Research Specialist Jobs in Missouri
Research Specialist jobs in Missouri draw steady demand from academic medical centers, pharmaceutical operations, and social science research organizations, with openings at every level from entry-level research assistant to senior investigator. St. Louis, Kansas City, and Columbia are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by employers such as Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri Health Care, and Bayer's North American operations. The most sought-after specialties in Missouri are clinical research, behavioral and public health research, and market and policy research. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Research Specialist jobs
Hiring Department
Ethics,Compliance & Audit Svcs
Job Description
The Research Security Specialist supports the University of Missouri’s research security, controlled research, export controls, and sanctions compliance programs through risk analysis, compliance monitoring, due diligence reviews, and stakeholder engagement. This position conducts research security reviews, supports export control compliance activities and coordinates controlled research onboarding and monitoring, and assists with the execution of institutional compliance processes designed to protect research activities and maintain compliance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and university policies. The Research Security Specialist works closely with other members of the Research Security team, faculty, researchers, research administrators, information security personnel and other institutional stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks associated with domestic and international research activities.
Using existing processes to conduct reviews of research activities, international collaborations, foreign engagements, visitors, travel, and other activities to identify research security, export control, and other compliance requirements.
Perform restricted party screening, due diligence reviews, and open-source research using approved screening tools and authoritative sources.
Document review and screening results, identify potential concerns, and escalate complex or high-risk matters for additional review and resolution.
Provide support for export control reviews involving parties, destinations, end users, end uses, technologies, equipment, software, and research activities.
Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and periodic review of Technology Control Plans and related controlled research documentation.
Track corrective actions and follow up with responsible stakeholders to support timely completion of remediation activities.
Provide administrative support for the research security team, to include records management and coordinating with stakeholders.
Shift
Monday – Friday 8:00-5:00pm
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary
Preferred Qualifications
Experience conducting compliance monitoring, risk assessments, investigations, due diligence reviews, intelligence analysis, audits, or other structured compliance reviews or assessments.
Experience conducting open-source research, due diligence reviews, risk assessments, other investigative research, or review activities.
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information and operate with a high degree of discretion, sound judgment, accountability, and attention to detail.
Familiarity with managing compliance reviews, investigations, audit findings, corrective actions, case management activities, or projects requiring structured follow-up and documentation.
Experience following workflows, standard operating procedures, internal controls, compliance processes, and checklists.
Experience using dashboards, metrics, or reporting tools.
Familiarity with higher education, federal contracting, government, military, defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, research administration, research compliance, or another highly regulated environment.
Anticipated Hiring Range
Salary Range: $50,000-$67,000 annually
Grade: GGS 9E
University Title: Compliance Manager
Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.
Application Materials
Resume/CV
Sponsorship Information
Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Community Information
Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.
Hiring Department
Ethics,Compliance & Audit Svcs
Job Description
The Research Security Specialist supports the University of Missouri’s research security, controlled research, export controls, and sanctions compliance programs through risk analysis, compliance monitoring, due diligence reviews, and stakeholder engagement. This position conducts research security reviews, supports export control compliance activities and coordinates controlled research onboarding and monitoring, and assists with the execution of institutional compliance processes designed to protect research activities and maintain compliance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and university policies. The Research Security Specialist works closely with other members of the Research Security team, faculty, researchers, research administrators, information security personnel and other institutional stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks associated with domestic and international research activities.
Using existing processes to conduct reviews of research activities, international collaborations, foreign engagements, visitors, travel, and other activities to identify research security, export control, and other compliance requirements.
Perform restricted party screening, due diligence reviews, and open-source research using approved screening tools and authoritative sources.
Document review and screening results, identify potential concerns, and escalate complex or high-risk matters for additional review and resolution.
Provide support for export control reviews involving parties, destinations, end users, end uses, technologies, equipment, software, and research activities.
Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and periodic review of Technology Control Plans and related controlled research documentation.
Track corrective actions and follow up with responsible stakeholders to support timely completion of remediation activities.
Provide administrative support for the research security team, to include records management and coordinating with stakeholders.
Shift
Monday – Friday 8:00-5:00pm
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary
Preferred Qualifications
Experience conducting compliance monitoring, risk assessments, investigations, due diligence reviews, intelligence analysis, audits, or other structured compliance reviews or assessments.
Experience conducting open-source research, due diligence reviews, risk assessments, other investigative research, or review activities.
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information and operate with a high degree of discretion, sound judgment, accountability, and attention to detail.
Familiarity with managing compliance reviews, investigations, audit findings, corrective actions, case management activities, or projects requiring structured follow-up and documentation.
Experience following workflows, standard operating procedures, internal controls, compliance processes, and checklists.
Experience using dashboards, metrics, or reporting tools.
Familiarity with higher education, federal contracting, government, military, defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, research administration, research compliance, or another highly regulated environment.
Anticipated Hiring Range
Salary Range: $50,000-$67,000 annually
Grade: GGS 9E
University Title: Compliance Manager
Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.
Application Materials
Resume/CV
Sponsorship Information
Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Community Information
Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.
See All 10 Research Specialist Jobs in Missouri
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Find Research Specialist JobsResearch Specialist Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Specialist Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research specialist jobs across Missouri.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, social science, or public health
- Experience designing and executing research protocols or systematic literature reviews
- Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, or Stata
- Strong data collection, analysis, and scientific writing skills for reports and publications
- Familiarity with IRB submission processes and human subjects research compliance
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines independently
Research Specialist Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research specialist in Missouri?
Most research specialist roles in Missouri require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, psychology, public health, or social science, and many positions at academic medical centers or universities prefer a master's degree. Missouri does not issue a state license specifically for research specialists, so hiring is credential-driven. Employers like Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri Health Care typically look for candidates who have completed formal research coursework, have IRB training, and can demonstrate hands-on laboratory or data analysis experience.
Which companies hire research specialists in Missouri?
Missouri research specialist roles are posted by University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, and Polsinelli and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Missouri's mix of major research universities, academic health systems, and life sciences companies creates a broad and consistent employer base for research specialists.
Which Missouri cities have the most research specialist jobs?
Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City have the most research specialist openings in Missouri. St. Louis leads because of its concentration of academic medical centers, biotech firms, and large corporate research divisions, while Kansas City draws openings from health systems and financial research organizations, and Columbia benefits from the University of Missouri's research enterprise anchoring steady institutional demand.
Are there remote research specialist jobs in Missouri?
Yes, and they're more common than in many fields. About 67% of research specialist openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the analytical and desk-based nature of much of the work. Roles focused on literature reviews, data analysis, policy research, and survey design are the most likely to be offered remotely, while positions requiring laboratory access or in-person participant interaction remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a research specialist in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a research assistant or junior analyst position within a university or academic health system, where structured mentorship is common. Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri Health Care, and Saint Louis University regularly post entry-level research roles that welcome recent graduates. Completing NIH-certified human subjects training and building experience through undergraduate thesis work or graduate assistantships signals readiness to Missouri employers. Candidates from adjacent roles such as clinical coordinator, data analyst, or laboratory technician also transition into research specialist positions regularly.
Where can I find and apply to research specialist jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to research specialist jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current Missouri openings across academic institutions, health systems, and private employers. Search the listings to find roles that fit your background, then apply directly to the ones that match your experience and location.
See All 10 Research Specialist Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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