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What does a clinical research specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

An air traffic controller specializes in overseeing and directing airspace traffic, all while maintaining an active line of communication with aircraft to ensure safe and efficient air travels. Generally assigned in ground control centers and towers, an air traffic controller's responsibilities revolve around utilizing technology to monitor flight paths, weather, and airport runways to guide pilots and airport personnel. They also work on coordinating with other control officers, inspecting and maintaining instruments and equipment in good condition, and alerting departments and assigned personnel should there be any emergencies.

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Clinical research specialist responsibilities

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

  • Manage the input of the subjects' data among various management database including iMedidata, EDC.
  • Develop and project manage a staffing program model to support inpatient oncology.
  • Manage all planning and execution of oncology clinical trials, domestic and international, including decision impact and companion diagnostic trials.
  • Review and edit clinical documentation for FDA submission and approval.
  • Prepare investigator initiate and industry study protocol for IRB review and approval.
  • Participate in study developments to ensure compliance with FDA regulations and guidelines.
  • Facilitate critical care research activities by assisting in procedural cases for study enroll patients.
  • Investigate potential mechanisms of stroke generation in ventricular assist patients utilizing immunological assays and electron microscopy.
  • Manage all planning and execution of oncology clinical trials, domestic and international, including decision impact and companion diagnostic trials.
  • Provide site specific guidance for contracts, ICF execution.b.
  • Code and enter relevant research information into SPSS database.
  • Participate on management team for revising the organizational structure of the CRC.
  • Background research in apply applications for disease biomarkers for potential diagnostics using genetics/genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, pharmacogemomics and forensics.
  • Develop advanced feature extraction methods using wavelet transform, Fourier transform and statistical time-series models for the recognition of acoustic sources.

Clinical research specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Clinical Research Specialists are proficient in Patients, Clinical Trials, and Informed Consent. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and Leadership skills.

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

  • Patients, 12%

    Investigated potential mechanisms of stroke generation in ventricular assist patients utilizing immunological assays and electron microscopy.

  • Clinical Trials, 8%

    Performed Study Coordinator responsibilities for pharmaceutical clinical trials that involved medications for both children and adults with asthma and allergic rhinitis.

  • Informed Consent, 8%

    Compose and supervise preparation of regulatory documents including updates to the Informed Consent form.

  • Data Collection, 7%

    Attract participation in data collection epidemiology studies by actively recruiting and following diverse group of women.

  • IRB, 6%

    Prepared investigator initiated and industry study protocol for IRB review and approval.

  • Research Data, 5%

    Corresponded with collaborators, internal and external, to facilitate sharing of biological specimens and research data.

Most clinical research specialists use their skills in "patients," "clinical trials," and "informed consent" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential clinical research specialist responsibilities here:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a clinical research specialist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly with a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public." Clinical research specialists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "use exceptional communication skills as a liaison between investigators, irb and other study groups. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform clinical research specialist duties is interpersonal skills. Clinical research specialists responsibilities require that "natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals." Clinical research specialists also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills ensuring smooth collaboration with cros, quintiles, rps & inventive health. "

Leadership skills. This is an important skill for clinical research specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how clinical research specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a clinical research specialist: "developed clinical sops and corporate qsr procedures as part of leadership team responsible for clinical quality and internal audit oversight. ".

Problem-solving skills. A big part of what clinical research specialists do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to clinical research specialist responsibilities because "natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find answers to complex technical questions." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical clinical research specialist tasks: "handled and resolved irb issues. "

Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in clinical research specialist job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what clinical research specialists do. Clinical research specialist responsibilities rely on this skill because "natural sciences managers must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule." You can also see how clinical research specialist duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "follow irb submissions for timely study enrollment periods while following deadline procedures for clinical trial sites. "

All clinical research specialist skills

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Compare different clinical research specialists

Clinical research specialist 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.

We looked at the average clinical research specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a senior program coordinator. Generally speaking, senior program coordinators are paid $13,523 higher than clinical research specialists per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both clinical research specialist and senior program coordinator positions are skilled in informed consent, data collection, and irb.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, clinical research specialist responsibilities require skills like "patients," "clinical trials," "research data," and "data management." Meanwhile a typical senior program coordinator has skills in areas such as "alumni," "excellent organizational," "powerpoint," and "sr." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

On average, senior program coordinators reach similar levels of education than clinical research specialists. Senior program coordinators are 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 6.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research specialist 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.

On average, study coordinators earn a $13,510 lower salary than clinical research specialists a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Clinical research specialists and study coordinators both require similar skills like "patients," "clinical trials," and "informed consent" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, clinical research specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "principal investigators," "regulatory compliance," "crfs," and "site management." Meanwhile, a study coordinator has duties that require skills in areas such as "patient care," "excellent interpersonal," "medical history," and "study procedures." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Study coordinators may earn a lower salary than clinical research specialists, but study coordinators earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $50,589. On the other hand, clinical research specialists receive higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $86,121.study coordinators earn similar levels of education than clinical research specialists in general. They're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 6.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research specialist vs. Clinical coordinator

A clinical coordinator is responsible for monitoring a healthcare facility's daily operations, ensuring the best quality services for the patients. Clinical coordinators perform administrative and clerical tasks as needed, such as organizing patient files, communicating with other departments and healthcare organizations for validating patients' information and insurance documents, prepare medical reports, assist medical professionals in medical procedures, and observe sanitary and hygienic standards. A clinical coordinator must have excellent time-management skills to perform duties under minimal supervision.

On average, clinical coordinators earn lower salaries than clinical research specialists, with a $3,280 difference per year.By looking over several clinical research specialists and clinical coordinators resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "patients," "clinical trials," and "informed consent." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, clinical research specialists are more likely to have skills like "irb," "research data," "data management," and "fda." But a clinical coordinator is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "cpr," "rehabilitation," and "social work."

Clinical coordinators earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $56,227. Clinical research specialists earn the highest pay from the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $86,121.When it comes to education, clinical coordinators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to clinical research specialists. In fact, they're 3.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 5.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Clinical research specialist vs. Research nurse

A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies. It is their duty to design research strategies and procedures, gather and analyze samples through various scientific methods, coordinate with other experts, and develop treatment and healthcare plans to optimize patient services and outcomes. Moreover, a research nurse typically works with a team of researchers, which requires an active communication line while adhering to the organization's policies and regulations.

Research nurses tend to earn a lower pay than clinical research specialists by an average of $7,482 per year.According to resumes from clinical research specialists and research nurses, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "patients," "informed consent," and "data collection. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A clinical research specialist uses "clinical trials," "principal investigators," "regulatory compliance," and "electronic data." Research nurses are more likely to have duties that require skills in "oncology," "research projects," "clinical care," and "human subjects. "research nurses enjoy the best pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $61,182. For comparison, clinical research specialists earn the highest salary in the pharmaceutical industry.In general, research nurses hold similar degree levels compared to clinical research specialists. Research nurses are 2.6% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 6.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of clinical research specialist

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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