How to hire an phd researcher

How to hire an phd researcher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step phd researcher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an phd researcher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new phd researcher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an phd researcher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The phd researcher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An phd researcher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, phd researchers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of phd researchers.

   Type of PHD Researcher	Description	Hourly rate
   PHD Researcher	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$16-36
   Fellow	A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more	$22-44
   Scientist	A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations... Show more	$32-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Chemistry
   • Research Projects
   • Data Analysis
   • Renewable Energy
   • C++
   • DOE
   • Scholar
   • Patients
   • Synthesis
   • Molecular Biology
   • National Security
   • Experimental Design
   • Data Collection

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and mentore graduate and undergraduate students in their physical chemistry relate studies and research projects on spin dynamics simulations.
   • Evaluate data employing GC/MS, gel electrophoresis, and UV/VIS spectroscopy.
   • Perform testing using gel electrophoresis as well as mixed and pour the gels used in testing
   • Optimize and redesign robotic components base on FEA for improve strength using ANSYS and SOLIDWORKS.
   • Coauthor an NIH grant proposal on DNA mismatch repair and malaria drug resistance (5R21AI072723-02).
   • Design a scent dispenser 3D model in SolidWorks and build a prototype by utilizing MasterCam and CNC machines.

   More phd researcher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your phd researcher job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An phd researcher salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, phd researchers' average salary in south carolina is 54% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level phd researchers earn 54% less than senior-level phd researchers.
   • Certifications. An phd researcher with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an phd researcher's salary.

   Average phd researcher salary

   $51,634yearly

   $24.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level phd researcher salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average phd researcher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$78,617	$38
   2	Hawaii	$73,118	$35
   3	Tennessee	$65,348	$31
   4	New Jersey	$57,824	$28
   5	Arizona	$57,536	$28
   6	Massachusetts	$57,165	$27
   7	Maryland	$56,452	$27
   8	Montana	$56,178	$27
   9	Oregon	$55,876	$27
   10	New York	$54,239	$26
   11	Colorado	$52,669	$25
   12	Delaware	$51,685	$25
   13	Pennsylvania	$51,535	$25
   14	Wyoming	$51,212	$25
   15	Illinois	$50,728	$24
   16	Idaho	$45,780	$22
   17	District of Columbia	$45,723	$22
   18	Virginia	$45,541	$22
   19	North Carolina	$43,270	$21
   20	Ohio	$42,999	$21

   Average phd researcher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$144,606	$69.52	336
   2	IBM	$121,793	$58.55
   3	Amd	$101,577	$48.84	2
   4	Los Alamos National Security LLC	$78,108	$37.55
   5	Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory	$78,010	$37.50	4
   6	Argonne National Laboratory	$77,972	$37.49	102
   7	Sandia National Labs	$77,861	$37.43	22
   8	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$77,324	$37.17
   9	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory	$77,314	$37.17	4
   10	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	$77,005	$37.02	24
   11	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$76,634	$36.84	32
   12	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$76,563	$36.81	45
   13	Genentech	$72,284	$34.75	44
   14	Novartis	$72,183	$34.70
   15	American Society for Engineering Education	$70,858	$34.07
   16	Bradley University	$67,765	$32.58
   17	Stanford University	$65,712	$31.59	31
   18	San Francisco University High School	$65,347	$31.42
   19	New York University	$65,162	$31.33	15
   20	Arizona State University	$64,021	$30.78	8

4. Writing an phd researcher job description

   A good phd researcher job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an phd researcher job description:

   Phd researcher job description example

   The Institute for Bioengineering Research is currently seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher. This position will require a highly motivated individual to synthesize novel monomers and polymers. The project is highly cross-disciplinary and requires strong expertise in polymer design, synthesis and characterization. The successful candidate will synthesize and characterize novel polymers that can be functionalized with peptides for regenerative biomaterials. A background in synthetic/polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, material science/engineering, or closely related field is required.
   
   An individual is not eligible for this position who previously has served as a postdoctoral fellow or postdoctoral researcher for a combination of 5 years total at this institution and at other institutions in programs of postdoctoral training in the same field as his/her proposed additional program of training. Such individuals are presumed to have advanced beyond the apprentice role appropriate to the postdoctoral researcher job title. Job Description
   80% - Research Synthesize and characterize novel materials (monomers, polymers, organic macromolecules) for reconstructive and regenerative biomaterials. Micro - and nanomaterial structure and property characterization and evaluation. Work in a team of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs in the lab. 15% - Reports, Manuscript & Proposal Preparation Maintain detailed records of data obtained in the laboratory. Prepare reports and manuscripts. Assist in proposal preparation. 5% - Laboratory Maintenance Maintain critical lab equipment. Maintain lab inventory. Oversee lab safety. Required Qualifications 1. PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Synthesis, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or closely related discipline.
   2. Ability to effectively analyze data and communicate in writing and orally, as evidenced in application materials and interview.
   3. Ability to work effectively in a team environment as evidenced by previous work experience.
   4. Experience with organic synthesis, polymer synthesis and characterization as demonstrated in application materials.
   
   NOTE: To be appointed at the Postdoctoral Researcher title, it is necessary to have the PhD in hand. Appointments made without a diploma or certified transcript indicating an earned doctorate are conditional hires and are appointed on an acting basis not to exceed six months. Upon verification of degree the appointment will be extended to its full duration. Preferred Qualifications 1. Strong background in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry.
   2. Published peer-reviewed articles in polymer synthesis, characterization, and/or development of polymers for biomedical applications.
   3. One-year minimum experience with NMR to characterize organic compounds.
   4. One-year minimum experience using column chromatography for purification of organic compounds.
   5. Experience in nanomaterial design, development, and characterization for biomedical applications is preferred.
   6. Experience in peptide synthesis. Additional Candidate Instructions A complete application includes an online application, cover letter, resume highlighting pertinent experience relative to the required and preferred qualifications and contact information for three professional references. Only complete applications will be considered. Contact Information to Applicants Paulette Spencer
   Please do not forget to mention Bio Careers when applying.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right phd researcher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your phd researcher job on Zippia to find and recruit phd researcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit phd researchers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new phd researcher

   Once you've selected the best phd researcher candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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