Research Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts
Research assistant jobs in Massachusetts are among the most active in the country, concentrated in academic research, life sciences, and clinical trials, with openings ranging from entry-level lab positions through senior research coordinators. The heaviest hiring clusters in Boston, Cambridge, and Worcester, where institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Pfizer maintain large and sustained research operations. The most in-demand specialties are clinical research coordination, biomedical and molecular biology research, and social science data analysis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.
The Kulkarni laboratory studies the biology and function of pancreatic islets including insulin secreting beta cells and glucagon-secreting alpha cells. The lab has recently started to work on adult tissue-specific stem cells, particularly those stem cells that form the pancreatic islet cells.
Job Description:
- Participate in flow cytometry and stem cell research involving the operation of high-speed, multi-parameter cell sorters and analyzers (complex, expensive optical/electronic instruments).
- Assist other lab members (Fellows) with culturing human tissues (e.g. skin and blood cells) including culturing, maintenance, and banking of cell lines.
- Assist lab members with mouse tissue cultures, maintenance and banking of cell lines.
- Routine culture of pluripotent stem cells, including picking of colonies, expansion, freezing of cells and generation of mouse embryonic feeder cells.
- Characterization of pluripotent stem cells, including teratoma assays, immunohistochemistry, qPCR and western blotting analyses.
- Screen offspring of several mouse strains by preparation of genomic DNA and PCR or by isolation of blood cells and flow cytometry.
- Assist in placement of orders for reagents and supplies as needed, log delivery of supplies and store supplies appropriately upon delivery.
- Assist with the maintenance of lab plasmid, antibody, and animal databases.
- Assist in the isolation of cells and tissues from experimental animals, including preparation of these cells for subsequent analysis by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry.
- Assist in the isolation of cells from human tissue samples, including preparation of these cells for subsequent analysis by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry.
- Assist with experimental procedures involving mice, including cell transplantation and injection of soluble factors, as well as routine monitoring for health.
- Work directly with a number of researchers, assisting in design, execution, and interpretation of experiments and also will assist in training and advising other lab members in use of equipment.
- Operating and maintaining equipment, scheduling procedures, working with multiple investigators, interfacing with vendors, and preparing reagents.
- Maintaining different animal strains, genotyping, injection, and other physiological experiments.
- Other duties as assigned.
Pay Range:
$15.00 – $24.00
The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.
As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.
More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
- Employment: Per Diem
- Shift: Day
- Category: Academic Research
- Pay Range: $15.00 - $24.00
- FLSA: Non-Exempt
- Req ID: JR106219
See All 68 Research Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Assistant JobsResearch Assistant Jobs by City in Massachusetts
Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Assistant Job Market in Massachusetts
A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Brigham and Women's Hospital15

- Boston Medical Center13

- Harvard University9

- Boston University7

- Tufts University3

Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Massachusetts Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research assistant jobs across Massachusetts.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, psychology, or a related discipline
- Hands-on experience with data collection, entry, and basic statistical analysis
- Familiarity with IRB protocols and human subjects research compliance requirements
- Proficiency with research software such as SPSS, R, or laboratory information management systems
- Strong written communication skills for drafting reports, abstracts, and research documentation
- Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team environment
Research Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research assistant in Massachusetts?
A bachelor's degree in your intended research field is the standard entry point for research assistant roles in Massachusetts. No state-issued license is required for most positions, though clinical research assistants working with human subjects must complete CITI Program training in human subjects protection, which many Massachusetts institutions require before hiring. Degrees in life sciences, psychology, public health, or a related discipline are most competitive for the dense academic and clinical research environment in the Boston and Cambridge area.
Which companies hire research assistants in Massachusetts?
Employers hiring research assistants in Massachusetts right now include Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Harvard University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Massachusetts's concentration of teaching hospitals, biotechnology firms, and research universities means hiring is sustained year-round rather than seasonal.
Which Massachusetts cities have the most research assistant jobs?
Boston, Framingham, and Brookline have the most research assistant openings in Massachusetts. Boston and Cambridge dominate because of their dense cluster of academic medical centers, universities, and biotech companies, while Worcester draws consistent hiring from UMass Memorial Health and Worcester Polytechnic Institute's research programs.
Are there remote research assistant jobs in Massachusetts?
Yes, but they are limited. Research assistant work is often hands-on, requiring lab access, specimen handling, or in-person participant interaction, which limits full remote options. About 62% of research assistant openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in data analysis, literature review, and survey-based social science research rather than laboratory or clinical roles.
How can I get hired as a research assistant in Massachusetts with little or no experience?
Applying to undergraduate or post-baccalaureate research assistant positions at Massachusetts universities and teaching hospitals is the most realistic starting point. Institutions like Boston University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Broad Institute regularly hire entry-level research assistants and research coordinator trainees who work alongside faculty or principal investigators. Completing CITI human subjects training before applying and highlighting coursework in statistics or laboratory methods gives candidates a concrete edge over peers with no formal research background.
Where can I find and apply to research assistant jobs in Massachusetts?
You can find and apply to research assistant jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings across academic, clinical, and industry research settings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 68 Research Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Assistant Jobs