Prospective Postdoctoral Scholars
The Medical School has numerous opportunities for postdoctoral training across a range of Centers, Institutes and Programs (CIPs). As a premier research enterprise, the University of Minnesota provides outstanding training in numerous inter- and multidisciplinary areas of basic, translational and clinical biomedical science and health-related research.
Postdoctoral Appointments
A postdoctoral scholar at the University of Minnesota is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance their professional and research skills. The Medical School typically supports 5 years of mentored training with individuals selected into the positions within 10 years of their doctoral degree (i.e. MD, PhD, DVM or doctoral-equivalent). Postdocs are further classified under one of two types of appointments: Postdoctoral Associate (9546) or Postdoctoral Fellow (9560).
Application Process
The traditional process for attaining postdoctoral positions are both reaching out to principal investigators/faculty members with whom you are interested in working with and/or searching available postdoctoral positions posted on job boards (such as Nature Careers, Science Careers or the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, among several others).
In addition to these avenues, we welcome prospective postdoc scholars to search our listings available on the University of Minnesota Job Search engine. For general postdoctoral searches, you can search the job code 9546 or enter in a description of the type of research you are interested in.
Why Choose Us?
The Twin Cities—Minneapolis and St. Paul—offer an incredible mix of urban excitement and natural beauty, making them an ideal place to live while pursuing graduate studies at the University of Minnesota. As a major metropolitan area with a strong academic and research presence, the Twin Cities provide access to world-class libraries, research institutions, and industry connections across a wide range of fields.
Beyond academics, the region boasts a vibrant arts scene, from theaters and museums to live music and festivals. Food lovers will appreciate the diverse culinary options, from award-winning restaurants to cozy neighborhood cafés. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to love, with miles of biking and hiking trails, scenic parks, and lakes perfect for kayaking or cross-country skiing—all accessible year-round.
With a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities, excellent public transportation options, and a strong sense of community, the Twin Cities provide a welcoming and enriching environment for students at the U of M. Whether you're looking for professional opportunities, cultural experiences, or just a great place to call home during your studies, you'll find it here.
Postdoctoral Scholars Salary, Insurance and Other Funding Support
Appointments
Postdoctoral graduate experience is provided through the following appointment classifications: (1) Postdoctoral Associate (Job Code: 9546); and (2) Postdoctoral Fellow (Job Code: 9560). These appointments are provided to individuals granted a doctorate or doctoral equivalent degree or when returning for additional training, updating, or retooling. Appointments are limited to fields for which postdoctoral degree training is necessary for career entry, such as academia or senior level scientists in government agencies. Appointments are typically limited to a period of up to five, depending on training needs, are are generally applicable to individuals within ten years of their doctoral equivalent degree.
Salaries
Salaries for Postdoctoral Associates in the Medical School are set by the the University. Postdoctoral associates may be appointed on sponsored institutional training grants, sponsored individual fellowship awards or training awards. Funding is supported through the collegiate budget and postdoctoral associates at the University of Minnesota are employees. As employees, postdoctoral associates conduct research, teach and/or provide service that enhances career skills or allows for opportunities to learn new research or teaching techniques.
For the 2026 FY, the salary floor postdoctoral associates will be increasing to $61,008. All current postdocs who are paid below this salary floor will have their pay increased to $61,008 with a July 14, 2025 effective date. This salary floor adjustment is based on the minimum stipend for postdoctoral associates published in April 2024 by the National Research Service Awards (NRSA).
Benefits for Postdoctoral Associates (Job Code: 9546) can be found here.
Benefits for Postdoctoral Associates (Job Code: 9560) can be found here.
Insurance
Postdoctoral scholars insurance and benefits is contingent on the job code (i.e. postdoctoral fellow (9560) vs. postdoctoral associate (9546)).
Postdoctoral Associates (9546)
Postdoctoral associates are eligible for the UPlan Medical Insurance, Reimbursement Accounts, Disability Coverage, Retirement Plans, Tuition Benefits (i.e. Regents Scholarship), Vacation Leave, Paid Sick Leave, Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), Bereavement Leave and Miscellaneous Paid Leaves (i.e. Civic Duty Leaves, Military).
Postdoctoral Fellows (9560)
As stipulated by the awarding agency, Postdoctoral fellows are not employees of the University, provide no service to the University, and as such received no salary from the University. Instead, individuals appointed under this classification receive a training stipend through their funding agency. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for the UPlan Medical Insurance, but instead are eligible for Graduate Assistant Insurance. Furthermore, postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for Reimbursement Accounts, Disability Insurance, Retirement Plans, Vacation Leave, Paid Sick Leave, Paid Parental Leave, or Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
Fellowships
Postdoctoral scholars are classified as postdoctoral associates or postdoctoral fellows. Individuals receiving fellowships in the form of extramural awards or grants are classified as postdoctoral fellows with a different job code (9560) with the University of Minnesota. Postdoctoral fellow appointments are for persons receiving a fellowship or training award granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research. Postdoctoral fellows can be appointed on sponsored individual fellowships or institutional training awards, such as National Institutes of Health Training Grants (i.e. T32, T35 mechanisms). Individuals appointed as postdoctoral fellows are not employees of the University and, therefore, provide no service to the University. This view of no service to the University distinguishes postdoctoral fellows from postdoctoral associates, with responsibilities of the postdoctoral fellow defined by parameters of the fellowship or traineeship.
Explore Centers, Institutes, and Programs for Prospective Postdoctoral Scholars
Center for Immunology (CFI)
About
The Center for Immunology is an interdisciplinary research program at the University of Minnesota devoted to advancing the field of immunology and educating future immunologists. Their research focuses on autoimmunity, cancer, vaccines, and cures.
Institute for Translational Neuroscience (ITN)
About
The Institute for Translational Neuroscience's greatest strength is bringing together different groups under one common goal: to advance neuroscience research at the University of Minnesota. The Institute for Translational Neuroscience (ITN) was established in 2007 as a University-wide presidential initiative to promote the transfer of discoveries in the basic neurosciences to clinical practice. The institute is charged to enhance basic science discovery with new knowledge leading to subsequent clinical trials and establishment of new therapeutic principles or tools.
Their main goal is to attract and recruit top scientists to shape discoveries that will lead to tomorrow's cures. The institute exemplifies how different disciplines, departments, and centers can work together in partnership to evolve neurological disease research at the University of Minnesota. They have built a community that encourages learning, education, innovation, and discovery all of which are more successful in a team-oriented environment.
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR)
About
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), funded as a Biotechnology Research Center (BTRC) by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) until 2012 and by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) since then, focuses on development of unique magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy methodologies and instrumentation for the acquisition of structural, functional, and biochemical information non-invasively in humans, and utilizing this capability to investigate organ function in health and disease.
Developmental Biology Center (DBC)
About
The Developmental Biology Center (DBC) is a group of some 50 faculty who share an interest in the processes that create the form and function of the biological world around us. At the heart of developmental biology lies a search for the mechanisms that specify cell fates, control patterning in complex tissues, and organize collections of diverse cells into organs. Deciphering these mechanisms requires many approaches, including cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and neurobiology. These areas are reflected in the interests and research efforts of our faculty.
Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (IDOM)
About
The mission of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (IDOM) is to enhance research quality by growing multidisciplinary collaborations in diabetes research by creating a rich environment that unites diabetes investigators through enrichment and training opportunities, to provide access to pilot funds, and to make cost-effective animal physiology services available to members of the IDOM. Our goal is to create the environment and infrastructure necessary to support funded diabetes investigators and the integration of their data into our greater understanding of the whole of diabetes.
Institute for Engineering in Medicine's (IEM)
About
The Institute for Engineering in Medicine's (IEM) mission is to advance healthcare through research partnerships between faculty in the health sciences, faculty in the College of Science and Engineering, and the biomedical industry. The Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) research collaborations aim at the development of innovative engineering solutions for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. We are always looking to add new research themes as we add new members and research partners to IEM.
Lillehei Heart Institute (LHI)
About
The Lillehei Heart Institute was built twenty years ago on the legacy of University of Minnesota icons who created a culture of innovation and discovery. Today, established investigators work together with the next generation of young investigators to advance scientific discovery in the development of cardiovascular disease therapies and to provide training and education for our future cardiovascular scientists and physicians.
Stem Cell Institute (SCI)
About
The Stem Cell Institute’s vision is to use stem cell biology to change the practice of medicine through discovery, education, and translation. For twenty years, the Stem Cell Institute has brought together talent and expertise from across the University of Minnesota to use stem cell biology to advance regenerative medicine therapies for devastating disorders and to provide education and training for the stem cell scientists of tomorrow.
University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID)
About
The University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) brings together University of Minnesota expertise across disciplines to discover better responses to pandemics, life-threatening infections and antimicrobial resistance through basic, translational, and clinical research. The University of Minnesota Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) was established in 2022 at the University of Minnesota Medical School as the intersection for all areas of infectious disease research at the University.
Goals for the institute are: Research diseases of pandemic and epidemic potential through collaboration among the University’s basic, clinical, and translational experts, Provide training opportunities for physician scientists, Partner with industry for scientific collaboration and Translate scientific outcomes to the people of Minnesota
Greg Marzolf Jr. Muscular Dystrophy Center (MD Center)
About
The Greg Marzolf Jr. Muscular Dystrophy Center (MD Center) at the University of Minnesota Medical School is a multi-disciplinary scientific, translational, and clinical hub of research, education, and clinical care related to a wide range of muscular dystrophies and other neuromuscular disorders. The MD Center was founded in 1995 as the Center for Muscle and Muscle Disorder. In 2001, it was officially integrated into the University of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center. In 2003, it was renamed the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center in honor of the late couple who fought for muscular dystrophy patients locally and in the Senate, the latter most notably through support for the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education (MD CARE) Act enacted in 2001.
Mission
To help families, clinicians, and scientists speak a common language as they strive towards their shared goal of optimizing research, education, and clinical care for muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders.
Vision
To be a leader in the development of novel molecular diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders, and to be an internationally renowned research, educational, and training site for a range of scientists and clinicians who wish to study and treat these disorders.