ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Postdoctoral Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Inova

Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Alexandria, VA · On-site

The Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow is responsible for Career Planning and Professional Development Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge and research skill development. Trains others, attends ...

Umd

Postdoctoral Associate

College Park, MD

$75K - $80K/yr

The postdoctoral research associate is responsible for developing novel computational methodology for high-throughput sequence genomics tasks, as well as for building efficient and robust ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPostdoctoral JobsPostdoctoral Jobs in Reston, VA

Postdoctoral information

See Reston, VA salary details

$26K

$61.4K

$86.9K

How much do postdoctoral jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for postdoctoral in Reston, VA is $61,404.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,000.00 and $69,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges postdoctoral researchers face when transitioning to independent research roles?

Postdoctoral researchers often encounter challenges such as balancing the demands of publishing, securing funding, and developing their own research identity while still working under a principal investigator. Navigating the path to independence can also involve building a professional network and gaining experience in grant writing and project management. Supportive mentors and institutional resources can help, but it's important to proactively seek out opportunities for leadership and collaboration to position yourself for future faculty or industry roles.

What is the difference between Postdoctoral vs Research Scientist?

AspectPostdoctoralResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsDoctoral degree (Ph.D.) often requiredMaster's or Ph.D., depending on the field
Work EnvironmentAcademic labs, universities, research institutionsIndustry labs, corporate R&D, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily academia and research institutionsPrimarily industry and corporate sectors
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Postdoctoral researchers typically hold a Ph.D. and work in academic or research institutions to gain specialized experience. Research Scientists often have similar credentials but are employed in industry or corporate R&D settings. While both roles involve research, Postdoctoral positions are usually temporary and focused on academic advancement, whereas Research Scientists are often permanent staff working on applied projects in industry.

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

To thrive as a Postdoctoral Researcher, you need an advanced degree (usually a PhD), strong research skills, and deep subject matter expertise in your field. Proficiency with data analysis tools, laboratory techniques, and research software such as Python, R, or MATLAB is often required. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills set candidates apart by enabling effective teamwork and dissemination of findings. These abilities are vital for driving original research, publishing impactful work, and advancing academic or industry careers.

What are postdoctoral researchers?

Postdoctoral researchers, often called 'postdocs,' are individuals who have completed their doctoral studies (PhD or equivalent) and are engaged in further academic or scientific research. They typically work under the supervision of a principal investigator or faculty member to gain additional training, develop new skills, and contribute to research projects. Postdocs are a common step for those pursuing academic careers, but their experience can also be valuable for roles in industry or government. The position is usually temporary, lasting from one to several years, allowing researchers to deepen their expertise in a specialized field.
What job categories do people searching Postdoctoral jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Postdoctoral jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Postdoctoral jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Postdoctoral job openings:
Postdoctoral jobs near you
Infographic showing various Postdoctoral job openings in Reston, VA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,404 per year, or $29.5 per hour.
Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Inova

Alexandria, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Inova Health System rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 245 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

187th of 872 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Job Description
Inova Neuroscience Research is looking for a dedicated Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Team. This full-time role will be day-shift working Monday - Friday located in Alexandria, VA.
The Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow is responsible for Career Planning and Professional Development Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge and research skill development. Trains others, attends and gives seminar-type presentations, learns new lab and informatic-based techniques, performs required research protocol maintenance, serves on internal and external committees, and presents and publishes research and related findings.
Inova is consistently ranked a national healthcare leader in safety, quality and patient experience. We are also proud to be consistently recognized as a top employer in both the D.C. metro area and the nation.
Featured Benefits:
  • Committed to Team Member Health: offering medical, dental and vision coverage, and a robust team member wellness program.
  • Retirement: Inova matches the first 5% of eligible contributions - starting on your first day.
  • Tuition and Student Loan Assistance: offering up to $5,250 per year in education assistance and up to $10,000 for student loans.
  • Mental Health Support: offering all Inova team members, their spouses/partners, and their children 25 mental health coaching or therapy sessions, per person, per year, at no cost.
  • Work/Life Balance: offering paid time off, paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, and remote and hybrid career opportunities.

Spine Postdoctoral Research Fellow Responsibilities:
  • Participates in various educational workshops such as developing grant applications, preparing research publications, and writing research proposals.
  • Gives presentations at appropriate meetings, conferences, and seminars. Participates in Inova research seminars including presenting research findings and obtaining feedback from colleagues and peers.
  • Selects a specific research project and conducts that project semi-independently, but under the mentorship of Inova staff, as well as with collaborating mentors.
  • Assists leaders and other investigators in preparing analytical methods/results for publication in professional journals and presentations at professional meetings.
  • Assists in the development of grant applications for service line projects.
  • Contributes to large projects and/or leads smaller research projects.
  • Meets regularly with mentor(s), research managers, and academic advisors to discuss progress on research projects and identify and resolve any difficulties carrying out their work.
  • Protects and promotes technologies and products through appropriate use of patents, internal and external publications, conference presentations, and trade secrets.
  • Performs medical duties as assigned and relevant to credentials and research study needs
  • May perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Education: MD, PhD or equivalent degree
  • Experience: 1 year of human, translational and basic research-oriented experience
  • Certification: BLS for MD candidates only.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Graduate of an accredited medical school preferred.
  • Strong interest in spine research and academic medicine preferred.

About Us
We are Inova, Northern Virginia's leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Every day, our 26,000+ team members provide world-class healthcare to the communities we serve. Our people are the reason we're a national leader in healthcare safety, quality and patient experience. And from best-in-class facilities to professional development opportunities, we support them at every step. At Inova, we're constantly striving to be ever better - to shape a more compassionate future for healthcare.
Inova Health System is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions and lactation), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law.

What Inova Health System employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply