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.
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Posting Information
Posting Number PG194718EP
Internal Recruitment No
Working Title Institutional Survey Research Specialist
Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate with education and experience (anticipated hiring range $52,000 - $57,000)
Work Schedule Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (additional work outside of standard hours may be required due to business needs)
Job Location Raleigh, North Carolina
Department University Data and Analytics
About the Department
University Data and Analytics drives effective institutional planning, management, and accountability by providing key insights and decision support to university leaders, trusted data and analytics resources to the NC State community, and comprehensive reporting to university partners and stakeholders.
University Data and Analytics (UDA) is NC State’s institutional research office and the responsible unit for university-level data and analytics. UDA is committed to:
* Empowering leaders and decision makers with the accurate, timely, and actionable information needed to advance the university’s mission;
* Maximizing the value and availability of institutional data resources for the broader NC State community; and
* Providing NC State’s stakeholders, partners, and external organizations with official university data.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:
* Medical, Dental, and Vision
* Flexible Spending Account
* Retirement Programs
* Disability Plans
* Life Insurance
* Accident Plan
* Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
* 12 Holidays Each Year
* Tuition and Academic Assistance
* And so much more!
Attain work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties
The survey group in UDA, under the supervision of the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP) for Institutional Survey Research and Analysis, is responsible for institutional surveys of students, alumni, faculty and staff at NC State. The Institutional Survey Research Specialist (ISRP), who will report to the AVP, will work independently and on project teams on all phases of a wide range of survey projects, especially as related to the cleaning, analysis and reporting of qualitative data; maintaining survey web pages; and developing materials to promote participation in surveys and awareness of results. The work of this position directly contributes to our ability to collect and provide data used by academic and support offices across campus to assess and improve their programs, and thereby enhance student and employee success. The Institutional Survey Research Specialist has the following job duties:
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Qualitative analyses of open-end responses, including working independently and using sound methodological practices and good judgment to 1) create/update topical coding schemes; 2) identify and appropriately handle personally identifiable information included in comments; 3) develop and implement procedures for cleaning comments for consistency (e.g., company names, college/university names); 4) appropriately and accurately code comments; 5) create and run programs to generate summary statistics on coding scheme topics; 6) identify key findings and write narrative summaries of results, including the identification and use of pertinent quotes drawn from comments that exemplify given topics; and 7) prepare visually appealing infographics summarizing key findings (e.g., word clouds). All work must be done with strict adherence to data security and respect for confidentiality.
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Create, organize, and maintain web pages. Working with the AVP and the UDA Web Operations and Development Lead, the ISRP will use an understanding of UDA survey projects and website pages to gather and organize materials and provide needed information for the Web Operations and Development Lead to create and update survey webpages. In addition, the ISRP will have primary responsibility for the maintenance of the UDA survey website that hosts data and documentation for program-specific surveys that UDA administers on behalf of academic colleges and departments. This includes independently creating web pages in HTML, organizing needed materials and ensuring that file naming conventions are followed, and uploading and accurately linking to uploaded files.
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Create, organize, and maintain survey project materials within shared Google Drive environments, including developing and managing folder structures; creating and maintaining shortcuts and file organization systems; preparing and formatting Google Docs, Sheets, and related materials to ensure accessibility and ADA compliance; and ensuring consistency with established naming conventions, version control practices, and data management procedures.
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Using an understanding of best practices in survey research and effective communication strategies, coordinate with survey team members to develop and distribute promotional materials for all survey projects, as needed. This includes materials to encourage participation in surveys and increase awareness of survey results, such as through presentation slides, newsletter articles, emails, social media, fliers, e-boards, etc.
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Create spreadsheets with summary statistics for survey results. Work independently with often large and complex source files to pull needed data and reconfigure into new spreadsheets highlighting results for specific groups of respondents, including the use of statistics to identify significant differences.
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Create and update documentation of survey processes, including making recommendations for revising processes to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
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Participate in professional development workshops and staff meetings.
Other Responsibilities
- Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet UDA or university goals and objectives.
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the field assigned and one year of related training or experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
- Coursework in survey research methods or work experience in a survey research setting.
Other Required Qualifications
- Required computer skills / programming languages:
- Experience with qualitative analysis
- Experience creating web pages (e.g., HTML, WordPress, Gutenberg)
- Experience creating visualizations (e.g., Excel, Google Charts, Publisher)
- High level of proficiency with MS Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- High level of proficiency working with Google Drives
- Required personal/professional skills
- Ability to appropriately handle confidential data
- Self-motivated, with high standards for rigorous, accurate, and detailed work
- Excellent communication skills, including writing, presentation, and interpersonal
- Ability to work independently and to collaborate with others in a team environment
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities
- Ability to quickly learn new technologies and develop new skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with data analysis tools (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R, Excel)
- Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey tool (e.g., Survey Monkey, Google Forms)
- Course work or experience with qualitative analysis
- Work experience in survey research
Required License(s) or Certification(s)
N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required No
Commercial Driver's License required No
Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions
Job Open Date 06/17/2026
Anticipated Close Date Open Until Filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three professional references.
Position Details
Position Number 00110831
Position Type EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.0
Appointment 12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID 310101 – University Data and Analytics
EEO
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
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Find Research Specialist JobsResearch Specialist Job Market
A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of California, San Francisco80

- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital47

- Emory University43

- Medpace40

- 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.
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