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What does a Clinical Research Assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a Clinical Research Assistant do

Clinical research assistants are responsible for assisting with scientific studies and monitoring clinical trials. Other duties and responsibilities include ensuring compliance with clinical trial procedures and protocols, finding research subjects, and collecting and analyzing data. In addition, they are responsible for overseeing clinical site activities and preparing documentation, presentation, and correspondence on findings. They are also expected to prepare informed consent for clinical trials and conduct audits on research trials. The skills and qualifications required for this role include a bachelor's degree in psychology, science or related field, previous work experience, and excellent communication skills.

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Clinical research assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real clinical research assistant resumes:

  • Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
  • Maintain compliance with ICH, GCP and federal regulations as well as reporting adverse events to the FDA.
  • Perform medical assessment procedures including phlebotomy, laboratory processing, vital signs, and electrocardiogram.
  • Skil in CPR and patient distress.
  • Transport patients, and restive beds from ICU and IMCU units
  • Specialize training such as, CPI non-violent crisis intervention and CPR.
  • Assist in a successful ciclesonide NDA application preparation (clinical study report prep).
  • Perform electrocardiogram (EKG), blood pressure, urine and pregnancy tests on study participants.
  • Recruit study participants and conduct follow up assessments for ongoing NIH study of patients living with HIV.
  • Schedule diagnostic procedures, phone triage, post operative follow up, EKG's, lab work and cultures.
  • Protect customer and patient confidentiality by following all HIPAA standards.
  • Communicate to investigators the rudiments of GCP and their relate responsibilities.
  • Prepare and investigate initial clinical research study proposals leading to IRB approval.
  • Preform phlebotomy and collect other laboratory specimens, and prepare them for testing.
  • Maintain documentation according to protocols, standard operating procedures, and FDA requirements.

Clinical research assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Clinical Research Assistants are proficient in Patients, Informed Consent, and Data Collection. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Clinical Research Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 16%

    Conducted follow-up visits on all clinical trial participants, monitoring and data recording of patients information into defined databases.

  • Informed Consent, 8%

    Recruited patients for Phase IV clinical trials by determining eligibility, inclusion/exclusion criteria, taking informed consent and approval.

  • Data Collection, 7%

    Tracked/coordinated/facilitated follow-up visits & data collection.

  • Data Entry, 6%

    Trained departmental supervisors and employees on implementation techniques involving personnel training and data entry guidelines vital to computer conversion target dates.

  • IRB, 6%

    Obtained clinical information using IRB protocol standards and consulted with the principal investigator regarding the study.

  • Patient Care, 4%

    Gathered information and proper history of patients; conduct physical examination and learned proper patient care.

"patients," "informed consent," and "data collection" are among the most common skills that clinical research assistants use at work. You can find even more clinical research assistant responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a clinical research assistant to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what clinical research assistants do because "natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly with a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public." Additionally, a clinical research assistant resume shows how clinical research assistants use communication skills: "prepared institutional review board (irb) materials and communications of clinical study documents. "

Interpersonal skills. Many clinical research assistant duties rely on interpersonal skills. "natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals," so a clinical research assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways clinical research assistant responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "position required excellent interpersonal and communications, as well as excellent planning, problem solving and organizational skills. "

Leadership skills. clinical research assistants are also known for leadership skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to clinical research assistant responsibilities, because "natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others." A clinical research assistant resume example shows how leadership skills is used in the workplace: "presented clinical trial financial tracking system to department and administrative leadership. "

Problem-solving skills. clinical research assistant responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find answers to complex technical questions." This resume example shows what clinical research assistants do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "resolved clinical trial queries; maintained irb compliance. "

Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a clinical research assistant to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what clinical research assistants relies on this skill, since "natural sciences managers must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule." How this skill relates to clinical research assistant duties can be seen in an example from a clinical research assistant resume snippet: "administered surveys and managed data collection effectively to complete project in advance of study deadlines. "

See the full list of clinical research assistant skills

The three companies that hire the most clinical research assistants are:

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Compare different clinical research assistants

Clinical research assistant vs. Study director

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

The annual salary of study directors is $42,229 higher than the average salary of clinical research assistants.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both clinical research assistant and study director positions are skilled in informed consent, data collection, and irb.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a clinical research assistant are more likely to require skills like "patients," "data entry," "patient care," and "clinical trials." On the other hand, a job as a study director requires skills like "toxicology," "study design," "project management," and "data interpretation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Study directors tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,246. In contrast, clinical research assistants make the biggest average salary, $42,184, in the health care industry.study directors tend to reach higher levels of education than clinical research assistants. In fact, study directors are 7.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 6.8% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research assistant vs. Senior program coordinator

A senior program coordinator is primarily in charge of spearheading and managing programs, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities revolve around participating in setting goals and objectives, securing funding and sponsors, overseeing the workforce, and even establishing guidelines. They may also facilitate communication within the company and liaise with external parties. Furthermore, as a senior program coordinator, it is essential to lead and encourage the teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

On average, senior program coordinators earn a $34,631 higher salary than clinical research assistants a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Clinical research assistants and senior program coordinators both require similar skills like "informed consent," "data collection," and "data entry" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that clinical research assistant responsibilities requires skills like "patients," "patient care," "research projects," and "clinical trials." But a senior program coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "alumni," "powerpoint," "sr," and "hr."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Senior program coordinators tend to reach higher levels of education than clinical research assistants. In fact, they're 5.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 6.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research assistant vs. Study coordinator

Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected. They identify the eligibility of the subject through clinical record screening and medical information extracting. It is their responsibility to maintain the regulatory documents based on the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They should develop skills and knowledge in clinical trials, study protocol, and patient care.

An average study coordinator eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of clinical research assistants. The difference in salaries amounts to study coordinators earning a $7,598 higher average salary than clinical research assistants.Using the responsibilities included on clinical research assistants and study coordinators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a clinical research assistant is likely to be skilled in "research projects," "coordinators," "phlebotomy," and "literature searches," while a typical study coordinator is skilled in "home health," "nursing home," "glp," and "efficacy."

Study coordinators earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $50,589. Clinical research assistants earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $42,184.When it comes to education, study coordinators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to clinical research assistants. In fact, they're 4.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research assistant vs. Research project coordinator

Research Project Coordinators take on a lead role in maintaining and creating processes that support the execution of a research project. Their duties include researching governance requirements, preparing for contract bidding, manage budgeting of a project to meet a specified timeline, and present findings of a project to all stakeholders involved. The Research Project Coordinator will also support administrative tasks, including producing corporate reports, organizing committee meetings, and developing a research database to track active milestones achieved.

Research project coordinators typically earn higher pay than clinical research assistants. On average, research project coordinators earn a $8,846 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, clinical research assistants and research project coordinators both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A clinical research assistant uses "patient care," "research projects," "clinical research studies," and "excellent organizational." Research project coordinators are more likely to have duties that require skills in "project management," "public health," "research study," and "powerpoint. "The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for research project coordinators, with average annual pay of $50,025. Comparatively, the highest clinical research assistant annual salary comes from the health care industry.research project coordinators reach higher levels of education compared to clinical research assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 8.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of clinical research assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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