Postdoctoral Opportunities

At The Grainger College of Engineering, talented scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve the world's greatest challenges. From scaling semiconductors to securing artificial intelligence, designing new energy-storage solutions to engineering better medicines, and everything in between, we are pushing the boundaries of research to formulate the biggest ideas and deliver the greatest impact.  

Apply to the Grainger Distinguished Postdoctoral Program

The Grainger Engineering Postdoctoral Experience

Postdoctoral positions at Grainger Engineering or one of our partner institutes or centers offer opportunities to advance your career and gain a competitive edge in academia and industry.

Reasons to pursue a postdoc at Grainger Engineering: 

  • Research Excellence: Be part of a university leading discovery and innovation. Contribute to cutting-edge research, explore uncharted territories and redefine the possibilities in your field. 
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Grainger Engineering is a powerhouse of interdisciplinary collaboration, providing you unparalleled opportunities to work across disciplines and specialties. 
  • State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our commitment to providing world-class facilities and cutting-edge equipment means your work is supported by the best tools and resources available. 
  • Top Rankings: Grainger Engineering consistently ranks among the best. Our reputation for excellence means you are part of an institution globally recognized for its continued contributions and impact. 
  • Global Recognition: Completing a postdoctoral program, especially in a renowned institution, brings global recognition to your name. This heightened visibility bolsters your credibility and establishes you as a thought leader in your field. 

Postdoctoral Positions 

To find open postdoctoral positions at The Grainger College of Engineering or in one of our partner centers or institutes:

Future Faculty Fellows is a two-year program designed to assist postdoctoral researchers in developing their skills as researchers, mentors and teachers, and in using those skills to achieve their professional goals. 

The program has three core components that will have activities each semester: research mentoring, mentoring in teaching and other professional skills, and cohort development. 

Deadline to apply: February 15

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Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) research addresses a wide variety of experimental and theoretical research topics spanned by UIUC departments of physics, materials science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, mathematics and chemistry.

Requirements:

  •  Ph.D. degree or equivalent in a quantum-related field within the last five years 
  • Relevance of the proposed research plan to the portfolio of IQUIST 

Deadline to apply: December 15

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The Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program offers a unique opportunity for selected scholars to engage in a three-year fellowship of interdisciplinary research at the Beckman Institute. Each year, four - six interdisciplinary scholars are sought in the broad research areas of neuroscience, bioimaging technologies, molecular science and engineering, and more.  

Requirements: 

  • Ph.D. degree or equivalent within the last 10 years 
  • Relevance of the proposed research plan to the portfolio of the Beckman Institute 
  • Completed application package, including two letters of reference regarding previous work experience and two letters from proposed mentors/collaborators within the Beckman Institute 

Deadline to apply: November 20

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The Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) Postdoctoral Fellowship track focuses on training postdocs in bridging basic cancer sciences and engineering, thereby developing careers at the intersection of CCIL’s unique scientific themes. The fellows will participate in workshops such as cancer biology for engineers, -omics data analysis, and development and validation of preclinical cancer models.

Requirements: 

  • Completed proposal, including two letters of reference regarding previous work experience and two letters from proposed mentors/collaborators within CCIL

Deadline to apply: applications are accepted on a rolling basis

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The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a number of fellowships for truly exceptional young scholars who have completed their PhD within the last several years, and are looking for a stimulating and supportive interdisciplinary environment to carry out independent and collaborative research in the field of genomic biology. IGB Fellows will typically spend two to three years conducting research in one of several research themes in the institute, and ideally, this research will also overlap with two or more of these thematic areas. 

Requirements: 

  • Satisfaction of the TOP faculty eligibility criteria established by Provost's Communication No. 7
  • Ph.D. or other terminal degree (e.g., MFA, JD) required for faculty positions in the field obtained before July 1, 2023 
  • Commitment to full-time residence at the Urbana-Champaign campus during the academic year(s) covered by the program award

Deadline to apply: TBA 

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The Carle Foundation Hospital – Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellow will pursue cutting-edge translational biomedical research with faculty members from Carle Foundation Hospital and the Beckman Institute.

Requirements: 

  • Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. within the last 10 years with specialization in neurocardiology, cognitive neuroscience, or related field
  • Prior experience with advanced analytical methods and at least one neuroimaging method (EEG/ERP, fMRI, and/or optical imaging)
  • Preferred candidates will have strong programming skills (MATLAB and/or Python); previous experience in neurovascular coupling, neurovascular risk factors for cognitive aging, and/or the relationship between heart and brain disease; and familiarly with neurocardiology 

Deadline to apply: April 19 

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The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago will support investigators at partner institutions (including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) to perform research on topics related to instrumented tissues as well as research related to inflammation and the related functions of the immune system.

Deadline to apply: January 15 

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These positions are designed to support outstanding early-career scientists and engineers specializing in materials science, physics, chemistry and related fields. This program is available thanks to an endowment created by Phyllis Greene, Joe’s wife of 55 years, to honor Professor Joe Greene (Dr. J.E. Greene),  who was a distinguished faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former director of The Materials Research Laboratory.

Requirements: 

  • Ph.D. degree or equivalent within the last 10 years
  • Relevance of the stated research interested to the portfolio of the MRL 
  • Graduate students and postdoctoral scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible to apply
  • A completed application package, including two letters of reference addressing prior professional experience and one letter of reference from a proposed mentor in MRL 
  • Fellows in the 2024-2025 class should start their appointments between February 2024 and December 2024 of the award year

Deadline to apply: December 18

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Research Funding

A number of internal and external funding resources provide support to the research enterprise at UIUC.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation can help you identify funding opportunities.

Find Funding