Research Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
Research Specialist jobs in Minnesota are in strong and consistent demand, with the heaviest concentration in academic research, healthcare, and public policy sectors serving institutions from Twin Cities research universities to major health systems. Most openings are in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Rochester, where employers like Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and 3M have long-established research divisions. The most sought-after specialties right now are clinical research, policy analysis, and applied science research at the associate and mid-career levels. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life and cooking or preparation instructions. Leverage advanced and creative formulation solutions to production issues as it relates to ingredients, formulas, processing procedures, and specifications to ensure continuous production of existing products and maintain product quality and safety. Develop experimental formulas leveraging culinary principles, along with processing procedures, and specifications for raw ingredients, subassemblies, and finished products for simple new products, product improvements, and cost reductions that meet project parameters of established pricing, marketing goals, food regulations, and operation feasibility. Establish team and work with members to ensure successful start-ups of new products, product improvements, cost reductions, and ingredient, formula, or specification changes. Evaluate ingredients from a culinary perspective to identify and commercialize product improvement and cost reduction opportunities. Execute projects, as assigned, from culinary kitchen to lab to ultimately commercial production. Confer with process engineers, QA/QC engineers, R&D specialists and technicians, and packaging engineers to resolve
problems during product development. Provide primary support of B2B business, sales, and marketing with product knowledge. Other duties, as assigned. Must have proof of legal authority to work in the U.S. Requirements - Education: Associate's degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Occupational Studies - Culinary Arts or a closely related field OR a bachelor's degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Food Science or a closely related field. Experience: Candidates with a qualifying associate's degree are required to have four years of experience as a Bazaar Cook, Kitchen Extern, Kitchen Supervisor, R&D Researcher, Food Scientist or Culinary Research Specialist, which must include at least one year and six months as an R&D Researcher, Culinary Research Specialist or Food Scientist at a food manufacturer and distributor using culinary and food skills to develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life, and cooking or preparation instructions which includes qualitative and quantitative research to determine optimal means for processing, packaging, preserving, storing, and distributing quality foods products. Candidates with a qualifying bachelor's degree are required to have two years of experience as a Bazaar Cook, Kitchen Extern, Kitchen Supervisor, R&D Researcher, Food Scientist or Culinary Research Specialist, which must include at least one year and six months as an R&D Researcher, Culinary Research Specialist or Food Scientist at a food manufacturer and distributor using culinary and food skills to develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life, and cooking or preparation instructions which includes qualitative and quantitative research to determine optimal means for processing, packaging, preserving, storing, and distributing quality foods products. Work from home, one day a week, in the Marshall, Minnesota area is permitted but not required. The salary for this position has a range of $61,776 to $100,000. Interested candidates should apply on-line at www.schwansjobs.com. This position is for full-time employment by Schwan's Shared Services, LLC for employment in Marshall, Minnesota. EOE.
develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life and cooking or preparation instructions. Leverage advanced and creative formulation solutions to production issues as it relates to ingredients, formulas, processing procedures, and specifications to ensure continuous production of existing products and maintain product quality and safety. Develop experimental formulas leveraging culinary principles, along with processing procedures, and specifications for raw ingredients, subassemblies, and finished products for simple new products, product improvements, and cost reductions that meet project parameters of established pricing, marketing goals, food regulations, and operation feasibility. Establish team and work with members to ensure successful start-ups of new products, product improvements, cost reductions, and ingredient, formula, or specification changes. Evaluate ingredients from a culinary perspective to identify and commercialize product improvement and cost reduction opportunities. Execute projects, as assigned, from culinary kitchen to lab to ultimately commercial production. Confer with process engineers, QA/QC engineers, R&D specialists and technicians, and packaging engineers to resolve
problems during product development. Provide primary support of B2B business, sales, and marketing with product knowledge. Other duties, as assigned. Must have proof of legal authority to work in the U.S. Requirements - Education: Associate's degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Occupational Studies - Culinary Arts or a closely related field OR a bachelor's degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Food Science or a closely related field. Experience: Candidates with a qualifying associate's degree are required to have four years of experience as a Bazaar Cook, Kitchen Extern, Kitchen Supervisor, R&D Researcher, Food Scientist or Culinary Research Specialist, which must include at least one year and six months as an R&D Researcher, Culinary Research Specialist or Food Scientist at a food manufacturer and distributor using culinary and food skills to develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life, and cooking or preparation instructions which includes qualitative and quantitative research to determine optimal means for processing, packaging, preserving, storing, and distributing quality foods products. Candidates with a qualifying bachelor's degree are required to have two years of experience as a Bazaar Cook, Kitchen Extern, Kitchen Supervisor, R&D Researcher, Food Scientist or Culinary Research Specialist, which must include at least one year and six months as an R&D Researcher, Culinary Research Specialist or Food Scientist at a food manufacturer and distributor using culinary and food skills to develop customized formulations that meet customer or consumer needs, including targeted sensory attributes, shelf-life, and cooking or preparation instructions which includes qualitative and quantitative research to determine optimal means for processing, packaging, preserving, storing, and distributing quality foods products. Work from home, one day a week, in the Marshall, Minnesota area is permitted but not required. The salary for this position has a range of $61,776 to $100,000. Interested candidates should apply on-line at www.schwansjobs.com. This position is for full-time employment by Schwan's Shared Services, LLC for employment in Marshall, Minnesota. EOE.
See All 11 Research Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
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Find Research Specialist JobsResearch Specialist Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Specialist Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research specialist jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, social science, or public health
- Experience designing and executing quantitative or qualitative research studies
- Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or similar tools
- Strong written communication skills for reports, grants, and academic manuscripts
- Familiarity with IRB protocols and human subjects research compliance standards
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a collaborative environment
Research Specialist Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research specialist in Minnesota?
Most research specialist roles in Minnesota require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, with many positions at academic medical centers and universities preferring a master's degree or equivalent research experience. There is no state-issued license specific to the research specialist title in Minnesota, but clinical research roles may require or strongly favor Certified Clinical Research Professional credentialing through the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Employers like Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota typically outline their educational and certification expectations clearly in postings.
Which companies hire research specialists in Minnesota?
Minnesota research specialist roles are posted by 3M, Vylor, and GDM Seeds and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Minnesota's concentration of research-intensive healthcare systems, Fortune 500 headquarters, and major public universities makes it one of the more active markets for this role in the Midwest.
Which Minnesota cities have the most research specialist jobs?
Saint Paul, Maplewood, and Anoka account for the largest share of research specialist openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro drives the bulk of postings through its dense cluster of university research centers, health systems, and corporate R&D campuses, while Rochester's concentration is tied almost entirely to Mayo Clinic and its affiliated research enterprise.
Are there remote research specialist jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, and more than many comparable roles, since a meaningful portion of research specialist work involves data analysis, literature review, and report writing that translates well to remote settings. About 75% of research specialist openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting employer flexibility across academic and corporate settings. The most remote-compatible sub-areas tend to be policy research, secondary data analysis, and grant writing.
How can I get hired as a research specialist in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research assistant or coordinator role, which requires less independent experience and serves as the standard stepping stone at Minnesota employers like the University of Minnesota system, Mayo Clinic, and M Health Fairview. Applying to undergraduate or graduate research assistant programs at Minnesota universities gives candidates direct exposure to IRB-compliant studies and methodology. A strong senior thesis, internship with a Minnesota public health agency, or a certificate in research methods from a Minnesota institution can meaningfully differentiate a candidate without a formal research job history.
Where can I find and apply to research specialist jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to research specialist jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search the listings to find roles that fit your background, experience level, and preferred location within Minnesota, then apply directly to the ones that are the right match.
See All 11 Research Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
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