Clinical Research

Steps to Begin Exploring a Job in Clinical Research

• Clinical research, and academic scholarship, may be a common practice for your department and colleagues or quite uncommon, depending on your practice location and promotion requirements.

• Most academic institutions require some scholarship for promotions on the professor pathway. In an academic institution, it is very common for physicians and clinical faculty to participate in research.

• While PAs are not commonly hired to a school or department of medicine and may not have a faculty title, scholarship can provide career enrichment, presentation opportunities, and career growth.

• Not all research is in a lab! Look for research coordinators at your institution who may be facilitating trials for patients for experimental drugs/ treatment or other novel studies.

• Clinical research often includes participation from a major pharmaceutical industry backer and/ or federal funding and has strict and extensive policies and criteria for study design and implementation.

• Academic scholarship and research may include a wide breadth of study types, including retrospective observation, surveys, prospective observational studies, and more.

• If asked to help participate in research, or if positioning yourself for opportunities, offer to help with literature reviews, gathering patient data, and/ or writing and documentation. While less idea-driven, your experience with the practical components of research and manuscript writing can prepare you (and optimize your CV) for more rigorous research opportunities.

How to Look for Jobs

Finding a job in clinical research can be a challenge, as it is not a field PAs (or other APPs) were often readily included in until recently. The PA scope of practice can be a boon to study design, implementation, and analysis, as well as optimize research team and patient education.

Familiarize yourself with the physicians and clinical faculty with research labs and/ or research funding, and, if present, take note of the research team in your department. Promote your skill set and, if a job becomes available, or if you're able to advocate for one, be ready with a CV that directly explains your skills and applicability.

Check the job postings at your desired institutions often, using the search terms above. Also consider broadening your search to job postings at pharmaceutical and clinical research companies in your area.

Proclinical, a web group that offers staffing, consulting, and media support to research in the life science industry, publishes a page of job opportunities in clinical research.

Some large clinical research organizations (CROs) in the US include:

• Parexel

• IQVIA

• Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD)

• ICON

• Syneos Health

• Fortrea

• Medpace

• PSI

• Ergomed

• Precision for Medicine

• Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI)

Search Terms for Jobs in Clinical Research

Sub-investigator, clinical coordinator, medical science liaison, project director, medical writer, research associate, clinical research, physician assistant/ associate, clinical research associate, trial manager, clinical project manager, medical research practitioner

PA Job Types

• Clinical Research Coordinator

• Clinical Research Associate

• Sub-investigator

• Medical Science Liaison

• Project Director

• Medical Writer

Practice your Writing

Interested in pursuing manuscript submission but unsure where to start? The Journal of the American Academy of Physician Associates (JAAPA) allows submission for original work in the "Becoming a PA" column, which specifically targets submissions from new graduates or PAs who have recently changed specialties.