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Applying for Postdoctoral Training at Stanford

Stanford hosts a thriving community of more than 2,400 postdoctoral scholars who are developing their independent careers with the guidance of faculty mentors. Postdocs are appointed as trainees and benefit from a plethora of available professional development resources. Approximately 60% of postdocs are appointed in the School of Medicine, and approximately 60% are international.

Postdoctoral training is essential to academic careers and important to many other career paths. At Stanford, postdocs have access to career centers and multiple professional development programs to ensure thoughtful skills development, identification of career options, and support in pursuing those options. Additionally, we invite all graduate students, and especially those from backgrounds underrepresented in academia, to apply for the Stanford Postdoctoral Recruitment Initiative in Sciences and Medicine (PRISM), which is a travel-based postdoc interview & networking opportunity.

Regardless of department, all  postdocs at Stanford are paid at least the minimum salary, receive transportation and comprehensive health benefits, and have access to all gyms, libraries, and other Stanford resources.

Stanford, in the heart of Silicon Valley, has easy access to museums, music, and all the beauty in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area is an expensive region. Postdocs considering offers of appointment at Stanford should consider the cost of living in light of their lifestyle, needs, and family.

How to Apply:

Application for postdoctoral training is made directly to a specific faculty member. Identifying the best research and the best mentor for you requires thought. Use the links on this page to explore open positions, faculty research interests, and guidance on how to assess whether a particular mentor is right for you. Stanford faculty may also advertise postdoc positions in journals.