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Clinical Research Careers Guide

University Hospitals is the second largest private employer in Northeast Ohio, with over 32,000 employees, serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 21 hospitals, more than 200 outpatient health centers and primary care physician offices in 16 counties, and over 3,000 active clinical research studies.

Clinical research helps find new treatments, new ways of using established treatments, better ways to help diagnose and treat individuals with any health-related condition, observe how people are affected by different factors and learn more about medicine and healthcare from the patient’s point of view.

University Hospitals supports all areas of clinical and translational research, from the laboratory to the clinical setting. There are numerous career opportunities and career paths that allow you to be a part of innovation and grow at UH.

Potential employees seeking a research career but uncertain of direction can take advantage of the expansive training and education opportunities provided by UH, not only at the onset of the beginning of your position, but throughout the duration of employment. Employees also have the option of applying for the tuition reimbursement program that allows UH to help pay for the cost of college tuition.

Check out the different UH research careers, their associated job descriptions, and the skill sets needed, to help guide you through your research career journey.

High School Diploma/GED Equivalent

Clinical Research Assistant

  • Performs administrative duties and assists the clinical research team
  • Additional Skills: Knowledge of medical concepts and terminology communication & organizational Skills, knowledge of Microsoft programs

Clinical Research Data Specialist I

  • Extracts information from clinical research participants’ medical records to different databases per protocol
  • Additional Skills: Detail Oriented, Self-sufficient

Associate’s Degree with Year(s) of Experience:

Clinical Research Program Coordinator  

  • The administrative assistant to the Associate Chief Scientific Officer or a CRC Director 
  • Additional Requirement(s): One year of program coordinator or administration experience.
  • Additional Skills: Exceptional organization, time management, and attention to detail skills. Microsoft Office and webinar platform competence. Works independently.

Clinical Research Regulatory Specialist I 

  • A coordinator organizing and submitting all regulatory documents to and from different parties.
  • Additional Requirement(s): Associates degree with 4 years of clinical and/or research experience OR Bachelor’s degree and some related experience.
  • Additional Skills: Comprehends knowledge of scientific concepts related to the design and analysis of clinical trials, how drugs, devices and biologicals are developed and regulated.

Clinical Research Specialist I

  • A dedicated coordinator working with numerous parties on a sub-set of protocols to ensure the clinical research project is successful 
  • Additional Requirement(s): Associates Degree and 4 years of healthcare or research-related experience OR Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Additional Skills: Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills. Must have time management skills, and able to adjust and work in a fast-paced environment.

Research Finance Specialist I

  • A finance analyst who ensures appropriate and compliant billing of each clinical research project
  • Additional Requirement(s): Associates degree with at least 2 years healthcare revenue cycle / finance experience OR Bachelor’s degree in finance, healthcare or related field (management, nursing, biology). 
  • Additional Skills: Must display excellent organizational, communication, and trouble-shooting skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel preferred. 

Bachelor’s Degree, Entry Level:

Clinical Research Project Coordinator

  • This position coordinates and supports the day to day operations of a clinical research unit.
  • Additional Skills: Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills. Computer skills (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)

Clinical Research Business Liaison

  • Responsible for building and maintaining relationships with external industry sponsors and connecting them to UH Researchers.

Clinical Research Business Operations Specialist

  • Facilitates the approval of clinical trial agreements by appropriate hospital departments and provide financial management for trials funded by outside organizations including pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and others.

Community Outreach Coordinator

  • Creates, supports, and nurtures relationships with numerous UH entities and external stakeholders to increase clinical research awareness.
  • Additional Skills: Excellent interpersonal relationships; Able to work with minimal direct supervision in an ambiguous environment. Ability to understand and communicate research regulatory requirements to a variety of audiences.

Grants and Contracts Specialist I

  • Negotiates and executes clinical trial agreements and any other research related agreements necessary to conduct clinical research with all institutional research departments.

IRB Specialist I

  • A coordinator who ensures IRB applications are accurate prior to IRB Review.
  • Additional Skills: Prior IRB experience preferred. Prefer 1 – 2 years prior experience in research, research administration, regulatory affairs clinical and/or laboratory research. Knowledge of medical concepts and terminology is helpful.

Research Integration & Education Specialist I

  • A coordinator that focuses on a variety of areas including identifying best practices and developing resources, tools, and templates to aid in the conduct of research; provide education and training for the research community; and promote, support, and expand research activities and opportunities across the UH system.
  • Additional Skills: Must be organized, self-sufficient, and able to work in a team setting.

Also includes: Clinical Research Regulatory Specialist, Clinical Research Data Specialist, Clinical Research Specialist, and Research Finance Specialist

Bachelor’s Degree, Professional Level:

Clinical Research Monitor

  • Ensures research is being conducted ethically and according to the protocol and federal, state, and local regulations and policies
  • Additional Requirement(s): Requires 5 years of quality assurance or clinical trial monitoring experience, including sound knowledge of US regulatory requirements for clinical research in FDA, ICH, GCP, GLP, etc.
  • Additional Skills: Good judgment, takes initiative, and has problem solving skills. Excellent computer skills with working knowledge and detail oriented.

Clinical Research Project Manager

  • A lead coordinator overseeing all activities related to multiple research projects. Ability to problem solve any issues that may arise.
  • Additional Requirement(s): 2-3 years of research experience (varies per department).
  • Additional Skills: Organized critical thinking Skills. Able to adjust and work in a fast paced environment.

Clinical Research Nurse Specialist I

  • A dedicated nurse to a sub-set of clinical research trials in a department, delivering patient care under their licensure, to the patients on the clinical trials
  • Additional Requirement(s): 2 years of nursing experience in patient care.
  • Additional Skills: Ability to prioritize the work of multiple projects, detailed oriented, efficient, must display time management skills, and able to adjust and work in a fast-paced environment.

DCRU Registered Nurse

  • A nurse that provides care to patients on several clinical research trials.
  • Additional Skills: Able to follow flowcharts and provide superior care to patients.

Grants Accountant

  • An accountant working on different clinical trials to ensure funds are sufficient for research activities.

Research Compliance Specialist I

  • An auditor who ensures research is being conducted ethically and according to the protocol and federal, state, and local regulations and policies.
  • Additional Requirement(s): Minimum of one year experience in health related research.

Additional Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills as well as professional conduct. Good organizational, writing, time management skills, pays attention to detail, computer skills required (Microsoft Office).