Medical Research Jobs
The landscape of clinical research is constantly evolving, offering exciting opportunities for individuals passionate about improving human health. Here's a glimpse into some key roles in this fulfilling field (salary ranges are estimates based on 2024 data from bls.gov :
Clinical Explore Specialists:
Clinical Examine Relate (CRA): Plans and oversees clinical trials, ensuring adherence to traditions and reporting comes almost (Emolument: $50,000 - $90,000) Consider CCRPS CRA Certification.
Clinical Ask around Facilitator (CRC):** Manages the day-to-day operations of clinical trials, checking data collection, part enrollment, and tradition checking (Stipend: $43,000 - $55,000). Look for after CCRP Certification.
Clinical Trials Executive (CTM): Leads the entire clinical trial plan, overseeing budgets, timelines, and authoritative compliance (Remuneration: $70,000 - $90,000) See into CCRPS CCTM Certification.
Lab and Data Examination Experts:
Clinical Research Assistant (CRA): Performs laboratory tests following established protocols to support research studies (Salary: $35,000 - $45,000). Consider CLT Certification through CCRPS.
Bioinformatics Analyst: Leverages computer tools and biological data to analyze complex data from clinical research labs (Salary: $75,000 - $100,000). Review CCRPS CBS Certification.
Communication and Regulatory Professionals:
Medical Writer: Creates and edits documents for clinical trials, including protocols and reports for dissemination (Salary: $60,000 - $80,000) Target CCRPS CMW Certification.
Regulatory Affairs Manager: Oversees the regulatory process, ensuring clinical research complies with guidelines (Salary: $95,000 - $125,000) Consider CCRPS CARM Certification.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Develops procedures for clinical trial applications, reviews protocols, and maintains regulatory documentation (Salary: $55,000 - $100,000) Explore Pharmacovigilance Certification through CCRPS.
Clinical research and career opportunities :
1. CRA Certification (Clinical Research Associate):
Clinical Research Associate (CRA): Plans and oversees clinical trials, ensuring adherence to regulations and accurate reporting (Salary: $50,000 - $90,000). Consider obtaining [CCRPS CRA Certification](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/cra) to advance your expertise in clinical trial management.
2. CRC Certification (Clinical Research Coordinator):
Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC): Manages day-to-day operations of clinical trials, including data collection and participant enrollment (Salary: $43,000 - $55,000). Enhance your capabilities with CCRP Certification ( https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Clinical-Research-Coordinator ) tailored for coordinators.
3. *CCTM Certification* (Clinical Trials Manager):
Clinical Trials Manager (CTM): Leads the entire clinical trial program, overseeing budgets, timelines, and regulatory compliance (Salary: $70,000 - $90,000). Explore [CCRPS CCTM Certification](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Advanced-Clinical-Research-Project-Manager-Certification) for comprehensive management skills.
4. CLT Certification (Clinical Laboratory Technician):
Clinical Research Assistant: Performs laboratory tests to support research studies (Salary: $35,000 - $45,000). Consider enhancing your laboratory skills with [CLT Certification through CCRPS](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Clinical-Lab-Technician-Certification).
5. CBS Certification* (Bioinformatics Specialist):
Bioinformatics Analyst: Leverages computer tools to analyze biological data from clinical research labs (Salary: $75,000 - $100,000). Improve your data analysis capabilities with [CCRPS CBS Certification](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Computational-Bioinformatics-Specialist-Certification).
6. CMW Certification* (Certified Medical Writer):
Medical Writer: Creates and edits clinical trial documents (Salary: $60,000 - $80,000). Target your writing skills with CCRPS CMW Certification (https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Certified-Medical-Writer-Certification).
7. *CARM Certification (Certified Affairs Regulatory Manager):
Regulatory Affairs Manager: Ensures clinical research compliance with guidelines (Salary: $95,000 - $125,000). Consider advancing your career with [CCRPS CARM Certification](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/Certified-Affairs-Regulatory-Manager-Certification).
8. Pharmacovigilance Certification:
Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Develops procedures for clinical trial applications and maintains regulatory documentation (Salary: $55,000 - $100,000). Explore the specialized field with [Pharmacovigilance Certification through CCRPS](https://app.ccrps.org/courses/pharmacovigilance-certification).
Skills and Background:
Medical ask almost livelihoods as often as possible require a establishment in science or pharmaceutical, with specialization in ranges like immunology or pharmacology. Strong informative aptitudes, fundamental considering, and picky thought to detail are critical. Practical communication and collaboration with colleagues and healthcare specialists are additionally crucial.
A Day in the Life:
A restorative researcher's day might incorporate analyzing data from tests, examining critical composing, going to conferences, and communicating revelations through reports and presentations.
Make a Difference:
Medical examine is at the cutting edge of helpful headways. By contributing to this field, you'll play a basic portion in making unused drugs, moving forward diagnostics, and inevitably, progressing human prosperity and well-being.
Remember: This is not an careful list. Various other energizing openings exist in therapeutic examine. Examine help to find your idealize fit!
Research Jobs Near Me
Clinical Research Jobs, Employment -
Clinical Research Positions and Job Opportunities
See CCRPS Remote, Entry-Level Clinical Research Job Bulletin
Clinical Research Positions and Job Opportunities
+7,000 Entry-Level Clinical Trial Jobs near me - Indeed
+7,000 Entry-Level Clinical Trial Jobs near me - Indeed
Google search “Clinical Research job role i.e. coordinator vs. associate vs. assistant near me since GOOGLE has a great job bulletin, simply google the job and set your email to get alerts on new openings
+16,000 Clinical Research Jobs near me- LinkedIn is a HIDDEN GEM for finding research jobs near me
Reaching out to CROs to express interest in their 1) trials 2) free intern roles is an option if location is a limiting factor (see ContractResearchMap)
Entry Level Research Jobs, Employment tips
Provide qualifications by getting a clinical research certification or degree. Consider enhancing your credentials with a Clinical Research Coordinator certification.
Modify resume to focus on clinical research and reframe past careers in how they could help your career in research (see VelvetJobs for 300+ clinical research resume examples)
Write focused cover letters for EACH job you apply to
Add anyone who emails you on LinkedIn
Follow up every 2-4 weeks until interviewed, hired, or rejected (must have rejection! this is how employers know your diligent and this sort of follow up shows immense interest in a large applicant pool).
How to get a research assistant job in the US as an IMG? - Follow the above steps! Share why your MD is useful in trials (detecting symptoms for patients and understanding enrollment criteria).
Research Remote Work From Home & Flexible Jobs - How to get a job doing research from home?
See our article on how to work remote in clinical research from home: 5 TIPS AND TRICKS TO WORKING FROM HOME IN CLINICAL RESEARCH DURING A PANDEMIC…OR REMOTELY. The COVID19 crisis has caused companies to require employees to work remotely in the clinical research field.
How to Get a Job as a Research Assistant
See our internationally-recognized, biopharma approved Clinical Trial Assistant Career Guide; viewed by thousands of visitors every month. The fastest way to prove both knowledge and passion in the field is to get certified. CCRPS Clinical Trials Assistant Training provides both ICH-GCP and senior-researcher level of content review so assistants can be both useful and an asset to the trial site!
Research Jobs
See our career guides and this great article by Kunal Sumpat on 15 Clinical Research Jobs
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) - How to become a clinical research associate? Start by getting a CRA certification.
Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)
Drug Safety Monitor (PV) - Advance your career with a Pharmacovigilance Certification.
Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA) - How much does a research assistant earn?
Clinical Research Nurse (CRN)
All Research Professionals (ICH GCP)
Here's What You Need to Know to Get a Clinical Research Job - How to enter a research field?
This 5 hour video by Dan, Clinical Trial Guru, is a must-watch for all those interviews in clinical research jobs.
7 Reasons Why You Should Start a Career in Clinical Research
begin a Career in Clinical Research
How you ever thought that there’s a perfect job out there for you, but you just haven’t found it yet? If you are motivated, informed, and interested in a science and medical career, you might have just found your answer. Many clinical research professionals say this is the golden ticket to a great career in the science field.
Why Clinical Research as a Career
The clinical research industry is a highly lucrative and expanding field. The global clinical trials market has been estimated at $46.8 billion in 2019.
As the push for new vaccines and therapeutics continues to get stronger, the field is expected to grow even more in value. Experts predict that the global market will hit $69.9 billion by 2027. The future in clinical research is bright, and it is one that you will want to be a part of.
Contrary to popular belief, working in clinical research doesn’t have to mean you have to stay in a lab. There are demands and opportunities for every skill set, if you know how to find them. Below, I have put together an in-depth guide on why you should get into clinical research.
Working in Clinical Research
You like a job that’s flexible
Don’t like working in a cubical? How about heading to the airport every morning instead? If you like a job that keeps you moving, then becoming a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and working in clinical trials might be the right move for you. Learn more about becoming a CRA with this CRA Certification Course.
CRAs, contrary to what most people believe, don’t collect data or interact with patients. A CRA’s day-to-day job is to travel between different research sites and verify data transcription (i.e., data management). CRAs can also become part of the project management as a clinical trial manager of an entire trial.
They are also called “monitors” and a part of "regulatory affairs", because it is also their job and clinical experience to ensure that every site is following proper compliance and protocols.
There are two types of CRAs: home base or in-house. Home base CRAs work remotely. That means they work and travel from home. Most CRAs work for contract research organizations who are hired by sponsors to conduct their multi-site trials.
If you get tired of working home base, you can become an in-house CRA. In-house CRAs stay in one site and work together with a home base CRA to keep each other updated with what is happening at their site.
You like working with people
Have you ever been told that you are a people person with great communication skills? If talking to someone about how you can change their health for the better sounds like something you’d enjoy, you should definitely look into becoming a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). Explore our Clinical Research Coordinator Course to get started.
CRCs are the backbones to every project. They conduct patient visits, input source documents into the electronic data capture (EDC), and ensure that every trial is following compliance. They are also responsible for handling regulatory documents and updating the Principal Investigator (PI) with trial results.
CRCs conduct a variety of tasks, all of which impact the progress and development of the trial. Every successful clinical trials team needs is a good CRC. So, if you have strong interpersonal skills and know how to stay organized, you will be an indispensable part of the team.
You are detail-oriented and tech-savvy
Are you a self-proclaimed techie? Perhaps you’ve dabbled in coding, pick up computer programs easily, and maybe even have a background in IT. Technology is the future. If you think you have a knack for organizing data, you should look into becoming a Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA). Check out our Clinical Trials Assistant Training to learn more.
CTAs, also known as Clinical Research Assistants, manage the Trial Master File (TMF). They file, archive, and maintain trial documents and study files. They are also responsible for closing inquiries from the CRA, as well as providing administrative support to the research team. Every important step in clinical research, pre-clinical research, study startup, site management, needs a dependable CTA.
While most jobs in clinical research require some understanding of technology, it is especially important for the CTA to know what they are doing when it comes to managing trial documents and study files. In addition, it is equally important that the CTA is organized and knows how to pay attention to detail.
Working in Clinical Trials
Means you like a good salary...with room for promotion
Though there are many career paths within clinical research, most people begin their career as CTAs or CRCs in entry-level positions. Depending on your skill set and what kind of experiences you can bring to the table, either position will help you get your feet through the door.
According to salary.com, a CTA’s average salary in 2020 is $63,000. They generally earn between a range of $54,300 and $73,000, and are provided with benefits such as healthcare and social security.
If being more hands-on in the research process appeals to you, you might be a good fit for a CRC. Similarly, CRCs are making an average of $63,117 in 2020. Most make between a range of $54,210 and $72,902, plus employee benefits.
While numbers tend to fluctuate between cities and states, there’s no denying that these are great salaries for an entry position. Since according to one of the largest global job recruitment sites, Glassdoor, the average base salary in America is $40,000. Starting with an annual salary of $60,000 is considered uncommon and on the high end of the spectrum.
After one to two years of experience on the job, most companies provide CTAs and CRCs opportunities for professional development and promotion. Many become Clinical Research Associates, or CRAs. Indeed reports that the average salary of a CRA with one to two years of experience is $72,358. After building at least 6 years experience, a seasoned CRA should expect to earn $110,102 a year. If you would like to make more money, you can consider becoming an individual contractor CRAs. They can earn up to $300,000 in a year.
You are a science professional wanting to change careers and don’t want to go back to school
In clinical research, experience is often valued over degrees. Rather than what you didn’t study in college, hiring managers are more interested in what you have done in the past and how they can integrate you into their company.
This includes getting certified through clinical research courses, but more so what you learn from the courses you take. CCRPS offers the most in-depth CRA and CRC training so that there's tons to talk about during the interview and a working bank of knowledge during the first few months of the job. Explore more specialized certifications like ICH-GCP, Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification, and Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification to further enhance your qualifications.
While graduate programs can help point you in the right direction, you don’t need a master’s degree to succeed in clinical research. In fact, certain positions don’t even require a bachelor’s or associate’s degree; they have certification in clinical research.
Applying to CRC and CTA positions are one of the most common segways into higher positions in clinical research. CRCs don’t need a bachelor’s or associate’s degree to get their foot in the door. While both CTA and CRA positions require a bachelor’s degree, they don’t have to be in the life sciences.
One of the best ways to gain experience and stand out from the crowd is to have on-site experience. If you need advice on how, Dan Sfera, the CEO of DSCS CRO Clinical Research Services, recommends getting started by interning or volunteering at clinics and research sites to build connections and experience.
Sometimes, the easiest way to get involved is to offer services like patient recruitment and social media management in exchange for opportunities to build your CV. By appealing to a site’s needs, this will help you get your foot in the door and build the connections and resume you need.
Another great way of adding experience to your resume is by training throughcertification courses. When employers see that you have taken the time and effort to understand how to be the best in their field, they are more far likely to hire you. At CCRPS.org, we offer seven courses and certification trainings to give you an advantage. Most of our students are hired within the first month of taking the course. We are accredited by the Accreditation Council For Clinical Research Education (ACCRE) and Joint Commission by the AMA, ANCC, and various other organizations to provide 17.5 CME credits through our CRA Certification and CRC Certification.
6. You are switching careers
Switching career fields can be nerve wracking. However, it is also an opportunity for you to be a unique candidate. Whether you come from a closely-related background, like medicine or nursing, or something completely different, there are ways you can advocate for yourself in front of employers.
If you already have a background in medicine (nonclinical doctor, unmatched MD), your knowledge of healthcare and your passion for patient health will make for a smooth translation into clinical research. In addition, your RN or MD degrees will help you gain a competitive edge and allow you to climb higher positions, such as the PI, who is the primary researcher of an operation.
On the other hand, if you come from a less relevant field but feel passionate, you can still leverage yourself to be exactly what the clinical research field needs. For example, if you are a teacher, your communication and interpersonal skills will be your keys to success. If you are a lawyer, your ability to draft and read papers will far surpass the average candidate.
If you studied mathematics, you are a skilled problem solver. If you are a translator, your language skills are valuable and will help you get into roles that require it. In short, whatever skills helped you succeed in your previous positions, you can bring it with you to clinical research.
7. You want to make a difference in disease outcomes and patient care
There are two types of people in the world: ones who accept the world as it is, and ones who strive to change it. In the last 50 years, science and medicine have gone through a series of drastic changes. However, anyone who works behind the scenes will tell you that medical breakthroughs are not miracles. Clinical research is the culmination of human effort and intelligence.
The fruits and labor of the ever-expanding industry are proof that if enough people care about the world, then they can change it. While there are many good reasons to work in clinical research, if you want the privilege to enrich the lives of others, there is a place for you in this field.
If you want to take a sneak peak at employers and opportunities near you, jobs sites like Indeed are a great resource.
Here are links for aspiring CRAs, for CRCs, and for CTAs. (Note: CTAs are often referred to Clinical Research Assistants, not to be confused for Clinical Research Associates)