmacogenomics, medication, drug database, ontology, knowledge graph, and clinical molecular data
• Building computational pipelines for drug discovery, drug response prediction, therapeutic target identification, and precision therapeutics
• Developing predictive models, knowledge graphs, NLP/LLM applications, and AI-enabled analytic frameworks
• Leading manuscript preparation and contributing to grant proposals and scientific dissemination
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including clinicians, biomedical scientists, informaticians, and data scientists
Education
Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a related field, such as bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, computer science, computational biology, biostatistics, pharmacogenomics, biomedical engineering, health data science, or a related discipline
Experience
1. Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: bioinformatics; pharmacogenomics; artificial intelligence; machine learning or deep learning; pharmacogenomics; computational biology; drug discovery; network medicine; NLP/large language models; or precision medicine
2. Strong programming skills in Python, R, SQL, or related languages
3. Experience with omics data, pharmacogenomics data, drug databases, biomedical ontologies, knowledge graphs, or large-scale biomedical datasets is highly desirable
4. Strong written and oral communication skills, with evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations
5. Ability to work effectively with diverse multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians, biomedical scientists, informaticians, and data scientists
Application Materials:
Interested applicants should submit the following:
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover letter explaining research interests, relevant experience, and career goals
3. Contact information for 2-3 references
Internal candidates use this link https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate/43347-en_US/?isInternalUser=true
External candidates use this link https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Post-Doc-Research-Associate/43347-en_US/

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