Job Description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.
Information at a Glance
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Job Title:  Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Oral Health
Travel Required?:  Travel - up to 10% of time
Posting Start Date:  9/18/26
On-site

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #176041 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.
 

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a highly motivated and proactive Postdoctoral Research Scientist for a fixed 2 year term supporting the Research & Innovation Oral Care Group, Global R&D.  A successful candidate will specialize in understanding interbacterial interactions with the microbiome and their functional relationships with the host. The candidate will identify the role of therapeutic interventions that can module the oral microbiome to improve the health status of the  oral environment. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation therapies targeting aimed to promote gum health

 

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct research to understand the interactions among oral bacteria.

  • Apply theory and mechanisms in microbial ecology and experimental and mathematical approaches to investigate changes in community dynamics and ecosystem function as a response to novel therapies.

  • Develop and employ laboratory methods to study changes in the oral microbiome (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) with host immune response following therapeutic interventions.

  • Analyze complex imaging data to understand population dynamics and measure the ecological impact of oral care interventions on the microbiome. 

  • Translate complex scientific research into comprehensible information for technical and non-technical audiences and multidisciplinary teams.

  • Prepare and present research findings in written reports, scientific publications, and oral presentations.

  • Support new and marketed technologies through cross-functional collaborations including clinical, product development, safety and regulatory.

Required Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Microbiology ( Microbial pathogenesis, Microbial Population Genetics, Microbial ecology ) or a related field. 
  • Research experience in one or more of the following areas: 

    • Experience with microbiological and molecular biology laboratory techniques and analysis.

    • Experience with oral microbiome, population-scale microbiology, and host immune response.

    • Proven scientific publication record.

    • Strong skills and experience with confocal and spectral imaging, bioinformatics, and flow cytometry.

    • Statistical software and programming (R and/or Python).

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Understanding of oral immunology, mucosal immunology, and cell culture techniques.

  • Understanding in mathematical ecology and mucosal immunity.

  • Understanding of bioorganometallic chemistry.

  • Strong skills in problem solving, communication (written/verbal) and collaboration with teams.

  • Microbiome/bacteria-tissue co-culture systems.


Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $90,000.00 - $96,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives  to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.

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