Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Research Associate jobs in Pennsylvania are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in academic research, pharmaceutical development, and clinical sciences at levels from entry-level lab assistant through senior research associate. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Greater Lehigh Valley anchor most of the hiring, where established employers like University of Pennsylvania Health System, GSK, and Merck maintain large research operations. The most sought-after specialties include clinical data analysis, biomedical laboratory research, and policy and social science research tied to Pennsylvania's universities and health systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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UPMC Department of Dermatology is seeking a full-time Clinical Research Associate to support its Clinical Research team at 3601 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, Falk Medical Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. This position works Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and plays a key role in coordinating and supporting clinical research studies.
Responsibilities:
- Create individualized study calendars and reviews them with the patient.
- Meet with the principal investigator and Clinical Research Coordinator/Supervisor to review patient status on as needed basis.
- Responsible for prompt and accurate data collection for protocols.
- Assist coordinator in preparing, sending and tracking documents for re-consenting patients.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings to foster educational development by attending relevant seminars, conferences and sponsored educational events as required.
- In addition, will contact patient/family members to obtain follow up or survival data information after study completion, and will review survival record data bases to provide follow up. All follow up information is to be documented onto study CRFs and entered into CTMA.
- Assist in providing consent forms to coordinators and investigators so that the informed consent process is implemented with study subjects.
- Meet monthly with disease center research program leader and research team to present subject trial status.
- Facilitate entry of patient on to clinical trials by performing the following tasks.
- Complete research requisitions to assist billing department to prevent billing of research procedures to third party payers.
- Perform consenting process and study implementation of lab, registry, and non-therapeutic clinical trials.
- Perform trial related responsibilities as required such as processing, storing and shipping trial specimens, administers study related questionnaires to study participants (i.e. quality of life, etc.).
- Assist in entering subject trial registration and study status updates into CTMA.
- Insure that patient's records, slides, radiology tests, lab work results, etc. are obtained and reviewed prior to patient entry onto a study.
- Assist in verifying subject eligibility according to protocols by reviewing medical records, laboratory, and radiology or CT scan results.
- Complete financial review forms of potential patients to determine insurance coverage for standard of care procedures and completion of requisition forms.
- Create study specific source documents, case report forms and study visit checklists.
- Facilitate the enrollment of subjects to trials open to the community network sites and will follow up on outstanding data collections.
- Facilitate follow-up of protocol patients by developing maintenance-therapy data collection sheets for all protocol patients who require follow-up.
- Assist in the coordination of initiation, site evaluation, monitoring visits, and audits required by the sponsor.
- Monitor subject compliance of oral study medications.
- Assist with obtaining tumor measurements from Radiologist or Investigators to determine response information as per protocol.
- B.A. degree in Business, Healthcare, or related or LPN license minimum of 2 years of clinical research experience or
- High school graduate with current certification as a Clinical Research Associate from either the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) or Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) along with a minimum of two years of clinical research experience
Knowledge and use of MS office software products and the ability to work with PC database applications. Excellent organizational skills and be able to work on projects/tasks simultaneously. Highly motivated and be able to work with minimal supervision. Ability to adapt to multiple organizational structures. Ability to meet deadlines and be flexible in response to sudden workload changes.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
See All 47 Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
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Find Research Associate JobsResearch Associate Jobs by City in Pennsylvania
Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Associate Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Carnegie Mellon University13

- University of Pennsylvania4

- Artech3

- UPMC2

- IQVIA2

Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research associate jobs across Pennsylvania.
- Bachelor's degree in a life science, social science, or related field required
- Experience with data collection, analysis, or laboratory protocols in a research setting
- Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or Python
- Familiarity with IRB compliance and human subjects research protocols
- Strong written communication skills for preparing research reports and manuscripts
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a collaborative team environment
Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research associate in Pennsylvania?
Most research associate positions in Pennsylvania require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, public health, or social science, with many academic medical centers and pharmaceutical employers preferring a master's degree. Pennsylvania does not issue a state license specifically for research associates, but roles involving human subjects research require IRB training, and clinical research coordinators often pursue certification through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. Gaining experience through university research labs, hospital-affiliated research programs, or internships at Pennsylvania institutions like Penn Medicine or Pitt is the most direct path.
Which companies hire research associates in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring research associates in Pennsylvania right now include Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Artech, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pennsylvania's concentration of major academic medical centers, large pharmaceutical firms, and policy research organizations makes it one of the more active states for this role across a range of specialties.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most research associate jobs?
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania account for the most research associate openings in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia leads because of its dense cluster of academic medical centers, pharmaceutical headquarters, and university research programs, while Pittsburgh draws significant volume from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and UPMC's extensive research enterprise. Smaller markets like King of Prussia and Malvern round out the list due to the concentration of life sciences and pharmaceutical campuses along the Route 202 corridor.
Are there remote research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, but they depend heavily on the specialty. About 35% of research associate openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with availability varying significantly by function. Roles centered on data analysis, literature review, survey research, and policy work are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, while positions requiring laboratory work, specimen handling, or direct participant interaction are typically on-site.
How can I get hired as a research associate in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a paid research assistant or junior research coordinator role at a Pennsylvania university or academic medical center, where new-graduate programs and lab-based positions regularly open to candidates with a bachelor's degree and coursework in research methods. Large employers like Penn Medicine, Temple University Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia run research internship and fellowship pipelines that transition into associate-level roles. Completing IRB human subjects training and building a record of co-authored work or thesis research gives applicants a concrete edge when competing for these openings.
Where can I find and apply to research associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to research associate jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings across academic, clinical, pharmaceutical, and policy research settings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 47 Research Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
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