How to hire a doctoral research assistant

How to hire a doctoral research assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step doctoral research assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a doctoral research assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new doctoral research assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your doctoral research assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a doctoral research assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect doctoral research assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of doctoral research assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Doctoral Research Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Doctoral Research Assistant		$19-37
   Research Fellow	A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study... Show more	$18-34
   Doctoral Fellow	A doctoral fellow is a physician that has completed studies and receives a fellowship to cover his/her or her expenses while completing his/her or her medical dissertation. A doctor fellow undergoes this fellowship to get additional training for their chosen sub-specialty... Show more	$18-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Collection
   • Research Projects
   • PI
   • Data Analysis
   • Molecular Biology
   • Cell Culture
   • Chemistry
   • Scholar
   • Patients
   • Python
   • NIH
   • Stem Cells
   • Analyze Data
   • Flow Cytometry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
   • Receive additional training in SAS.
   • Used electronic and structure evaluations using quantum chemistry packages such as GAUSSIAN.
   • Prepare and implement unique proposals for the synthesis of polymer and small molecule targets.
   • Discover novel mechanical functions for collagen and short DNA molecules in response to force.
   • Develop the use of FPLC for detection and characterization of large DNA structural motifs.

   More doctoral research assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your doctoral research assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A doctoral research assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a doctoral research assistant in Texas may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level doctoral research assistant usually earns less than a senior-level doctoral research assistant. Additionally, a doctoral research assistant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average doctoral research assistant salary

   $56,458yearly

   $27.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level doctoral research assistant salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average doctoral research assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$79,142	$38
   2	New Mexico	$69,718	$34
   3	Illinois	$68,801	$33
   4	Arizona	$68,172	$33
   5	Oregon	$66,510	$32
   6	New Jersey	$65,341	$31
   7	Utah	$61,773	$30
   8	Delaware	$60,688	$29
   9	Maryland	$60,639	$29
   10	Florida	$57,259	$28
   11	Colorado	$55,972	$27
   12	North Carolina	$54,732	$26
   13	New York	$54,620	$26
   14	Nebraska	$54,173	$26
   15	Pennsylvania	$54,173	$26
   16	Mississippi	$53,768	$26
   17	Ohio	$52,203	$25
   18	Indiana	$51,719	$25
   19	Missouri	$48,913	$24
   20	Tennessee	$47,010	$23

   Average doctoral research assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$75,573	$36.33	36
   2	New York University	$66,354	$31.90	49
   3	Lincoln University	$63,427	$30.49	4
   4	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$63,068	$30.32	15
   5	New Jersey Institute of Technology	$62,530	$30.06	15
   6	Arizona State University	$62,492	$30.04	8
   7	East Tennessee State University	$62,353	$29.98	4
   8	National Medical Association	$62,192	$29.90
   9	Stevens Institute of Technology	$61,005	$29.33	28
   10	Northwestern University	$61,000	$29.33	56
   11	Children's Hospital Los Angeles	$60,576	$29.12	11
   12	Carnegie Mellon University	$60,442	$29.06	90
   13	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$59,955	$28.82
   14	HSS	$59,310	$28.51
   15	Portland State University	$59,221	$28.47	4
   16	Salk Institute for Biological Studies	$59,027	$28.38
   17	The Research Foundation for SUNY	$58,686	$28.21	1
   18	New York Institute of Technology	$58,312	$28.03	4
   19	UT Southwestern Medical Center	$57,185	$27.49	78
   20	The University System of Maryland Foundation	$57,132	$27.47

4. Writing a doctoral research assistant job description

   A job description for a doctoral research assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a doctoral research assistant job description:

   Doctoral research assistant job description example

   At Houston Methodist, the Postdoctoral Fellow position is responsible for performing basic research duties under the supervision/direction of a Physician (Principal Investigator). This position may work in a laboratory setting or may consist of computer work that supports the department's research mission.
   Requirements:
   
   PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.
   
   PEOPLE - 20%
   
   * Assists the physician in maintaining the functionality and operations of the Principal Investigator's (PI) laboratory. (EF)
   * Promotes a positive work environment and leads the team to be dynamic and a focused work unit that actively helps one other to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the department by actively communicating and reporting data in a comprehensive manner. (EF)
   * Role models to team members effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication, which includes active listening and teaching, assisting in development of such skills. (EF)
   * Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability. (EF)
   
   SERVICE - 20%
   
   * Develops research methods and performs research activities. (EF)
   * Documents research results and writes reports of results for presentation and/or publication in professional journals and other publications. (EF)
   
   QUALITY/SAFETY - 20%
   
   * Follows all safety rules while on the job. Reports accidents promptly and corrects minor safety hazards. Communicates with peers and management regarding any hazards identified in the workplace. (EF)
   * Assists with implementation and education of department-based safety initiatives, standards of practice and protocols. Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes. (EF)
   * Identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement providing recommendations and contributes to meeting department and laboratory targets for quality and safety. (EF)
   
   FINANCE - 20%
   
   * Utilizes resources effectively and efficiently, demonstrating responsible financial stewardship. Manages own time effectively and prioritizes work to achieve maximum results in a timely manner. (EF)
   * Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. (EF)
   
   GROWTH/INNOVATION - 20%
   
   * Participates in pertinent research activities and evidenced-based practice projects. Participates in departmental projects and activities. Acts as a change agent. (EF)
   * Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development. Remains current on professional issues and clinical skills. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. (EF)
   
   This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
   
   Qualifications:
   
   EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 - Doctor of Medicine (MD) from an accredited medical school or Doctoral Degree (PhD) in medical field (A letter from the academic institution certifying that all student work is complete will be considered for Postdoctoral Fellow 0 only.)
   
   EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 0- None
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 1- One year of Postdoc experience
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 2 - Two years' Postdoc experience
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 3 - Three years' Postdoc experience
   
   o Postdoctoral Fellow 4 - Four years' Postdoc experience
   
   CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED
   
   o None
   
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
   
   o Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
   
   o Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
   
   o Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
   
   o Demonstrated knowledge of biomedical research
   
   o Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
   
   o Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
   
   SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
   
   Work Attire Yes/No
   
   Uniform No
   
   Scrubs Yes
   
   Business professional No
   
   Other (dept approved) Yes
   
   On-Call* No
   
   * Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Event, etc) regardless of selection above.
   
   Travel
   
   May require travel within No
   
   Houston Metropolitan area
   
   May require travel outside No
   
   of Houston Metropolitan area
   
   Travel specifications may vary by department.
   
   Please note any other special considerations to this job: Work will be in a research laboratory environment.
   
   Company Profile:
   
   Houston Methodist Academic Institute was formed to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies and treatments. The Research Institute was created in 2004 to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000-square-foot building dedicated to research and clinical trials, the Academic Institute houses over 2,110 credentialed researchers conducting 1,387 ongoing clinical protocols.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find doctoral research assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any doctoral research assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level doctoral research assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your doctoral research assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit doctoral research assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit doctoral research assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new doctoral research assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the doctoral research assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new doctoral research assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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