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Postdoctoral Researcher Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be based out of either the Boston, MA or Portland, ME campus and conduct applied research, prepare work for submission to journal/conference publications, contribute ...

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work on projects that informs the design and evaluation of culturally responsive communication interventions to advance the health and well-being of health ...

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to take a lead role in data analyses related to the project. Successful candidates should have a strong background in fMRI data collection and analysis ...

About the Opportunity Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with strong research interests and expertise in investigating the social ...

About the Opportunity Northeastern University has established a Postdoctoral Researcher position dealing with cutting-edge research in the theoretical and applied aspects of resilient artificial ...

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Showing results 1-20

Postdoctoral Researcher information

See Boston, MA salary details

$46.2K

$93.4K

$126.6K

How much do postdoctoral researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoctoral researcher in Boston, MA is $93,382.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,800.00 and $126,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a postdoctoral researcher?

Postdoctoral Researchers, often called 'postdocs,' are individuals who have completed their doctoral studies (typically a PhD) and are engaged in further academic or scholarly research, usually under the supervision of senior faculty members. Their role is to deepen their expertise in a specific field, contribute to ongoing research projects, and publish scholarly articles. Postdocs may also gain teaching experience, mentor students, and develop skills needed for independent research careers. These positions are typically temporary and serve as a bridge between doctoral studies and permanent academic or research roles.

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

To thrive as a Postdoctoral Researcher, you need an advanced degree (usually a Ph.D.) in a relevant field, strong analytical abilities, and a proven track record of conducting independent research. Familiarity with specialized laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and relevant research methodologies is often required. Strong written and verbal communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills set exceptional candidates apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial for driving innovative research, publishing results, and contributing effectively to scientific teams.

What are some common challenges faced by postdoctoral researchers in managing work-life balance?

Postdoctoral researchers often face the challenge of balancing demanding research schedules with personal commitments, as the role may involve long hours in the lab, tight deadlines for publications, and grant applications. The academic environment can sometimes create pressure to produce results quickly, making it important to set boundaries and communicate effectively with supervisors. Many institutions now offer resources such as time management workshops and mental health support to help postdocs maintain a healthy work-life balance. Proactively seeking support and prioritizing tasks can make a significant difference in managing these challenges.

What is the difference between Postdoctoral Researcher vs Research Scientist?

AspectPostdoctoral ResearcherResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsPh.D. in relevant fieldMaster's or Ph.D., often with more industry experience
Work EnvironmentAcademic labs, universities, research institutionsIndustry labs, corporate R&D, private companies
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily academia and research institutionsPrimarily industry and corporate sectors
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding academic research rolesExploring industry research careers

The main difference between a Postdoctoral Researcher and a Research Scientist lies in their work environment and career stage. Postdoctoral Researchers typically work in academic or research institutions focusing on specialized research after earning their Ph.D., often aiming for academic careers. Research Scientists are usually employed in industry settings, applying research to product development or innovation, often with more industry experience. Both roles require advanced degrees, but their career paths and work environments differ significantly.

Infographic showing various Postdoctoral Researcher job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,382 per year, or $44.9 per hour.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Northeastern University

Boston, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

About the Opportunity
About the Institute
Do you want to be part of an exciting new Institute focused on combining human and machine intelligence into working AI solutions?
We are launching a pioneering research and innovation hub in AI-one that will shape the way humans and machines collaborate for decades to come. Led by Prof. Usama Fayyad, the Institute for Experiential AI is built around the challenges and opportunities made possible by human-machine collaboration. The Institute provides a framework to design, implement, and scale AI-driven technologies in ways that make a true difference to society. Our ability to respond to the opportunities afforded to society will depend on training and building a workforce that is AI-capable and prosperous.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus.
About the Institute
Do you want to be part of an exciting new Institute focused on combining human and machine intelligence into working AI solutions?
We are launching a pioneering research and innovation hub in AI-one that will shape the way humans and machines collaborate for decades to come. Led by Prof. Usama Fayyad, the Institute for Experiential AI is built around the challenges and opportunities made possible by human-machine collaboration. The Institute provides a framework to design, implement, and scale AI-driven technologies in ways that make a true difference to society. Our ability to respond to the opportunities afforded to society will depend on training and building a workforce that is AI-capable and prosperous.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus.
The Culture
Here at the Institute for Experiential AI (EAI) we are committed to the highest standards in all that we do. Working at the EAI offers opportunities, an environment, and a culture that just aren't found together anywhere else. This is the right place for you if you're curious, motivated by the future of technology, and want to be part of a unique and diverse community that works on high-impact research, educational, business, and societal problems.
Job Summary
Northeastern University's Institute for Experiential AI has established a position for a Postdoctoral Researcher focused on work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and Responsible AI, NLP & IR 3.0, Health/Wellness, and/or Life Sciences. The Postdoctoral Researcher will be based out of either the Boston, MA or Portland, ME campus and conduct applied research, prepare work for submission to journal/conference publications, contribute to extramural funding applications, and project manage in connection with projects. This position has a two-year, renewable appointment.
The position will be associated to one of the following specialization areas:
  • Responsible AI: This area focuses on the design, development and governance of AI systems, as well as the evaluation, monitoring, and auditing of such systems.
  • NLP & IR 3.0: This area covers the study of large language models and other natural language processing techniques applied to language understanding and the next generation of search engines.
  • AI + Health: This area levarages AI to study and solve complex problems in the health sciences, including fields such as healthcare informatics, movement and rehabilitation sciences, medical imaging, remote sensing, computer vision, mental health, data fusion, computational medicine, predictive analytics, big data, neuroscience, and related fields.
  • AI + Life Sciences: Participate in research projects that are related to AI and the life sciences. These may include applications of neural networks to the analysis of multi-omic data, models for predicting phenotypes using genotype data, biological data integration, etc.. Participation in these projects will include scientific programming, data analysis, manuscript preparation, meeting with collaborators, etc..

Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D. in computer science, AI, Data Science, computational biology, Ethics in AI, or health-related field by the appointment start date. A record of outstanding research during the Ph.D., as evidenced by publications, grants, software outputs, and other scholarly measures of impact. Proposal preparations for sponsored research funding, research experience involving team science projects, and project management experience are pluses.
Values & Abilities:
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively towards common research goals.
  • We expect postdoctoral fellows to establish and advocate for best practices in scientific reproducibility of all results, and to promote the ethical use of data and algorithms.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with a variety of different stakeholders, e.g., academics, business executives, government officials, journalists/media, etc.
  • Comfortable navigating complex internal processes and structures.
  • Respect for diversity and the importance of interdisciplinary teams.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset, self-starter and innovative thinker while at the same time being able to navigate multi-layered channels within a university setting and working across multiple teams/business units.
  • Team-player who can collaborate effectively in a university setting.
  • Open-minded, assertive, and professional when collaborating and working within our team and with other groups within Northeastern University.

Additional qualifications:
Responsible AI
  • Knowledge of key concepts like bias and fairness.
  • Experience on monitoring ML models (bias, drift, etc.) and algorithmic audits

Natural Language Processing
  • Knowledge of key tasks such as entity recognition and entailment.
  • Experience with word embeddings and large language models.

AI in Health
  • Strong research record using AI in a health-related discipline.
  • Applicants with the following training will be considered
    • PhD in computer science, machine learning, AI or related computational field, or,
    • Ph.D. in a health-related discipline with experience in experimental science, devices / technology, data collection, unique populations, etc, that can be leveraged for AI applications..
  • Strong written / verbal communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to think critically and creatively, and to collaborate as part of a team

AI in Life Sciences
Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in a quantitative/computational field related to the life sciences. These may include bioinformatics, computational biology, mathematical biology, etc. Must have experience in bioinformatics and/or biological data formats. Must have progressive experience that demonstrates the ability to plan and execute research. This experience can be concurrent during PhD research. Must have experience in research software development, FAIR data/open science, life sciences data systems, and analysis of 'omics data (e.g., metabolomics, proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics, etc.).
Required Documents:
Please submit the following documents in a single Word/ PDF document along with your application-
Cover Letter (please specify the specialization(s) you are interested in) Resume Few samples of your Research Papers/Articles One page Research Statement. The research statement should not exceed 1 page. A reference cited section can be appended following the research statement and does not count towards the page limit. Please use 11- or 12-point size and a standard font. Page margins should be 1 inch or greater. Please address the following:
1. Describe your research and how it has contributed to your field?
2. What future directions do you anticipate for your research?
3. Who are your primary collaborators and what are your experiences with industrial collaborations?
Position Type
Research
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.