Stanford University’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs maintains a live, department-specific postdoctoral vacancy directory spanning medicine, engineering, education, neuroscience, sustainability, AI and other disciplines. This guide includes selected October–November 2026 listings with direct official vacancy links. Each lab controls recruitment and timing; a listing’s appearance in the directory does not confirm that it remains unfilled.
Stanford Postdoctoral Positions 2026
Stanford’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs maintains a central directory of open postdoctoral positions organized by department and faculty mentor. The directory is updated as labs and centres recruit new scholars.
Prospective postdocs are appointed to a Stanford faculty sponsor who supports their research training and professional development.
Recent Stanford Postdoctoral Vacancy Examples — November 2026 Check
These five vacancies were listed on Stanford’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs website when reviewed on 7 November 2026. Posting dates are not application deadlines; availability is not guaranteed. Follow each direct institutional listing to check the current vacancy, eligibility and application route.
| Research area / faculty mentor | Official Stanford vacancy and research scope | Posted / application timing |
|---|---|---|
| Science education / Christina Krist Graduate School of Education | EMPOWER: research in community-based science teaching and teacher learning. Twelve-month appointment; anticipated start April 2027 or when available. | 3 November 2026 Priority consideration: 1 December 2026; subsequent review until filled. |
| Postoperative pain / Kristin L. Schreiber Anesthesiology | Pain vulnerability, recovery trajectories and quantitative predictive modelling. Initial one-year appointment, possible extensions; pay range US$79,056–85,000. | 27 October 2026 Review began 1 November; continues until filled. |
| Motor neuroscience / Spyridon Karadimas Neurosurgery | Neural circuits, motor control and plasticity after stroke. Three-year postdoctoral term; intended start as soon as possible. | 21 October 2026 Contact the lab to check continued availability. |
| Sediment transport / Oliver Fringer Civil and Environmental Engineering | DFlow-FM modelling of cohesive sediment transport in San Francisco Bay. First-phase appointment approximately 1.5 years; advertised pay US$80,000–85,000. | 14 October 2026 Anticipated start 1 February 2027; rolling review until filled. |
| Neurobiology / Michael Lin Neurobiology / Bioengineering | ASAP-family voltage indicators and neurodevelopmental-disease circuitry. Research with potential neuroscience co-mentors; FY27 Stanford minimum pay applies. | 9 October 2026 Listed start 1 January 2027; confirm recruitment status directly. |
Research Fields Represented
Current Stanford postdoctoral listings span areas including:
- medicine and health policy;
- artificial intelligence and data science;
- neuroscience;
- immunology and infectious disease;
- chemistry and molecular biology;
- earth system science and sustainability;
- education and learning sciences;
- ophthalmology and vision research;
- aging and metabolism; and
- engineering and computational research.
Stanford FY27 Postdoctoral Minimum Annual Funding
The official Stanford FY27 postdoctoral funding scale took effect 1 September 2026. The minimum is determined by eligible months of postdoctoral research experience at Stanford or elsewhere. These are minimum annual salary/stipend levels for appointments governed by this scale, not the advertised salary for every position.
| Postdoctoral research experience | FY27 minimum annual funding (USD) |
|---|---|
| 0 months | US$79,056 |
| 12 months | US$79,452 |
| 24 months | US$79,849 |
| 36 months | US$80,248 |
| 48 months | US$80,649 |
| 60 months | US$81,053; any extended appointment is subject to Stanford’s limits and exceptions |
Stanford departments review funding against the applicable minimum annually. Actual individual offers may be higher, and clinical fellows covered by graduate medical education pay scales may follow different rules. Check the specific vacancy and offer documents.
Eligibility and Faculty Sponsorship
Stanford postdoctoral appointments generally require doctoral-level training appropriate to the research area. Exact qualifications are defined by the faculty mentor and individual vacancy.
Stanford emphasizes the importance of identifying a strong research and mentoring fit. Candidates should evaluate not only the project topic but also the faculty sponsor, laboratory environment and professional-development opportunities.
How to Apply
- Open Stanford’s official Open Postdoctoral Positions directory or a direct vacancy link from the table above.
- Filter by department, faculty mentor or keyword.
- Open the full vacancy description and verify that the lab is still recruiting; check start dates, priority dates, eligibility, compensation and faculty contact details.
- Prepare the CV, research materials and references requested by the lab.
- Follow the application instructions in that specific vacancy.
- Review Stanford’s prospective-postdoc guidance for appointment, benefits, visas and funding information.
Application methods vary by lab. Some positions request direct contact with a faculty member, while others provide a specific application procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stanford currently have open postdoctoral positions?
Yes. Stanford’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs currently lists many open positions across multiple departments and research areas.
Is there one Stanford postdoc deadline?
No. Each laboratory or programme sets its own recruitment timeline and start date.
Do Stanford postdocs need a faculty sponsor?
Yes. Stanford states that postdoctoral scholars are appointed to a faculty sponsor who supports their training.
What is Stanford’s FY27 postdoctoral minimum funding?
The FY27 scale effective 1 September 2026 starts at US$79,056 per year for zero months of postdoctoral experience; higher experience-based minima apply. Actual pay depends on the position and applicable appointment policy.
Do directory listings guarantee an unfilled opening?
No. Listings show advertised opportunities; candidates should confirm current availability and the specific application instructions directly with the recruiting lab.
Is Stanford PRISM the same as the open-postdoc directory?
No. PRISM is a separate postdoctoral recruitment and interview programme, while the open-postdoc directory lists individual lab and departmental vacancies.
Official Sources
| Status | Multiple active postdoctoral positions |
|---|---|
| Recruitment | Lab- and department-specific |
| Last verified | 7 November 2026 |
| Examples reviewed | Five Stanford listings posted 9 October–3 November 2026 |
| FY27 minimum funding | From US$79,056/year at zero months of postdoctoral experience, effective 1 September 2026 |
