Entry Level Clinical Research Associate Jobs
New grad clinical research associate jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or hands-on trial coordination can matter more than a long resume. Most openings mix on-site and remote settings across Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Science & Research, with employers like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Emory University, and Medpace hiring at this level now.
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Work Schedule
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Job Description
Join Us as a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I) – Make an Impact at the Forefront of Innovation
We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.
As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to perform and coordinate all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. As a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I), you'll conduct remote or on-site visits to assess protocol and regulatory compliance and manage required documentation. You will manage procedures and guidelines from different sponsors and/or monitoring environments (i.e., FSO, FSP, Government, etc.). Acting as a site processes specialist, you will ensure that the trial is conducted in accordance with the approved protocol, ICH-GCP guidelines, applicable regulations, and SOPs to guarantee subjects' rights, well-being, and data reliability. You will ensure audit readiness and develop collaborative relationships with investigational sites. Detailed tasks and responsibilities assigned to your role are outlined in the task matrix.
What You’ll Do:
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Monitors investigator sites with a risk-based monitoring approach: applies root cause analysis (RCA), critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify site processes failure and corrective/preventive actions to bring the site into compliance and decrease risks. Ensures data accuracy through SDR, SDV and CRF review as applicable through on-site and remote monitoring activities. Assesses investigational product through physical inventory and records review. Documents observations in reports and letters in a timely manner using approved business writing standards. Escalates observed deficiencies and issues to clinical management expeditiously and follows all issues through to resolution. May need to maintain regular contact between monitoring visits with investigative sites to confirm that the protocol is being followed, that previously identified issues are being resolved and that the data is being recorded in a timely manner. Conducts monitoring tasks in accordance with the approved monitoring plan. Participates in the investigator payment process. Ensures a shared responsibility with other project team members on issues/findings resolution. Investigates and follows-up on findings as applicable.
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Provides trial status tracking and progress update reports to the Clinical Team Manager (CTM) as required. Ensures study systems are updated per agreed study conventions (e.g. Clinical Trial Management System, CTMS). Performs QC check of reports generated from CTMS system where required.
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Participates in investigator meetings as necessary. Identifies potential investigators in collaboration with the client company to ensure the acceptability of qualified investigative sites. Initiates clinical trial sites according to the relevant procedures to ensure compliance with the protocol and regulatory and ICH GCP obligations, making recommendations where warranted. Ensures trial close out and retrieval of trial materials.
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Ensures that required essential documents are complete and in place, according to ICH-GCP and applicable regulations. Conducts on-site file reviews as per project specifications.
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Contributes to the project team by assisting in preparation of project publications/tools, and sharing ideas/suggestions with team members. Performs additional study tasks as assigned by CTM (e.g. trip report review, newsletter creation, lead CRA team calls etc).
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Facilitates effective communication between investigative sites, the client company and the PPD project team through written, oral and/or electronic contacts.
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Responds to company, client and applicable regulatory requirements/audits/inspections.
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Maintains & completes administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets in a timely manner.
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Contributes to other project work and initiatives for process improvement, as required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree in a life sciences related field or a Registered Nursing certification or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification.
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Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 2+ years as a clinical research monitor).
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Valid driver's license where applicable.
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In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.
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A minimum of 1 year of travel monitoring experience in therapeutic area Alzheimer's.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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Effective clinical monitoring skills.
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Demonstrated understanding of medical/therapeutic area knowledge and medical terminology.
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Excellent understanding and demonstrated application of ICH GCPs, applicable regulations and procedural documents.
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Well-developed critical thinking skills, including but not limited to critical mindset, in-depth investigation for appropriate root cause analysis and problem solving.
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Ability to manage Risk Based Monitoring concepts and processes.
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Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with medical personnel.
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Ability to maintain customer focus through the utilization of good listening skills, attention to detail and the ability to perceive customers’ underlying issues.
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Effective interpersonal skills.
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Strong attention to detail.
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Effective organizational and time management skills.
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Ability to remain flexible and adaptable in a wide range of scenarios.
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Ability to work in a team or independently as required.
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Good computer skills: proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn appropriate software.
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Good English language and grammar skills.
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Good presentation skills.
Working Conditions and Environment:
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Work is performed in an office/laboratory/clinical/and/or home office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
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Frequent drives to site locations. Frequent travel, generally 60-80% but more for some individuals.
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May also include extended overnight stays.
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Exposure to biological fluids with potential exposure to infectious organisms.
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Personal protective equipment required such as protective eyewear, garments and gloves.
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Exposure to fluctuating and/or extreme temperatures on rare occasions.
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Must be able to comply with specific sponsor/client/site requirements, even if not required by Thermo Fisher Scientific (e.g., disclosure of vaccination status, or other personal information). On some occasions, this information may be required to be provided directly to sponsor/client/site.
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Find JobsEntry Level Clinical Research Associate Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Thermo Fisher Scientific14

- Emory University12

- Medpace10

- Johns Hopkins University10

- Beth Israel Lahey Health7

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services121
- Education110
- Science & Research29
- Consulting & Professional Services28
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals25
Entry Level Clinical Research Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level clinical research associate job?
Employers hiring at the entry level typically look for a life sciences degree, familiarity with Good Clinical Practice guidelines, and any hands-on experience coordinating or assisting in clinical trials. Internships, co-ops, or research assistant roles during school carry real weight. Highlighting your attention to detail, data integrity habits, and any exposure to regulatory documentation gives your application a concrete edge over candidates with a generic science background.
Which companies hire entry level clinical research associates?
Companies hiring entry level clinical research associates right now include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Emory University, and Medpace, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of contract research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, and academic medical centers, all of which regularly bring on junior associates to support active trial portfolios.
Are there remote entry level clinical research associate jobs?
Yes, though many roles still require site visits or on-site presence. About 26% of entry level clinical research associate openings are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the growth of decentralized trial monitoring and sponsor-based roles that handle oversight from a central office rather than traveling to sites full time.
Are these new grad clinical research associate jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior clinical research associate roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it explicitly welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or research assistant work toward requirements, or accepts a strong academic background in place of full-time trial experience. New grad candidates who can show GCP training and organized documentation habits are competitive for these openings.
Which industries hire the most entry level clinical research associates?
Entry Level clinical research associate roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they run continuous trial pipelines that depend on entry level associates to handle site coordination, data collection, and protocol compliance under the guidance of senior monitors.