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Senior Research Fellow Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... senior researchers and engineers across the team; ramp on the stack fast Qualifications : Required : • Strong working knowledge of PyTorch and deep learning -- you can train a model, debug a ...

As a fellow, you'll own a real research problem inside one of our core workstreams: pretraining ... Work closely with senior researchers and engineers across the team; ramp on the stack fast What We ...

RESEARCH FELLOW

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$62K - $64K/yr

... senior graduate students, and undergraduate research trainees who create the vibrant and ... Postdoctoral fellows may also participate in instructional activities, and in mentoring ...

... Research Fellow to work on the design, development, and realization of future communications ... Must be able to work in collaborative multi-institutional teams with senior and junior scholars.

AIRC Research Fellow

Hoboken, NJ · On-site

$175K - $210K/yr

... senior thought leaders in the greater Washington D.C. area and in Hoboken, NJ, to join as an AIRC ... Fellow to lead advanced technical and policy research activities and ensure the successful ...

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Senior Research Fellow information

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$11K

$86.3K

$188K

How much do senior research fellow jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior research fellow in the United States is $86,269.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $79,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Research Fellow vs Research Associate?

AspectSenior Research FellowResearch Associate
Required CredentialsMaster's or PhD, extensive research experienceBachelor's or Master's, entry-level research experience
Work EnvironmentIndependent research, leading projectsSupporting research tasks, assisting senior staff
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, government agenciesUniversities, labs, research organizations

The main difference is that a Senior Research Fellow typically has more experience, higher qualifications, and leads research projects, whereas a Research Associate supports research activities under supervision. Senior Research Fellows often have more responsibilities and independence in their roles.

What is a senior research fellow?

A Senior Research Fellow is an experienced researcher, typically holding a doctoral degree, who leads or supervises advanced research projects in academic, scientific, or industry settings. They often manage research teams, secure funding through grants, and contribute significantly to scholarly publications. Senior Research Fellows are recognized for their expertise and are responsible for mentoring junior staff and collaborating with other institutions. Their work plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge and innovation within their field.

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

To thrive as a Senior Research Fellow, you generally need an advanced degree (typically a PhD) in a relevant field, strong research methodology skills, and a proven publication record. Familiarity with data analysis software, grant management systems, and specialized laboratory or field equipment is often required. Exceptional critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills help drive collaborative projects and mentor junior researchers. These competencies ensure impactful research outcomes, secure funding, and foster innovation within academic or research institutions.

What are the typical responsibilities and collaborative expectations for a senior research fellow within an academic or research institution?

As a Senior Research Fellow, you will typically lead independent research projects while also guiding junior researchers and postgraduate students. Your responsibilities may include drafting grant proposals, publishing research findings, and presenting at conferences. Collaboration is key; you’ll often work with multidisciplinary teams, contribute to departmental meetings, and partner with external institutions or industry stakeholders. This role offers opportunities to develop leadership skills and expand your professional network within the research community.

What cities are hiring for Senior Research Fellow jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Research Fellow job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Fellow jobs?

The most popular types of Research Fellow jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Senior Research Fellow jobs?

The top employers for Senior Research Fellow jobs are:

What states have the most Senior Research Fellow jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Research Fellow jobs include:

Infographic showing various Senior Research Fellow job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,269 per year, or $41.5 per hour.

Geophysics Senior Research Fellow

Savannah River National Laboratory

Aiken, SC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

The Geophysics Senior Research Fellow will lead advanced research and field programs focused on the development, application, and interpretation of near-surface geophysical methods, with an emphasis on Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP). The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, cultivate cross-disciplinary collaborations, and contribute innovative approaches for subsurface characterization in support of environmental, hydrological, engineering, and energy-related research initiatives.

Impact of the Role:
This position plays a critical role in advancing subsurface imaging technologies and enabling improved understanding of complex environmental and geologic processes. Research outcomes will directly support strategic priorities in environmental stewardship, legacy waste management, resource characterization, and sustainable infrastructure development.

"We put science to work!" 


Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation's environmental, energy, and national security challenges.


Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) is constantly assessing trends to provide the best possible benefits to our workforce. We also negotiate cost effective premiums that will meet the needs of our evolving workforce. 


Some of the *Benefits offered to employees include:

*Benefits vary based upon employment status

  • Highly competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision options including HSA options with company provided seed
  • Short- & Long-Term Disability (company paid)
  • Life Insurance Non-Contributary 1X salary (company paid)
  • AD&D Non-contributary 1x salary (company paid)
  • Savings & Investment plan:
    • Qualified Non-Elective Company Contribution of 5% each pay period with immediate vesting
    • Company match 50 cents/dollar up to 8% (5 yrs. vesting in company match)
  • Contributory Life Insurance up to 5x Salary with $1M Cap
  • Contributory AD&D (employee, spouse and children)
  • Paid Time Off
  • Employee Assistance Plan
  • SRNL offers a competitive relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. 

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the "About" tab at www.srnl.doe.gov.


BSRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BSRA is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. Please email us at SRNLRecruiting@srnl.doe.gov with any questions regarding the hiring process or to request an accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • PhD in Geophysics, Earth Sciences, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline.
  • 20+ years of experience in federal R&D, industry, and national laboratory settings, with a focus on near-surface geophysical methods, with an emphasis on Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP).
  • Proven leadership in developing and managing large-scale, multidisciplinary research programs. 
  • Demonstrated success in securing external funding through DOE competitive calls, broad agency announcements, and federal-industry partnerships. 
  • For ability to obtain and maintain a DOE "Q" security clearance, US Citizenship is Legally Required 
  • Extensive experience designing, conducting, and interpreting ERT and SIP surveys in research or applied settings.
  • Demonstrated expertise in geophysical inversion, numerical modeling, and advanced data processing.
  • Strong publication record showcasing contributions to near-surface or environmental geophysics.
  • Proficiency with widely used geophysical software platforms and scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R).
  • Demonstrated ability to lead research teams and collaborate across disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience applying ERT and SIP to environmental remediation, groundwater characterization, vadosezone processes, or geotechnical investigations.
  • Experience with 3D inversion, timelapse monitoring, or multimethod geophysical integration.
  • Familiarity with machine learning or data assimilation techniques applied to geophysical datasets.
  • Track record of securing external research funding.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with government agencies, laboratories, or industry partners.
  • Lead original research that advances methodologies, data processing techniques, and interpretive frameworks for ERT and SIP.
  • Design, plan, and execute field investigations leveraging multi-electrode resistivity and induced polarization systems.
  • Develop and implement forward and inverse modeling workflows to quantify subsurface properties and improve uncertainty characterization.
  • Integrate ERT/SIP data with complementary geoscience, hydrological, and environmental datasets to support multi-physics interpretation.
  • Publish highimpact research in peerreviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
  • Provide mentorship to postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and technical staff working in geophysical methods.
  • Engage with project sponsors, collaborators, and stakeholders to scope research needs, translate findings, and support decisionmaking.
  • Contribute to the development of proposals and competitive research funding opportunities.
  • Ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of field operations, data management, and geophysical instrumentation maintenance.