postdoctoral

adjective

post·​doc·​tor·​al ˌpōs(t)-ˈdäk-t(ə-)rəl 

ˈpōst-ˌdäk-

variants or less commonly postdoctorate

ˌpōs(t)-ˈdäk-t(ə-)rət 

ˈpōst-ˌdäk-

: being beyond the doctoral level:

a

: of or relating to advanced academic or professional work beyond a doctor's degree

a postdoctoral fellowship

b

: engaged in such work

postdoctoral scholars

Examples of postdoctoral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The finding was surprising and suggested that taurine does not drive aging, says Chenyang Guan, PhD, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral associate in the Dixit lab. — Kristel Tjandra, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

This is surprising because most websites don't have these files, said Alisha Ukani, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, who noticed these files while reviewing the sites at NPR's request. — Huo Jingnan, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

This fall, 213 new graduate students and postdoctoral scholars came to campus, down from 287 a year earlier. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

The program awards five women scientists postdoctoral grants to advance their research. — Claire White, Vox, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for postdoctoral

• epidural
• predoctoral
• deferral
• referral
• neral
• squirrel