Senior Researcher Jobs in Illinois
Senior Researcher jobs in Illinois are concentrated in biomedical sciences, public policy, social sciences, and technology research, with demand at every level from research associate through principal investigator. Chicago, Evanston, and Urbana-Champaign are the largest hiring metros, anchored by institutions and employers such as the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Abbott Laboratories. The most in-demand specializations are clinical research, health policy analysis, and data-driven social science research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 31+ Senior Researcher jobs
84.51° Overview:
84.51° is a retail data science, insights and media company. We help The Kroger Co., consumer packaged goods companies, agencies, publishers and affiliates create more personalized and valuable experiences for shoppers across the path to purchase.
Powered by cutting-edge science, we utilize first-party retail data from more than 62 million U.S. households sourced through the Kroger Plus loyalty card program to fuel a more customer-centric journey using 84.51° Insights, 84.51° Loyalty Marketing and our retail media advertising solution, Kroger Precision Marketing.
84.51° follows a 5‑day in‑office work schedule to support collaboration, alignment, and team connection.
Join us at 84.51°!
__________________________________________________________
The Consumer Research team at 84.51° uncovers the "why" that complements the deep behavioral understanding 84.51° uniquely delivers. Our focus is uncovering the "Why," integrating it with the "What," and turning these insights into human stories and business recommendations that compel actions to be taken that delight our customers in ways no other retailer can. We strive to consistently bring this human understanding to the business and serve as a strategic partner to leaders at 84.51° and Kroger.
A Senior Researcher on our Research Insights team is a hands-on researcher accountable for independently leading the day-to-day execution and delivery of consumer research projects from start to finish. This role translates business questions into research approaches, executes research across qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and synthesizes new and existing learning into clear insights and recommendations that inform business decisions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Research Execution & Delivery:
Independently execute research projects end‑to‑end partnering with Lead Researchers and stakeholders to:
Recommend and align on appropriate scope and method
Clarify business questions and translate them into research objectives
Design or customize questionnaires / discussion guides
Manage vendors and internal partners through fieldwork
Synthesize across new and existing research, behavioral data and other relevant sources
Develop clear, decision‑oriented insights and recommendations
Apply strong judgment in balancing speed, depth, feasibility, and cost in execution
Ensure quality, rigor, and clarity across all deliverables
Stakeholder & Project Management:
Serve as the day‑to‑day research owner for assigned projects
Proactively manage timelines, dependencies, and risks
Communicate clearly with partners on status, tradeoffs, and implications
Show up as a confident research partner in working sessions and readouts
Ways of Working & Team Contribution:
Operate effectively within CR request intake, scoping, and prioritization processes
Leverage existing research, AI-enabled capabilities, products, and tools before defaulting to custom solutions
Contribute to shared learning by documenting work, sharing best practices, and flagging patterns across projects
Partner closely with Lead Researchers, Consultants, CX Measurement, and Research Operations
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
Experience executing multiple research projects simultaneously with minimal oversight
Comfort working across data types (qual, quant, secondary) and synthesizing into clear stories
Strong analytical thinking and ability to translate findings into implications and recommendations
Clear, concise communicator—able to present insights to non‑research audiences
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, sometimes ambiguous environment
Tools & Platforms (experience with some preferred): Qualtrics, SPSS/R/Python/Alteryx, Tableau/PowerPoint, insights repositories, and qualitative platforms (e.g., VoxPopMe, QualBoard)
EDUCATION:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent, ideally in business, marketing, social sciences, psychology or analytics/statistics.
3-5 years of industry experience
#LI-AB1
84.51° Overview:
84.51° is a retail data science, insights and media company. We help The Kroger Co., consumer packaged goods companies, agencies, publishers and affiliates create more personalized and valuable experiences for shoppers across the path to purchase.
Powered by cutting-edge science, we utilize first-party retail data from more than 62 million U.S. households sourced through the Kroger Plus loyalty card program to fuel a more customer-centric journey using 84.51° Insights, 84.51° Loyalty Marketing and our retail media advertising solution, Kroger Precision Marketing.
84.51° follows a 5‑day in‑office work schedule to support collaboration, alignment, and team connection.
Join us at 84.51°!
__________________________________________________________
The Consumer Research team at 84.51° uncovers the "why" that complements the deep behavioral understanding 84.51° uniquely delivers. Our focus is uncovering the "Why," integrating it with the "What," and turning these insights into human stories and business recommendations that compel actions to be taken that delight our customers in ways no other retailer can. We strive to consistently bring this human understanding to the business and serve as a strategic partner to leaders at 84.51° and Kroger.
A Senior Researcher on our Research Insights team is a hands-on researcher accountable for independently leading the day-to-day execution and delivery of consumer research projects from start to finish. This role translates business questions into research approaches, executes research across qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and synthesizes new and existing learning into clear insights and recommendations that inform business decisions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Research Execution & Delivery:
Independently execute research projects end‑to‑end partnering with Lead Researchers and stakeholders to:
Recommend and align on appropriate scope and method
Clarify business questions and translate them into research objectives
Design or customize questionnaires / discussion guides
Manage vendors and internal partners through fieldwork
Synthesize across new and existing research, behavioral data and other relevant sources
Develop clear, decision‑oriented insights and recommendations
Apply strong judgment in balancing speed, depth, feasibility, and cost in execution
Ensure quality, rigor, and clarity across all deliverables
Stakeholder & Project Management:
Serve as the day‑to‑day research owner for assigned projects
Proactively manage timelines, dependencies, and risks
Communicate clearly with partners on status, tradeoffs, and implications
Show up as a confident research partner in working sessions and readouts
Ways of Working & Team Contribution:
Operate effectively within CR request intake, scoping, and prioritization processes
Leverage existing research, AI-enabled capabilities, products, and tools before defaulting to custom solutions
Contribute to shared learning by documenting work, sharing best practices, and flagging patterns across projects
Partner closely with Lead Researchers, Consultants, CX Measurement, and Research Operations
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
Experience executing multiple research projects simultaneously with minimal oversight
Comfort working across data types (qual, quant, secondary) and synthesizing into clear stories
Strong analytical thinking and ability to translate findings into implications and recommendations
Clear, concise communicator—able to present insights to non‑research audiences
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, sometimes ambiguous environment
Tools & Platforms (experience with some preferred): Qualtrics, SPSS/R/Python/Alteryx, Tableau/PowerPoint, insights repositories, and qualitative platforms (e.g., VoxPopMe, QualBoard)
EDUCATION:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent, ideally in business, marketing, social sciences, psychology or analytics/statistics.
3-5 years of industry experience
#LI-AB1
See All 31 Senior Researcher Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Researcher JobsSenior Researcher Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Researcher Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Investment & Asset Management
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior researcher jobs across Illinois.
- Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific, social science, or technical field required
- Five or more years of independent research experience with a published record
- Demonstrated grant writing and external funding acquisition experience
- Proficiency in advanced quantitative or qualitative research methodologies
- Experience mentoring junior researchers, graduate students, or research staff
- Familiarity with IRB protocols and Illinois research compliance requirements
Senior Researcher Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior researcher in Illinois?
Most senior researcher positions in Illinois require a doctoral degree in a relevant field, followed by several years of postdoctoral or independent research experience. Illinois does not issue a state license specifically for researchers, but clinical researchers working with human subjects must comply with Institutional Review Board requirements set by their employing institution. Building a publication record, securing grant funding, and gaining experience at Illinois universities or research hospitals are the most direct paths to senior-level roles.
Which companies hire senior researchers in Illinois?
Employers hiring senior researchers in Illinois right now include AbbVie, Tempus, and The University of Chicago, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of research universities, academic medical centers, and life sciences companies makes it one of the more active states for senior research hiring outside the coasts.
Which Illinois cities have the most senior researcher jobs?
Chicago, Mettawa, and Illinois have the most senior researcher openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the bulk of demand through its academic medical centers, policy institutes, and corporate R&D operations, while Evanston and Urbana-Champaign reflect the research output of Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, which anchor significant research hiring in those smaller metros.
Are there remote senior researcher jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and they are more common than in many fields, particularly for policy analysis, health economics, and social science research roles. About 88% of senior researcher openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of much of this work. Laboratory and clinical research positions generally require on-site presence, while data analysis and policy research roles offer the most remote flexibility.
How can I get hired as a senior researcher in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a postdoctoral fellowship or research associate position at one of Illinois's major research institutions, including the University of Chicago, University of Illinois system campuses, or Loyola University Chicago. Large Illinois employers such as Northwestern Medicine and Rush University Medical Center run structured research training programs for early-career candidates. Moving laterally from a research coordinator, lab technician, or policy analyst role also opens the door, especially when paired with a relevant graduate degree or a published first-author paper.
Where can I find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and research disciplines. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 31 Senior Researcher Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Researcher Jobs