Clinical Research Assistant Jobs in New Jersey
Clinical Research Assistant jobs in New Jersey concentrate heavily in pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, and academic medical settings, reflecting the state's dense biotech and life sciences corridor. Most hiring is in Princeton, Newark, and the greater Edison area, where anchors like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital maintain large research operations. Protocol coordination, data collection for Phase II and III trials, and regulatory document management are the most sought-after specialties among New Jersey employers. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 47+ Clinical Research Assistant jobs











Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company - one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork. As part of our global team, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.
The Senior Director (Sr. Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed Oncology medicines. Our Company's Oncology medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Director will manage the entire cycle of clinical development, including: study design, placement, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.
Specifically, The Senior Director May Be Responsible For
- Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating early clinical development plan and Investigational New Drug applications;
- Developing of clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed Oncology drugs
- Planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies
- Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed Oncology drugs;
- Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication; and
- Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds. In executing these duties, the
- Supervise the activities of Clinical Scientists in the execution of clinical studies
- Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and
- Assist the Senior/Executive Director in ensuring that appropriate corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our Company's and competitors' drugs and internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to his/her areas of responsibility.
- Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies
- Identification of scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our Company's investigational and marketed drugs
- Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/her particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our Company drugs
- Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility.
- Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences
- Facilitating collaborations with external researchers around the world
- Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.
Education
- M.D or M.D./Ph.D.
- Must have experience in industry or senior faculty in academia
- Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience
- Minimum of 3 year of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia
- Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
- A proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research is essential
- Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment are essential.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Board Certified or Eligible in Oncology
- Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication
Cancer Research, Clinical Development, Clinical Trials, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Drug Development, Oncology Trials
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
The salary range for this role is
$282,200.00 - $444,200.00
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship:
Yes
Travel Requirements:
25%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
09/10/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID: R413766
See All 47 Clinical Research Assistant Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsClinical Research Assistant Jobs by City in New Jersey
Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Research Assistant Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices
- Chemicals & Materials
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Education
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical research assistant jobs across New Jersey.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, biology, or a related field required
- Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and ICH standards preferred
- Experience maintaining or auditing regulatory binders and essential documents
- Proficiency with electronic data capture systems such as Medidata Rave or Veeva Vault
- Strong attention to detail for accurate source document verification and query resolution
- Ability to coordinate with site staff, IRBs, and sponsors across multiple concurrent studies
Clinical Research Assistant Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical research assistant in New Jersey?
Start with a bachelor's degree in a life science such as biology, biochemistry, or public health, which is the baseline most New Jersey employers require. New Jersey does not issue a state license specific to clinical research assistants, so hiring decisions hinge on education, relevant coursework, and certifications such as the Society of Clinical Research Associates credential. Many candidates strengthen their applications through internships at New Jersey pharmaceutical or biotech companies before applying to full-time roles.
Which companies hire clinical research assistants in New Jersey?
New Jersey clinical research assistant roles are posted by Merck, Colgate-Palmolive, and Cooper University Healthcare and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. New Jersey's pharma and biotech corridor, running from Trenton through the Raritan Valley, means employers range from global pharmaceutical headquarters to specialty contract research organizations with deep roots in the state.
Which New Jersey cities have the most clinical research assistant jobs?
Princeton, Rahway, and Camden lead New Jersey in clinical research assistant openings right now. The distribution reflects the state's life sciences concentration: Princeton and its surrounding townships anchor major pharmaceutical headquarters, Newark draws candidates to its academic medical centers, and Edison sits at the heart of the Middlesex County biotech cluster, pulling demand from both large sponsors and contract research organizations operating nearby.
Are there remote clinical research assistant jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, but they're rare. Clinical research assistant work is largely hands-on, requiring on-site source document verification, specimen handling, and direct interaction with study participants and investigative site staff. About 69% of clinical research assistant openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with remote opportunities concentrated in regulatory document management, data entry, and study coordination tasks that don't require physical site presence.
How can I get hired as a clinical research assistant in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a clinical research internship or cooperative education program, several of which are offered by Rutgers University's clinical and translational science programs and through partnering New Jersey hospital systems. Contract research organizations based in the Princeton and Edison corridor regularly hire research coordinators in training from adjacent roles such as medical assistant, phlebotomist, or laboratory technician. Earning a Good Clinical Practice certification before applying gives candidates a clear edge in a competitive entry-level market.
Where can I find and apply to clinical research assistant jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to clinical research assistant jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current New Jersey openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target area, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 47 Clinical Research Assistant Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs