Research Data Scientist Jobs in South Dakota
Research Data Scientist jobs in South Dakota draw steady interest across healthcare systems, agricultural technology, and higher education, with openings at entry through senior levels. Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Brookings are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by employers such as Sanford Health, South Dakota State University, and the South Dakota Department of Health. Machine learning, biomedical informatics, and geospatial analytics are the specialties most consistently in demand. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Join Us as a Clinical Research Associate (Level II) – 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 five 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 Clinical Research Associate (Level II), 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.
Required Qualifications
- 1–2 years of traveling on-site monitoring experience.
- Therapeutic experience in at least one of the following: Oncology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Cardiology, Rare Disease, Respiratory, Obesity, and/or Pulmonary.
- Candidates must live within 60 miles of the nearest major airport. Up to 80% travel is expected.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, including a drug screening.
What You’ll Do:
- 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.
- Assess 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 follow 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.
- 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. Performs trial close out and retrieval of trial materials.
- 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.
- 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).
- Facilitates effective communication between investigative sites, the client company and the PPD project team through written, oral and/or electronic contacts.
- Responds to company, client and applicable regulatory requirements/audits/inspections.
- Maintains & completes administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets in a timely manner.
- Contributes to the project team by assisting in preparation of project publications/tools, and sharing ideas/suggestions with team members.
- Contributes to other project work and initiatives for process improvement, as required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in a life sciences related fieldor a Registered Nursing certification or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification.
- Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 1 years as a clinical research monitor) or completion of PPD Drug Development Fellowship.
- Valid driver's license where applicable.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Proven clinical monitoring skills
- Demonstrated understanding of medical/therapeutic area knowledge and medical terminology
- Demonstrated ability to attain and maintain a working knowledge of ICH GCPs, applicable regulations and procedural documents
- Well-developed critical thinking skills, including but not limited to: critical mindset, in-depthinvestigation for appropriate root cause analysis and problem solving
- Ability to manage Risk Based Monitoring concepts and processes
- Good oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with medical personnel
- Ability to maintain customer focus through the utilization of good listening skills, attention to detail and the ability to perceive customers’ underlying issues
- Good organizational and time management skills
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to remain flexibile and adaptable in a wide range of scenarios
- Ability to work in a team or independently as required
- Good computer skills: solid knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn appropriate software
- Good English language and grammar skills
- Good presentation skills
Working Conditions and Environment:
- Work is performed in an office/ laboratory/clinical/and/or home office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
- Frequent drives to site locations. Frequent travel, generally 60-80% but more for some individuals. May also include extended overnight stays.
- Exposure to biological fluids with potential exposure to infectious organisms.
- Personal protective equipment required such as protective eyewear, garments and gloves.
- Exposure to fluctuating and/or extreme temperatures on rare occasions
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Illinois is $66,800.00–$120,000.00.This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
See All 16 Research Data Scientist Jobs in South Dakota
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Find Research Data Scientist JobsResearch Data Scientist Jobs by City in South Dakota
Where South Dakota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Data Scientist Job Market in South Dakota
A snapshot from current South Dakota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sanford Health5

- Monument Health2

- South Dakota Board of Regents2

- Citi1

- IQVIA1

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services6
- Technology & Software1
- Construction & Real Estate1
- Banking & Financial Services1
- Investment & Asset Management1
What South Dakota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research data scientist jobs across South Dakota.
- Master's or doctoral degree in statistics, computer science, or a related quantitative field
- Proficiency in Python or R for statistical modeling and large-scale data analysis
- Experience designing and executing research studies with complex, real-world datasets
- Ability to communicate findings clearly to non-technical stakeholders and research partners
- Familiarity with cloud computing environments and reproducible research workflows
- Experience with IRB protocols or human-subjects research data governance standards
Research Data Scientist Jobs in South Dakota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research data scientist in South Dakota?
Most research data scientist roles in South Dakota require at minimum a master's degree in statistics, data science, computer science, or a closely related field, with doctoral credentials preferred at universities and health systems. South Dakota does not issue a state license specific to this role, so hiring decisions center on academic credentials, a demonstrable research portfolio, and domain expertise relevant to the employer's sector, such as healthcare, agriculture, or public policy.
How much do research data scientists make in South Dakota?
Research data scientists in South Dakota earn a median of about $96,150 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $67,510 for the lowest 10% to over $145,510 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire research data scientists in South Dakota?
Employers hiring research data scientists in South Dakota right now include Sanford Health, Monument Health, and South Dakota Board of Regents, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. South Dakota's largest concentrations of research data scientist roles sit within health systems and public universities, where applied and translational research programs create ongoing demand.
Which South Dakota cities have the most research data scientist jobs?
Sioux Falls, Pierre, and Rapid City account for the largest share of research data scientist openings in South Dakota. Sioux Falls leads because of Sanford Health's research operations and a growing technology sector, while Brookings reflects South Dakota State University's active research programs, and Rapid City draws demand from regional healthcare and government agency work in the western part of the state.
Are there remote research data scientist jobs in South Dakota?
Yes, and more than most fields, since research data science is primarily computational and document-driven work that translates well to remote settings. About 22% of research data scientist openings tied to South Dakota are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting broad employer flexibility for this role. Positions involving independent data analysis, model development, and manuscript preparation are the most likely to be fully remote.
How can I get hired as a research data scientist in South Dakota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a graduate research assistantship at South Dakota State University or the University of South Dakota, where students build a publication record and analytical portfolio while working alongside faculty researchers. Candidates without graduate experience can target research analyst, data analyst, or biostatistician associate roles at Sanford Health or state government agencies as lateral entry points, then advance once they have applied research output to show. A strong GitHub portfolio and demonstrated proficiency in Python or R meaningfully improve early candidacy.
Where can I find and apply to research data scientist jobs in South Dakota?
You can find and apply to research data scientist jobs in South Dakota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to this role and state. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 16 Research Data Scientist Jobs in South Dakota
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