1

Postdoctoral Scholar Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Social Science Research Institute at The Pennsylvania State University (University Park) seeks two Postdoctoral Scholars to work with Dr. Jonathan Daw (Associate Professor of Sociology and ...

Posting Details Job Title Postdoctoral Scholar Requisition Number DU14454 Department Name 8E030:Chemistry Work Location Lexington, KY Salary Range $49,850.00/year Type of Position Other Position Time ...

POSITION SPECIFICS The Department of Statistics at The Pennsylvania State University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position in the research group of Dr. Aleksandra (Sesa) Slavkovic.

POSITION SPECIFICS The Research Translation Platform invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar interested in a career at the research-policy nexus supporting the evaluation and analytic needs ...

The postdoctoral scholar will lead a portfolio of projects aligned with Center priorities and the scholar's interests, goals, and expertise. The position includes two primary areas of responsibility ...

Responsibilities The postdoctoral scholar will be expected to: * Conduct original research in quantum security, post-quantum cybersecurity, or closely related areas * Collaborate with faculty across ...

What You'll Do The Yang lab is seeking a highly motivated and well-trained postdoc scholar who is interested in glia and their roles in neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, the Yang lab has ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Postdoctoral Scholar information

See salary details

$35.5K

$54.2K

$61K

How much do postdoctoral scholar jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 5, 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 Postdoctoral Scholars?

Postdoctoral Scholars, often called postdocs, are individuals who have completed their doctoral studies (such as a PhD) and are engaged in further academic or scholarly training. They typically work on research projects under the supervision of a principal investigator, aiming to deepen their expertise in a specific field. Postdocs contribute to publications, grant writing, and may also mentor students or teach classes. These positions are often temporary and serve as a bridge between graduate studies and independent academic or research careers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Postdoctoral Scholar, and why are they important?

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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 2% Nights. 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

Postdoctoral Scholar

Penn State University

University Park, PA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 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

197th of 544 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
The Department of Statistics at The Pennsylvania State University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position in the research group of Dr. Aleksandra (Sesa) Slavkovic. Potential research projects include (but are not limited to) work on various statistical aspects of data privacy methodology, including validity of inference, measurement error, nonparametric statistics, causal inference, synthetic data, reproducibility, intersection of AI and data privacy, and work with survey, census, health/genomic and other complex data. The scholar will have an opportunity to collaborate with other researchers, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and may also teach one course per year for the Department of Statistics.
Education and Experience
A Ph.D. in Statistics, Biostatistics, Machine Learning, or a directly related field at the time of appointment is required. The successful applicants will be expected to have a strong statistical and computational background, research experiences showing independence and innovation, and demonstrated academic writing and communication skills. Experience designing or using AI-assisted research workflows (e.g., LLM-supported literature synthesis, structured extraction of claims/evidence, reproducible AI-in-the-loop pipelines, or evaluation/verification of model-generated outputs) is preferred.
Additional Information
Applicants must complete the Penn State application and must submit an application through Mathjobs.org (https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/28282) with the following materials in order for the application to be complete: (1) Curriculum Vitae; (2) Statement of Research Experience and Interests; (3) Names and Contact Information for three references.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Following a screening of initial application materials, candidates will be contacted by email asking for letters of reference to be sent. Informal inquiries about this search may be directed to Dr. Aleksandra Slavkovic (sesa@psu.edu).
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.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines

What Penn State University employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom