Research Specialist Jobs

Research Specialist jobs are open across academia, healthcare, government, and private research organizations, at every level from entry-level research assistant to senior specialist, with common specializations in clinical research, market research, and policy analysis. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

Find Research Specialist Jobs

Overview

Open roles979+
Top stateCalifornia
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Work type83% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 979+ Research Specialist jobs

North Carolina State University
Institutional Survey Research Specialist
We won't show you this job again
North Carolina State University
New 3h ago
Institutional Survey Research Specialist
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Data Science & Analytics
Research & Academia
Data Science
Data Analytics
$52k - $57k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Houston Methodist
Clinical Research Specialist
We won't show you this job again
Houston Methodist
New 6h ago
Clinical Research Specialist
Houston Methodist
Houston, Texas
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Healthcare Administration
Allied Health
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Science
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

University of Rochester
Research Specialist II
We won't show you this job again
University of Rochester
New 8h ago
Research Specialist II
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Laboratory Research
$56k - $78k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

University of Rochester
Research Specialist I
We won't show you this job again
University of Rochester
New 8h ago
Research Specialist I
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Laboratory Research
$23 - $32/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

University of Missouri
Senior Research Specialist
We won't show you this job again
University of Missouri
New 12h ago
Senior Research Specialist
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Laboratory Research
Clinical Support
Biotech & Life Sciences
Animal Care & Husbandry
$54k - $70k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 979+ Research Specialist Jobs

Jump back to the full list of openings and apply to any research specialist role that fits.

Find Research Specialist Jobs

Research Specialist Job Market

A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • University of California, San Francisco
    University of California, San Francisco80
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital47
  • Emory University
    Emory University43
  • Medpace
    Medpace40
  • Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital
    Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital25

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education407
  • Healthcare & Medical Services315
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals149
  • Science & Research100
  • Consulting & Professional Services43

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research specialist jobs.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field such as social science, public health, or biology
  • Experience designing or executing quantitative or qualitative research studies
  • Proficiency with statistical or qualitative analysis software such as SPSS, Stata, R, or NVivo
  • Strong written communication skills for producing reports, briefs, or academic manuscripts
  • Familiarity with IRB protocols, research ethics standards, or regulatory compliance requirements
  • Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing findings from peer-reviewed sources

Tips for Your Research Specialist Job Search

Tailor your resume to the research method

Research specialist postings often specify qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods experience. Align your resume to the exact methodology named in each posting, calling out the tools you used, such as SPSS, NVivo, or R, rather than listing research generically.

Lead with your publications or deliverables

Hiring managers in research roles want evidence of output. List reports, white papers, or datasets you produced and name the audience or decision they informed. A single concrete deliverable carries more weight than a paragraph describing your responsibilities.

Filter openings by sector before you apply

Research specialist roles vary sharply across healthcare, think tanks, and market research firms. Narrowing your search by sector first saves time and lets you customize your application language to match the vocabulary each field uses.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists research specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Prepare a methods walk-through for interviews

Research specialist interviews frequently include a question asking you to walk through a study or project end to end. Prepare a two-minute explanation of your data collection choice, how you handled gaps or outliers, and what the findings led to.

Negotiate start date around institutional calendars

Academic and government research employers often tie hiring to grant cycles or fiscal quarters. Asking about timeline flexibility during the offer stage signals awareness of how research organizations operate and can open room on start date without touching compensation.

Research Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most research specialists?

The companies hiring the most research specialists right now include University of California, San Francisco, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Emory University, with the largest share of openings in California, Tennessee, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Demand is spread across healthcare systems, research universities, federal contractors, and market research firms.

How many research specialist jobs are remote?

About 17% of research specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of June 2026, making it one of the more flexible professional roles. Remote availability is highest in market research, policy analysis, and secondary data roles, while clinical research and lab-based positions almost always require an on-site presence.

How do you become a research specialist?

Most research specialist roles require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as public health, social science, psychology, or biology. From there, building hands-on experience through internships, research assistant positions, or graduate coursework is essential. Developing proficiency in at least one analysis tool and assembling a portfolio of completed research outputs will differentiate you when applying.

Can you get hired as a research specialist with little experience?

Entry-level research specialist roles exist and are often labeled as junior specialist, research associate, or research coordinator. Employers at this level prioritize demonstrated methodology knowledge over years on the job. Coursework projects, thesis research, or volunteer data collection work can substitute for paid experience if you present them as concrete deliverables with named methods and outcomes.

What does the research specialist interview process look like?

Research specialist interviews typically involve an initial phone or video screen with a recruiter or hiring manager, followed by a deeper technical interview where you walk through a past project and explain your methodology choices. Some employers add a written exercise asking you to summarize findings from a sample dataset or literature. Final rounds often include a panel with team members who will work directly with you.

Where can I find and apply to research specialist jobs?

You can find and apply to research specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 979+ Research Specialist Jobs

Jump back to the full list of openings and apply to any research specialist role that fits.

Find Research Specialist Jobs