Research Support Specialist Jobs
Research Support Specialist jobs are open across universities, healthcare systems, government agencies, and nonprofit research institutions, from entry-level coordinator roles to senior and lead positions, with specializations in data management, literature review coordination, and regulatory compliance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Research Support Specialist jobs
PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.
Building 49 CAF
NIMH Research Specialist II
Summary
Research Support Specialist II for the National Institute of Mental Health under the direction of the Systems Neurodevelopment Laboratory and Institute Veterinarians. The Research Specialist II must demonstrate a working knowledge of veterinary science and technology (e.g. first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, anesthesia and surgical support, treatment, nursing care, and examination), and should have experience with a wide variety of laboratory animal species, including nonhuman primates (macaques and marmosets) and rodents. The ideal candidate will have technical experience in using computers and computer software to conduct research studies.
Requirements
Candidate shall be certified at the AALAS ALAT level. Will be required to obtain a LATG certification within 1 year of eligibility.
Must have a minimum of three years’ experience in laboratory animal facilities. Applicant shall have experience working with rodents and non-human primates. Candidate should have experience with animal husbandry/caretaking procedures, accurate data sample collection, accurate and timely record keeping, and data processing. Must be able to lift 40lbs to 60lbs, climb, stoop, bend, reach, and stand for prolonged periods. Must be responsible and reliable to work independently when necessary and maintain good customer and team relationships. Must be available to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
Duties
Primary responsibilities:
- Administration of medical treatments to nonhuman primates in colony as prescribed by veterinarian.
- May perform general anesthesia in nonhuman primates for study-related procedures.
- Assists in nonhuman primate infant care, including weekend and evening stints as needed, as well as mornings.
- Maintains oversight of nonhuman primate colony for the laboratory, utilizing electronic records to track health, breeding, and experimental usage within the colony.
- Acquires deep knowledge of individual animals in the colony and is prepared to provide advice to the laboratory on pairing, animal compatibility, and enrichment.
- May perform ultrasonic examination on nonhuman primates as necessary for study projects.
- Assists with animal socializations (i.e. pairs or groups), and completes related documentation.
- Assists with colony data (paper and electronic) as per USDA requirements and NIH policies.
- Performs behavioral observations/assessments, both of individual animals and groups, when necessary and/or requested.
- Provides behavioral treatments to animals exhibiting certain behaviors.
- Provides conditioning training to animals when necessary and/or requested.
- Assists with developing, reviewing and revising laboratory-related SOPs and forms.
- Assists animal and research technicians in animal activities to include first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, physiology, physical examination, and treatment under the direction of a veterinarian with various animal species. Candidate will take technical direction from the NIMH investigative staff.
- Assist in a secondary support role with rodent study procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
Hours: Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace. Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work maybe required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements.
Physical Requirements:
Activity Often
Climbing X
Stooping X
Kneeling X
Reaching X
Standing X
Sitting X
Walking X
Pushing X
Pulling X
Talking X
Hearing X
Lifting/Moving Requirements:
Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects.
Environmental Conditions:
Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area. However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities. Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $30.00 - $34.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Veterinary technician: 3 years (Required)
- Animal restraint: 3 years (Required)
- Animal care: 3 years (Required)
- Animal health observation: 3 years (Required)
- Animal enrichment and socialization: 1 year (Required)
- Animal physiology: 1 year (Required)
- Clinical documentation: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
- AALAS ALAT certification (Required)
- Veterinary Technician Certification (Preferred)
- Army 91T or 68T specialist (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Bethesda, MD 20892: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.
Building 49 CAF
NIMH Research Specialist II
Summary
Research Support Specialist II for the National Institute of Mental Health under the direction of the Systems Neurodevelopment Laboratory and Institute Veterinarians. The Research Specialist II must demonstrate a working knowledge of veterinary science and technology (e.g. first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, anesthesia and surgical support, treatment, nursing care, and examination), and should have experience with a wide variety of laboratory animal species, including nonhuman primates (macaques and marmosets) and rodents. The ideal candidate will have technical experience in using computers and computer software to conduct research studies.
Requirements
Candidate shall be certified at the AALAS ALAT level. Will be required to obtain a LATG certification within 1 year of eligibility.
Must have a minimum of three years’ experience in laboratory animal facilities. Applicant shall have experience working with rodents and non-human primates. Candidate should have experience with animal husbandry/caretaking procedures, accurate data sample collection, accurate and timely record keeping, and data processing. Must be able to lift 40lbs to 60lbs, climb, stoop, bend, reach, and stand for prolonged periods. Must be responsible and reliable to work independently when necessary and maintain good customer and team relationships. Must be available to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
Duties
Primary responsibilities:
- Administration of medical treatments to nonhuman primates in colony as prescribed by veterinarian.
- May perform general anesthesia in nonhuman primates for study-related procedures.
- Assists in nonhuman primate infant care, including weekend and evening stints as needed, as well as mornings.
- Maintains oversight of nonhuman primate colony for the laboratory, utilizing electronic records to track health, breeding, and experimental usage within the colony.
- Acquires deep knowledge of individual animals in the colony and is prepared to provide advice to the laboratory on pairing, animal compatibility, and enrichment.
- May perform ultrasonic examination on nonhuman primates as necessary for study projects.
- Assists with animal socializations (i.e. pairs or groups), and completes related documentation.
- Assists with colony data (paper and electronic) as per USDA requirements and NIH policies.
- Performs behavioral observations/assessments, both of individual animals and groups, when necessary and/or requested.
- Provides behavioral treatments to animals exhibiting certain behaviors.
- Provides conditioning training to animals when necessary and/or requested.
- Assists with developing, reviewing and revising laboratory-related SOPs and forms.
- Assists animal and research technicians in animal activities to include first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, physiology, physical examination, and treatment under the direction of a veterinarian with various animal species. Candidate will take technical direction from the NIMH investigative staff.
- Assist in a secondary support role with rodent study procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
Hours: Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace. Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work maybe required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements.
Physical Requirements:
Activity Often
Climbing X
Stooping X
Kneeling X
Reaching X
Standing X
Sitting X
Walking X
Pushing X
Pulling X
Talking X
Hearing X
Lifting/Moving Requirements:
Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects.
Environmental Conditions:
Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area. However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities. Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $30.00 - $34.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Veterinary technician: 3 years (Required)
- Animal restraint: 3 years (Required)
- Animal care: 3 years (Required)
- Animal health observation: 3 years (Required)
- Animal enrichment and socialization: 1 year (Required)
- Animal physiology: 1 year (Required)
- Clinical documentation: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
- AALAS ALAT certification (Required)
- Veterinary Technician Certification (Preferred)
- Army 91T or 68T specialist (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Bethesda, MD 20892: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Research Support Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsResearch Support Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Science & Research
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research support specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in a natural science, social science, or related field
- Experience with IRB protocols, regulatory compliance, or human subjects research
- Proficiency in data entry, data management, and electronic data capture systems
- Familiarity with reference management or literature review tools
- Strong written communication skills for drafting reports, summaries, and correspondence
- Ability to coordinate across multiple investigators, departments, or project timelines
Tips for Your Research Support Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to research workflows
Highlight specific tools you've used for data collection, IRB documentation, or literature management. Generic research experience blurs together. Name the databases, citation software, or survey platforms you've worked with so hiring managers see exactly what you bring.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research support specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Match your application to the research domain
A clinical research support role at a hospital expects HIPAA familiarity and protocol compliance language. A social science position expects IRB workflow and qualitative data experience. Read each posting closely and mirror its domain-specific vocabulary in your resume and cover letter.
Get a research coordination certificate
If your resume lacks a direct research support title, a recognized research administration certificate, such as one from the Society of Research Administrators International, signals that you understand grant cycles, compliance requirements, and sponsor reporting before you've held the job.
Prepare concrete answers about data integrity
Interviewers for research support roles frequently ask how you've caught errors in datasets or handled discrepancies in source documentation. Prepare two or three specific examples that name the tools involved, the problem you found, and the step you took to resolve it.
Negotiate by citing scope, not just title
Research support roles vary enormously in responsibility. When negotiating, reference the number of active studies, grant volumes, or compliance functions you'll own. Framing scope concretely gives you a stronger basis for a higher offer than comparing job titles alone.
Research Support Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research support specialists?
University of Miami, UC Davis, and The University of Iowa are hiring the most research support specialists right now, with openings concentrated in California, Maryland, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Academic medical centers and federally funded research institutions tend to post the highest volume of openings consistently.
How many research support specialist jobs are remote?
About 36% of research support specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by function. Roles focused on literature review coordination, grant writing support, and data reporting are more likely to allow remote arrangements, while positions requiring on-site specimen handling, participant coordination, or lab-based data collection are typically in-person.
How do you become a research support specialist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in a field relevant to your target research domain, such as biology, psychology, public health, or social science. Gain hands-on experience through lab assistant roles, research internships, or positions in a university department. Learn the compliance side, including IRB submission processes and data management protocols. Building familiarity with electronic data capture systems and reference management software strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Can you get a research support specialist job with little experience?
Yes, entry-level research support specialist roles are specifically designed for candidates early in their careers. Employers often accept coursework-based research exposure, volunteer work on faculty studies, or community-based research projects as qualifying experience. Demonstrating attention to detail, comfort with documentation, and basic data handling skills in your application materials can offset a limited formal work history.
What does the research support specialist interview process look like?
Most employers conduct a phone or video screen first, followed by one or two in-person or virtual interviews with the hiring manager and research team members. Expect behavioral questions about managing competing priorities, handling data discrepancies, and supporting regulatory submissions. Some positions include a practical exercise, such as reviewing a mock protocol or summarizing a study document, to assess your attention to detail and writing clarity.
Where can I find and apply to research support specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to research support specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing.
See All 33 Research Support Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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