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Postdoctoral Scholar Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The postdoctoral scholar will combine foundation AI modeling and differentiable modeling (a genre of physics-informed machine learning) for hydrologic modeling to improve large-scale hydrologic ...

POSITION SPECIFICS Postdoctoral Scholar position at The Pennsylvania State University Dr. Feifei Shi is looking to hire a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar with expertise in electrochemistry and ...

The Postdoctoral Scholar will work within collaborative, transdisciplinary research teams and contribute to integrating molecular biology, bioinformatics, and ecological approaches to address ...

Postdoctoral Scholar

Columbus, OH · On-site

$65K - $68K/yr

Postdoctoral Scholar Department: Arts and Sciences | Astronomy Post Doctoral Scholar will work with Professor Scott Gaudi in the Department of Astronomy on the development and exploitation of science ...

Postdoctoral Scholar Department:Arts and Sciences | Astronomy Post Doctoral Scholar will work with Professor Scott Gaudi in the Department of Astronomy on the development and exploitation of science ...

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How much do postdoctoral scholar jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoctoral scholar in the United States is $54,223.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,500.00 and $56,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the most common challenges postdoctoral scholars face when transitioning to independent research roles?

Postdoctoral Scholars often face challenges balancing the demands of publishing, securing funding, and developing an independent research identity. Navigating the shift from working under a principal investigator to leading projects independently can be demanding, as it requires strong project management and networking skills. Additionally, postdocs may encounter uncertainties regarding job security and the competitive nature of academic career advancement, making strategic planning and mentorship especially important.

What is the difference between Postdoctoral Scholar vs Research Scientist?

AspectPostdoctoral ScholarResearch Scientist
Required credentialsPhD or equivalentMaster's or PhD, often with more experience
Work environmentAcademic or research institutionsIndustry labs, corporate R&D, or academia
Employer and industry usageUniversities, government agenciesPrivate companies, biotech, pharma
Common search intentResearch training, academic career pathProduct development, applied research

Postdoctoral Scholars typically hold a PhD and work in academic or research settings to gain specialized experience. Research Scientists often have similar credentials but may work in industry, focusing on applied research and product development. While both roles involve research, Postdoctoral Scholars are usually in training positions, whereas Research Scientists are more experienced professionals in their field.

What is a postdoctoral scholar?

A postdoctoral scholar works in university-level research under a mentor to prepare for a career. They collect, process, and analyze data. Other job duties include assisting university faculty, designing research experiments, and publishing the results of independent projects. Unlike a research associate, this job is temporary, and typically lasts no more than three or four years from appointment. Previous experience in secondary education is required, so a postdoctoral scholar should have a college degree. Qualifications often include past work as a postdoctoral fellow as well as writing and organizational skills.

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

To thrive as a Postdoctoral Scholar, you need advanced research expertise in your field, a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent), and a strong record of academic publications. Familiarity with specialized research tools, data analysis software, and laboratory or computational systems is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills set top candidates apart. These competencies are essential for driving independent research, contributing to scientific knowledge, and succeeding in competitive academic environments.

What cities are hiring for Postdoctoral Scholar jobs?

Cities with the most Postdoctoral Scholar job openings:

What states have the most Postdoctoral Scholar jobs?

States with the most job openings for Postdoctoral Scholar jobs include:

Infographic showing various Postdoctoral Scholar job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,223 per year, or $26.1 per hour.

Postdoctoral Scholar

Penn State University

University Park, PA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Penn State University rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 103 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

229th of 618 rated colleges and universities


Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Join a Dynamic Team Focused on Foundation AI modeling and Physics-Informed Machine Learning as a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Pennsylvania State University.
The Pennsylvania State University is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the field of computational land surface hydrology, with a focus on Foundation AI model pretraining and finetuning, geospatial data processing and physics-informed machine learning. Prior experiences with these topics are highly desired. Pending approval of the grant, the successful candidate will work on innovative research in hydrology, collaborating with Dr. Shen and other faculty members, while also participating in the development of research projects and providing support to graduate students.
The postdoctoral scholar will combine foundation AI modeling and differentiable modeling (a genre of physics-informed machine learning) for hydrologic modeling to improve large-scale hydrologic forecast. The scholar will work with a large, interdisciplinary team on the next-generation land surface model. Especially, the scholar will integrate state-of-the-art AI and physics-informed AI techniques into an operational system. The contribution could bring benefits to society and reduce the damage of floods.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Develop and implement novel modeling techniques.
  • Stay current with the latest developments and be willing to learn and adopt frontier methods.
  • Collaborate with research team members to design, execute, and interpret research findings.
  • Contribute to the development of high-quality research publications and presentations.
  • Provide support to graduate students within the department.

Requirements:
The Postdoctoral Researcher should possess a Ph.D. in hydrology, civil engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
The successful candidate will also have:
  • A strong background in numerical modeling and the application of computational methods to land surface hydrological problems.
  • Research experience with a track record of published work in relevant scientific journals.
  • Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
  • Proficiency in programming languages, such as Python or Fortran.
  • Experiences with machine learning is a plus to the application.
  • Solid understanding of the physical hydrologic cycle and large-scale geographic datasets.

The Pennsylvania State University offers a dynamic research environment, providing access to world-class facilities and resources. We encourage highly motivated candidates with a passion for advancing the field of computational hydrology to apply for this exciting position. To apply, please submit your CV, a cover letter detailing your research interests and experience, and contact information for three references with your online application.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
BENEFITS
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
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