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Senior Postdoc Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mercor

Physics Research Expert - PhD

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$80 - $140/hr

PhD or postdoc in the relevant subfield (senior PhD student minimum). * Postdoc or junior professor in the relevant subfield ( PhD minimum). * Full professor or industry research PI in the relevant ...

Duke University

Postdoctoral Associate

Durham, NC · On-site

Tomi Akinyemiju , with additional support from junior faculty and senior postdoctoral fellows, within a highly collaborative and methodologically driven research environment. The position emphasizes ...

Duke University

Postdoctoral Associate

Durham, NC · On-site

Tomi Akinyemiju , with additional support from junior faculty and senior postdoctoral fellows, within a highly collaborative and methodologically driven research environment. The position emphasizes ...

Virginia Tech

Postdoctoral Associate

Blacksburg, VA · On-site

Research Faculty Senior management: College of Science Department: Physics Location: Blacksburg ... Postdoctoral and Senior Research Associates will conduct research in the above areas and ...

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Senior Postdoc information

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$25K

$80.3K

$163.5K

How much do senior postdoc jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior postdoc in the United States is $80,287.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,500.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Postdoc, you need advanced research expertise in your field, a PhD, and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications. Familiarity with specialized laboratory techniques, data analysis software, and grant-writing platforms is typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you mentor junior researchers and collaborate across teams. These competencies are crucial for advancing research projects, securing funding, and building a professional academic profile.

What opportunities for independent research and mentorship are typically available to senior postdocs?

Senior Postdocs often have increased autonomy to design and lead their own research projects, building on the skills acquired during earlier postdoctoral training. In addition to conducting advanced experiments, they are frequently involved in mentoring junior lab members, such as graduate students and newer postdocs, which helps develop leadership skills. Many institutions encourage Senior Postdocs to apply for independent funding and to present their work at conferences, preparing them for future faculty or industry leadership roles. This combination of research independence and mentorship experience is key for career advancement in academia or research-intensive positions.

Is it difficult to get a senior postdoc position?

Securing a senior postdoc position is competitive and typically requires a strong research record, relevant expertise, and a PhD in a related field. Candidates often need to demonstrate significant publications, grants, or project leadership to stand out. The process may involve multiple interviews and evaluations of research proposals.

What is the difference between Senior Postdoc vs Postdoctoral Research Associate?

AspectSenior PostdocPostdoctoral Research Associate
CredentialsPhD, extensive research experiencePhD, early career researcher
Work EnvironmentIndependent research, leading projectsSupporting research, assisting senior staff
Employer & IndustryUniversities, research institutesUniversities, research labs
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior research rolesEntry-level postdoc roles

The main difference between a Senior Postdoc and a Postdoctoral Research Associate lies in experience and responsibilities. Senior Postdocs typically lead projects and work more independently, while Postdoctoral Research Associates support research activities under supervision. Both roles are common in academic and research settings, but the Senior Postdoc is a more advanced, autonomous position.

What is a typical senior postdoc salary?

A senior postdoc salary typically ranges from $50,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on the institution, location, and funding source. Experienced postdocs with specialized skills or in high-cost areas may earn higher wages, and some positions include benefits such as health insurance and research stipends.

What is a senior postdoc?

A Senior Postdoc is an experienced postdoctoral researcher who has completed several years of postdoctoral training after earning a PhD. They typically take on greater responsibilities than junior postdocs, such as leading research projects, mentoring students, and contributing significantly to grant writing and publications. Senior Postdocs may also assist in supervising lab operations and may be preparing for independent academic or industry positions. This role often serves as a bridge between postdoctoral work and more senior roles like principal investigator or faculty positions.
More about Senior Postdoc jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Postdoc jobs? Cities with the most Senior Postdoc job openings:
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Senior Postdoc jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Postdoc job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,287 per year, or $38.6 per hour.

Physics Expert - Fully Remote | Upto $135/hr

Mercor

New York, NY • Remote

$135/hr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Research Physics Expert
Type: Contract
Compensation: $80–$135/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: ~10 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

  • Solve research-level physics challenges end-to-end with verifiable derivations, code, and peer-reviewed references.
  • Decompose challenges into standalone checkpoint sub-problems requiring genuine physical reasoning.
  • Author Python answer templates with auto-grading functions for symbolic or numerical answers.
  • Audit submitted solutions for correctness, scope, and method soundness; deliver actionable feedback across iterations.
  • Adjudicate between parallel solver attempts and decide which solution becomes the golden reference.
  • Document chain-of-thought reasoning, error tolerances, equivalent symbolic forms, and verification test cases.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • PhD or postdoc in the relevant subfield (senior PhD student minimum).
  • Postdoc or junior professor in the relevant subfield (PhD minimum).
  • Full professor or industry research PI in the relevant subfield (senior postdoc or junior professor minimum).
  • Hands-on familiarity with at least two canonical methods of the target subfield, demonstrable through publications.
  • 3–5 representative publications (arXiv ID or DOI), ideally within the last ~5 years and in the target subfield.
  • Working proficiency with LaTeX, Python, Jupyter, and SymPy.
  • Strong written English (B2/C1/C2 minimum; native or near-native preferred).

Resources & Support

  • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
  • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.