Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs in Durham, NC
Senior Clinical Research Scientist jobs in Durham are concentrated across the Research Triangle Park corridor, the Duke University Medical Center complex, and the Biotech quarter along Cornwallis Road, with strong demand from pharmaceutical, contract research, and academic medical employers. Companies actively hiring right now include IQVIA, RTI International, and NVIDIA. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.
- Define, investigate/strategize, formulate, and execute approaches and solutions to the most complex problems in projects/programs and/or cross-functional problems faced by the organization and its clients.
- Perform economic research tasks of significant technical complexity, applying standard and established theories, concepts and techniques, with results of work considered technically authoritative.
- Plan/direct the entire preparation of proposals of significant technical complexity, contract value, or strategic importance.
- Participate in determining research policies and priorities, which have broad organizational implications.
- Review and provide feedback on proposals, especially the most complex sections that require developing innovative and creative solutions to the RFPs.
- Perform research tasks of significant technical complexity, developing and implementing innovative and creative technical solutions to research problems, questions, and issues.
- Develop and expand RTI reputation as ""resident expert"" in a technical/methodological area (e.g., frequently authoring articles published in peer-reviewed journals; making presentations to internal/external clients and at professional meetings, etc.).
- Direct teams in performing research tasks and modeling of significant technical complexity.
- Develop and expand RTI reputation for expertise in applicable policy/technical/methodological areas (e.g., authoring articles published in peer-reviewed journals, making presentations to internal/external clients and at professional meetings, etc.).
- Develop business opportunities by establishing close client relationships and being recognized for technical expertise.
- PhD with at least 10 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 14 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 18 years of relevant experience.
- Strong track record in winning proposals for the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Expertise in designing studies using medical and pharmaceutical claims, analyzing data to answer complex analytic questions, and presenting results to stakeholders.
- The ability to interpret regulation and legislation to model impacts of changes on stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of the Medicare Part D program, drug pricing reform, and other relevant statutes and regulations.
- Experience working with a wide range of data sources including Medicare claims (medical and pharmacy), and encounter data, commercial claims data, health survey data, and pharmacy provider data.
- Strong track record of leading projects that focus on outcome evaluations and/or quantitative analysis, quality measure development and implementation, or learning and diffusion.
- Experience managing complex projects for federal agencies such as CMS and/or FDA.
- Experience managing groups of research staff who focus on policy, methods, data science, statistics, and/or economics.
- To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.).
RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.
At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.
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Find JobsSenior Clinical Research Scientist Job Market in Durham
Who's Hiring
- IQVIA10

- RTI International4

- NVIDIA3

- Grifols3

- Wolfspeed3

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals6
- Science & Research5
- Education4
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Medical Devices2
Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs in Durham: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior clinical research scientist job in Durham?
Durham's strongest hiring comes from pharmaceutical companies anchored around Research Triangle Park, contract research organizations clustered near the RTP corridor, and academic medical institutions tied to Duke University Health System. Candidates with hands-on clinical trial management, protocol development, or regulatory submission experience stand out locally. Targeting mid-size CROs and biotech spinouts in the Cornwallis Road and I-40 tech corridor gives you access to roles that rarely surface on broad national boards.
Which companies hire senior clinical research scientists in Durham?
Employers hiring senior clinical research scientists in Durham right now include IQVIA, RTI International, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Durham's employer mix skews toward pharmaceutical sponsors, full-service CROs, and academic health systems, with a notable cluster of early-stage biotech firms that have expanded hiring as the Research Triangle Park ecosystem has grown.
Are there remote senior clinical research scientist jobs in Durham?
Yes, though the role is largely site-dependent since clinical monitoring, investigator oversight, and on-site data collection require physical presence. About 30% of senior clinical research scientist openings tied to Durham are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting some flexibility for data review, protocol writing, and regulatory coordination tasks. Durham-based CROs and sponsors are most likely to offer hybrid arrangements for study management and medical writing functions.
How can I get a senior clinical research scientist job in Durham with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Durham is starting as a clinical research coordinator or associate at one of the academic medical centers tied to Duke or UNC Health, where coordinator-to-scientist advancement is a structured internal pathway. Contract research organizations along the RTP corridor also hire associate clinical scientists for entry-level protocol support roles. Building familiarity with FDA submission standards and ICH-GCP guidelines gives candidates a concrete edge when applying to Durham's CRO and pharma employers.
Which industries hire the most senior clinical research scientists in Durham?
The sectors hiring the most senior clinical research scientists in Durham are Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Science & Research, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Durham's proximity to Research Triangle Park and its concentration of academic medical infrastructure make it one of the densest clinical research hiring markets on the East Coast, pulling demand from both multinational pharma sponsors and specialized contract research organizations.
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