Clinical Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Clinical Research Associate jobs in Pennsylvania are in steady demand, concentrated in pharmaceutical research, academic medical centers, and contract research organizations, with openings from entry-level coordinators through senior and principal CRAs. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Greater Delaware Valley corridor are the heaviest hiring zones, anchored by institutions and employers such as Penn Medicine, GSK, and ICON plc. Oncology trials, cardiovascular studies, and Phase II-III drug development monitoring are the most sought-after specialties across Pennsylvania sites. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Clinical Research Coord II
The Lung Transplant Research Division at UPMC is a dynamic and highly specialized research department dedicated to advancing clinical knowledge and improving outcomes for lung transplant patients. The division supports a diverse and growing research portfolio, currently managing clinical research studies in various phases of enrollment, start-up, and follow-up, with additional studies anticipated in the near future.
The research team consists of one dedicated Research Coordinator and two Primary Investigators who work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary group of ancillary support staff, including Physician Assistants (PAs), Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), operating room personnel, physicians, and other clinical and administrative staff. Together, these individuals contribute to the successful execution of research activities, regulatory compliance, patient recruitment, data collection, and study oversight.
Research activities are conducted across multiple UPMC facilities, including the UPMC Shadyside Medical Building, Falk Medical Building, and the UPMC Presbyterian operating rooms, requiring close coordination among clinical and research personnel.
This position plays a critical role in supporting the division's research mission by ensuring high-quality study conduct, fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to the ongoing expansion of innovative research opportunities within the Lung Transplant Program.
Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor's degree in a health science, biological science, nursing, public health, or related field.
- Experience coordinating clinical research studies or equivalent research experience; knowledge of clinical research methodology and regulatory requirements; strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
Qualifications Preferred:
Clinical research coordination experience in transplant, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, or related specialties. Experience with patient screening, recruitment, and informed consent processes: experience with protocol management and regulatory submissions to the IRB and other oversight committees; experience with research databases and electronic data capture systems; familiarity with GCP, human subject protections, and research compliance requirements.
Conducts research assessments on study participants. Assists with and adheres to Institutional Review Board (IRB) renewal, modification, and approved protocols. Assists with training staff. Ensures adherence to protocols and corrects issues with data collection.
The position will coordinate and manage day-to-day operations of clinical research studies within the Lung Transplant Program; screen, recruit, consent, and enroll research participants in accordance with approved protocols and regulatory requirements; maintain compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), institutional policies, sponsor guidelines, and applicable federal regulations. GCP compliance is a foundational component of research study conduct. In addition, the position will be responsible for:
- Prepare and submit regulatory documents, including but not limited to Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, continuing reviews, amendments, and study closures.
- Coordinate study visits, specimen collection, and research-related procedures.
- Perform accurate and timely data collection, entry, verification, and database management.
- Maintain study files and regulatory binders and ensure completion of required study documentation.
- Assist investigators with protocol implementation and ongoing study management.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinical and research teams across multiple locations.
Participate in study monitoring visits, audits, and sponsor communications as needed.
Physical Effort
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
- Ability to travel between UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside campuses.
- Ability to transport study materials and equipment as needed.
- Must have reliable transportation for travel between clinical and research sites.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
Clinical Research Coord II
The Lung Transplant Research Division at UPMC is a dynamic and highly specialized research department dedicated to advancing clinical knowledge and improving outcomes for lung transplant patients. The division supports a diverse and growing research portfolio, currently managing clinical research studies in various phases of enrollment, start-up, and follow-up, with additional studies anticipated in the near future.
The research team consists of one dedicated Research Coordinator and two Primary Investigators who work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary group of ancillary support staff, including Physician Assistants (PAs), Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), operating room personnel, physicians, and other clinical and administrative staff. Together, these individuals contribute to the successful execution of research activities, regulatory compliance, patient recruitment, data collection, and study oversight.
Research activities are conducted across multiple UPMC facilities, including the UPMC Shadyside Medical Building, Falk Medical Building, and the UPMC Presbyterian operating rooms, requiring close coordination among clinical and research personnel.
This position plays a critical role in supporting the division's research mission by ensuring high-quality study conduct, fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to the ongoing expansion of innovative research opportunities within the Lung Transplant Program.
Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor's degree in a health science, biological science, nursing, public health, or related field.
- Experience coordinating clinical research studies or equivalent research experience; knowledge of clinical research methodology and regulatory requirements; strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
Qualifications Preferred:
Clinical research coordination experience in transplant, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, or related specialties. Experience with patient screening, recruitment, and informed consent processes: experience with protocol management and regulatory submissions to the IRB and other oversight committees; experience with research databases and electronic data capture systems; familiarity with GCP, human subject protections, and research compliance requirements.
Conducts research assessments on study participants. Assists with and adheres to Institutional Review Board (IRB) renewal, modification, and approved protocols. Assists with training staff. Ensures adherence to protocols and corrects issues with data collection.
The position will coordinate and manage day-to-day operations of clinical research studies within the Lung Transplant Program; screen, recruit, consent, and enroll research participants in accordance with approved protocols and regulatory requirements; maintain compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), institutional policies, sponsor guidelines, and applicable federal regulations. GCP compliance is a foundational component of research study conduct. In addition, the position will be responsible for:
- Prepare and submit regulatory documents, including but not limited to Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, continuing reviews, amendments, and study closures.
- Coordinate study visits, specimen collection, and research-related procedures.
- Perform accurate and timely data collection, entry, verification, and database management.
- Maintain study files and regulatory binders and ensure completion of required study documentation.
- Assist investigators with protocol implementation and ongoing study management.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinical and research teams across multiple locations.
Participate in study monitoring visits, audits, and sponsor communications as needed.
Physical Effort
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
- Ability to travel between UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside campuses.
- Ability to transport study materials and equipment as needed.
- Must have reliable transportation for travel between clinical and research sites.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
See All 87 Clinical Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsClinical Research Associate Jobs by City in Pennsylvania
Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Research Associate Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Pennsylvania19
- University of Pittsburgh11
- Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health10
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia5
- Penn State Health4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services14
- Education6
- Science & Research1
- Agriculture & Farming1
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical research associate jobs across Pennsylvania.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, nursing, or a related clinical field required
- ACRP or SOCRA certification (CCRC or CCRP) strongly preferred by Pennsylvania employers
- Minimum one to two years of clinical trial monitoring or site coordination experience
- Proficiency with electronic data capture systems such as Medidata Rave or Veeva Vault
- Knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines and FDA regulations governing clinical research conduct
- Willingness to travel to Pennsylvania investigator sites, often up to fifty percent of the time
Clinical Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical research associate in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania does not issue a state-specific license for clinical research associates, so the standard path is a bachelor's degree in a life science, nursing, or health-related field followed by hands-on experience in clinical trial coordination or data management. Most Pennsylvania employers then expect or require professional certification through ACRP (the CCRC or CRA credential) or SOCRA (the CCRP). Starting as a clinical research coordinator at a Philadelphia academic medical center or a contract research organization in the Delaware Valley region is the most common entry route.
Which companies hire clinical research associates in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring clinical research associates in Pennsylvania right now include University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Pennsylvania's dense concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters, academic health systems, and large CROs means openings appear consistently throughout the year rather than in seasonal bursts.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most clinical research associate jobs?
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Hershey have the most clinical research associate openings in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia dominates because of its cluster of major health systems, Ivy League research institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech firms in the Greater Delaware Valley, while Pittsburgh draws postings through its university medical centers and growing life sciences corridor, and suburban markets like King of Prussia and Wayne benefit from nearby biopharma campuses.
Are there remote clinical research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, and more than many clinical roles, because a portion of CRA work involves remote source document review, protocol training, and regulatory document management rather than on-site monitoring visits. About 50% of clinical research associate openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the growing adoption of risk-based and remote monitoring models across the industry. Site-facing monitoring duties still require in-person visits to Pennsylvania investigator sites.
How can I get hired as a clinical research associate in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a clinical research coordinator role at a Philadelphia or Pittsburgh academic medical center, where you gain direct protocol and site experience before stepping into a field CRA position. Penn Medicine, UPMC, and Jefferson Health all run new-graduate research coordinator pipelines. Candidates who hold a CCRC credential from ACRP, even without full monitoring experience, stand out. Lateral moves from clinical data management, regulatory affairs, or quality assurance roles at Pennsylvania-based CROs are another common bridge into the CRA track.
Where can I find and apply to clinical research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to clinical research associate jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings across Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and surrounding areas. Find the roles that fit your experience level and specialty focus, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 87 Clinical Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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