Research And Development Jobs in Mississippi
Research And Development jobs in Mississippi concentrate in defense technology, biotechnology, agriculture science, and advanced manufacturing, with demand at every level from entry-level lab technician to senior principal scientist. The largest hiring hubs are Jackson, Hattiesburg, and the Gulf Coast corridor around Biloxi and Gulfport, where employers like Ingalls Shipbuilding, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Mississippi State University anchor consistent research and development activity. The most in-demand specialties in the state include product development engineering, agricultural and food science research, and defense systems testing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Research And Development JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 37+ Research And Development jobs











INTRODUCTION
The University of Mississippi — fondly referred to as Ole Miss — stands as a premier public research institution with a proud legacy of academic distinction. We are devoted to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive community where every member — student, faculty, and staff — can achieve their fullest potential.
Join the Ole Miss Family — Build Your Legacy Here!
Department:
Office for Research & Econ Development (ORED) empowers University of Mississippi research that advances knowledge, addresses social challenges, and propels economic growth locally and nationally. We support researchers and creative scholars, foster collaboration, and facilitate the translation of innovation into progress. As our legacy home-grown information system comes to the end of its life, we have licensed and are implementing Cayuse, a state-of-the-art, cloud-based enterprise system to manage the increasingly complex landscape of research compliance and grant administration. At the same time, UM is in the process of migrating the HR and payroll enterprise to Workday, the student information system to Ellucian Banner, and the faculty activity reporting system to Watermark Faculty Success. A central data warehouse and analytics and reporting tool called Insights will also be implemented to bring in data from these and other campus systems to enable faster insights and more informed decision-making campus wide. Meanwhile, the federal research funding environment is rapidly changing, creating new challenges and opportunities for responding to new priorities, competing for grants, and thriving in a shifting regulatory environment.
JOB SUMMARY
The Office for Research and Economic Development (ORED) at the University of Mississippi is seeking an experienced data and systems professional who is interested in applying technical expertise to support a growing research enterprise. Working alongside research administrators, this position will design, develop, and maintain data solutions that improve institutional decision-making and strengthen research administration. Initially, the position will focus on supporting the implementation of Cayuse, including system configuration, data management, reporting, technical support, integration with Workday, and migration of legacy research administration data into the University's enterprise data environment. As these systems mature, the position will expand to developing institutional datasets, dashboards, reports, predictive models, and other analytical tools that help leadership monitor research performance, identify opportunities, improve operational effectiveness, strengthen regulatory compliance, and support strategic investment in research.
EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:
- Data Engineering: Develop Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) scripts to extract data or clean data, automate tasks, supports business processes
- Liaise with vendors and central IT professionals to identify, propose, develop, and test integrations across enterprise systems
- Develop data dashboards and reports for ORED leaders and campus research stakeholders
- Communicate with research administration subject matter experts to define business needs and propose data-driven solutions
- Interact with technical experts to identify and implement cross-system integrations (e.g., moving data from Cayuse to Workday and vice versa)
- Collaborate across institutional units to leverage data resources and subject matter expertise in support of analytical and reporting needs
- Use data extraction tools (SQL/NoSQL/Python) to develop queries to answer research and analysis questions
- Develop and implement data solutions and analyses to help leaders and stakeholders understand, comply with, and thrive under the large, evolving, and complex federal rules and regulations related to grants and contracts.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Bachelor's degree—preferably in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline. If the candidate holds a bachelor’s in an unrelated field but has substantial experience in related roles, they are encouraged to apply and should explain their qualifications and expertise as it relates to this position in their cover letter.
Applicants should submit a resume and a brief narrative (no more than two pages) describing the following:
- A complex data, systems, or reporting challenge you personally helped solve, including your specific role, the technologies you used, and the outcome.
- Why this position at the University of Mississippi interests you and how your experience would contribute to advancing the University's research enterprise.
The strongest applications will demonstrate thoughtful analysis, technical depth, and an understanding of how data can be used to improve organizational decision-making.
EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's (Required)
Experience:
Relevant experience | 6 Years | Required
COMPENSATION:
$75,545.60 - $113,318.40
INTERVIEW REQUIREMENT:
Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.
EEO STATEMENT:
The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, age, disability, military status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENT:
The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.
See All 37 Research And Development Jobs in Mississippi
Find roles in Mississippi that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research And Development JobsResearch And Development Jobs by City in Mississippi
Where Mississippi roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research And Development Job Market in Mississippi
A snapshot from current Mississippi openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Mississippi Medical Center15

- The University of Southern MIssissippi4

- Fresenius Medical Care3

- Jackson State University3

- Iterative Health2

Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Mississippi Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research and development jobs across Mississippi.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline required
- Experience with laboratory procedures, data collection, and research documentation methods
- Proficiency in technical analysis software and research design methodologies
- Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance for defense-related research roles
- Strong written communication skills for grant writing, reports, and regulatory submissions
- Familiarity with FDA, USDA, or DoD compliance standards relevant to Mississippi research sectors
Research And Development Jobs in Mississippi: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research and development professional in Mississippi?
Most research and development roles in Mississippi require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the position, such as engineering, biology, chemistry, or computer science, with many senior roles requiring a master's or doctorate. Mississippi does not have a single universal state license for research and development workers, but roles in specific sectors carry additional requirements: engineers may need a Professional Engineer license issued through the Mississippi State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and food or agricultural researchers may need credentials recognized by relevant federal agencies.
Which companies hire research and developments in Mississippi?
Mississippi research and development roles are posted by University of Mississippi Medical Center, The University of Southern MIssissippi, and Fresenius Medical Care and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Mississippi's defense, agriculture, and medical research sectors drive consistent hiring across the state.
Which Mississippi cities have the most research and development jobs?
Jackson, Tupelo, and Hattiesburg are the Mississippi cities with the most research and development openings. Jackson leads due to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and state government research programs, the Gulf Coast cities benefit from Ingalls Shipbuilding and naval research operations at the Stennis Space Center, and Hattiesburg draws openings through the University of Southern Mississippi and regional biotech and materials research activity.
Are there remote research and development jobs in Mississippi?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because much research and development work requires laboratory access, equipment, or secure on-site facilities. About 14% of research and development openings tied to Mississippi are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with remote work most available in roles focused on data analysis, computational research, regulatory writing, and project management rather than hands-on lab or testing work.
How can I get hired as a research and development professional in Mississippi with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for research assistant, lab technician, or junior analyst roles, which are regularly posted by Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi across their research centers. These institutions run undergraduate research programs and graduate assistantships that function as structured entry-level pipelines. Candidates from adjacent roles like quality control technician, field scientist, or technical writer often transition into research and development positions. A completed thesis project, published research contribution, or a relevant industry certification strengthens any application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to research and development jobs in Mississippi?
You can find and apply to research and development jobs in Mississippi on Migrate Mate, which lists current Mississippi openings across sectors including defense, biotechnology, agriculture, and healthcare research. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 37 Research And Development Jobs in Mississippi
Find roles in Mississippi that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research And Development Jobs