Stanford University currently lists open postdoctoral positions across medicine, engineering, sustainability, education, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, chemistry and other disciplines. New positions continue to be posted throughout 2026, with many searches using flexible or rolling start dates.
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.
Examples of Current Open Positions
| Area | Example current opportunity | Current timing |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular outcomes / AI | Postdoctoral research using predictive analytics, claims and electronic health-record data | Posted September 2026; flexible start |
| Pain / substance-use research | Interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellowship in pain science, SUD and data science | Posted September 2026 |
| Chemistry / microbiology | Bacterial chemistry, microbiology and antibacterial discovery | Late 2026 or early 2027 start |
| NMR / materials biology | NMR spectroscopy of complex biological and materials systems | Posted September 2026 |
| Human-centered AI | AI for public benefit / postdoctoral research | Posted September 2026 |
| Immunology | Human antibody biology | ASAP |
| Aging biology | Brain and ovarian aging | October 2026 start |
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.
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.
- Filter by department, faculty mentor or keyword.
- Open the full vacancy description and verify start date and qualifications.
- 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.
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 | 20 September 2026 |
