How to hire a research associate r & d

How to hire a research associate r & d, step by step

Here's a step-by-step research associate r & d hiring guide:

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

What does a research associate r & d do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your research associate r & d 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 research associate r & d 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

   A research associate r & d's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, research associate r & ds from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents research associate r & d salaries for various positions.

   Type of Research Associate R & D	Description	Hourly rate
   Research Associate R & D	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$23-48
   Scientist	A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations... Show more	$32-67
   Marketing Internship	Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cell Culture
   • Elisa
   • Analyze Data
   • Data Analysis
   • Cell-Based Assays
   • GMP
   • Technical Reports
   • Assay Development
   • RNA
   • Western Blotting
   • HPLC
   • Cell Lines
   • QC
   • Experimental Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage training records for a department of 50 plus individuals ensuring company compliance with GLP practices.
   • Lead the execution of protein extraction, quantification and identification from medicinal plants, germinating seeds and seedlings.
   • Perform high-throughput DNA extraction utilizing Roche MagNaPure instrumentation.
   • Used LIMS to enter all analytical data in reports.
   • Run HP6890 GC with chemstation software for OVI and residual solvent test.
   • Isolate and purify viral RNA for RT-PCR and analyze sequences using ChromasPro.

   More research associate r & d duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your research associate r & d job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A research associate r & d salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, research associate r & ds' average salary in mississippi is 58% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research associate r & ds earn 51% less than senior-level research associate r & ds.
   • Certifications. A research associate r & d with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a research associate r & d's salary.

   Average research associate r & d salary

   $70,829yearly

   $34.05 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research associate r & d salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average research associate r & d salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$112,507	$54
   2	New Jersey	$92,859	$45
   3	North Carolina	$85,600	$41
   4	California	$84,954	$41
   5	New York	$84,755	$41
   6	Connecticut	$81,931	$39
   7	Tennessee	$74,826	$36
   8	Minnesota	$72,918	$35
   9	Virginia	$72,852	$35
   10	District of Columbia	$72,529	$35
   11	Massachusetts	$71,904	$35
   12	Maryland	$71,184	$34
   13	Rhode Island	$67,219	$32
   14	Texas	$65,328	$31
   15	Nevada	$64,379	$31
   16	Colorado	$64,061	$31
   17	Illinois	$63,474	$31
   18	Nebraska	$63,089	$30
   19	Missouri	$52,734	$25
   20	Indiana	$52,235	$25

   Average research associate r & d salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$115,563	$55.56	47
   2	AstraZeneca	$112,151	$53.92	8
   3	AQR Capital Management	$112,135	$53.91	2
   4	SAS Institute	$109,459	$52.62	4
   5	Eli Lilly and Company	$106,619	$51.26	22
   6	Accenture	$101,815	$48.95	172
   7	Cowen	$101,094	$48.60
   8	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$100,924	$48.52	35
   9	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$98,485	$47.35	175
   10	Pacira BioSciences	$98,316	$47.27
   11	Check Point Software Technologies	$95,644	$45.98
   12	Genentech	$95,580	$45.95	17
   13	Gap Inc.	$94,787	$45.57
   14	Keysight Technologies	$93,720	$45.06
   15	North Shore High School	$89,515	$43.04
   16	Reckitt Benckiser	$86,323	$41.50	2
   17	Abbott	$86,148	$41.42	22
   18	VMware	$85,091	$40.91
   19	Astellas Pharma	$85,062	$40.90	14
   20	Nostrum Laboratories	$84,334	$40.55

4. Writing a research associate r & d job description

   A good research associate r & d job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a research associate r & d job description:

   Research associate r & d job description example

   ArsenalBio's mission is to develop efficacious and safe cellular therapies for patients with chronic diseases, initially cancer. Our products are being designed to herald the transition of adoptive cell therapy from a hospital based treatment to outpatient therapy, like most other cancer treatments.
   
   We are seeking a talented and motivated Senior Research Associate to join the ArsenalBio Process Development team. The individual will work closely with team members to develop GMP-compatible processes and procedures that will lead to the effective manufacture of our cell therapy products. The individual will also interact cross-functionally across the organization to enable the success of ArsenalBio.
   
   What You Will Do:Assist with planning, execution, analysis, and reporting on experiments to support the development of a GMP process to successfully manufacture T cell therapy products.Compile documentation (protocols, batch records, reports) to facilitate transfer of ArsenalBio's process to manufacturing Actively engage in cross-functional collaboration with peers to overcome challenges and enable effective and successful project execution Organize, communicate, and present complex data sets to key stakeholders and senior management Explore and evaluate emerging technologies to improve and optimize the cell therapy manufacturing process
   
   What Will You Bring:Bachelors in Cell Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field with 0-2 years of industry experience; relevant research experience in T cell biology and/or immunotherapy preferred. Prior experience in cell therapy, industry, and process development experience preferred Expertise in human immune cell isolation, T cell expansion, and mammalian cell culture techniques preferred Experience in multi-color flow cytometry analyses, including panel design and data analysis preferred Expertise in T cell functional assays including proliferation assessment, cytotoxicity, cytokine/chemokine preferred Demonstrated ability to work well in a highly collaborative team environment and coordinate tasks across multiple projects to meet deadlines Creative approach to problem-solving and ability to think outside the box Willingness to accept other responsibilities outside of initial job description and quickly adapt in response to changing research priorities Authenticity, enthusiasm, and a team-minded attitude
   What We Will Offer You:
   ArsenalBio has a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes but is not limited to medical, dental, and vision as well as mental health resources, virtual and telehealth options, coaching, infertility treatment, parental leave and health savings accounts. We also offer flexible work schedules and flexible time off, which includes two extra “Arsenal Days of Rest” every quarter for employees to recharge.
   
   We have a robust mentorship program, and comprehensive development tools to help employees take control of their career paths and grow into their best selves. ArsenalBio believes in investing in the well-being of our employees - both at work and at home, as they are our greatest asset. They bring scientific talents in molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology, protein chemistry, computational biology, automation, genome engineering, software and other fields to make the future happen now.
   
   ArsenalBio prioritizes the providing of a safe and healthy workplace that is consistent with COVID-19 public health guidance and legal requirements. In order to protect our employees and visitors, we require all visitors (including candidates) and employees to present proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when coming onsite.
   
   We are committed to hiring the best talent from diverse backgrounds. A diverse workforce engenders richness of thought, creativity and discovery. We invite individuals who embrace intellectual achievement to bring their unique personal and professional journeys and together we will build transformative cell therapies for cancer patients.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: ArsenalBio does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, or ArsenalBio employees. ArsenalBio is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right research associate r & d for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with research associate r & ds they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit research associate r & ds who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your research associate r & d job on Zippia to find and recruit research associate r & d 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 research associate r & ds, 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 research associate r & d

   Once you've decided on a perfect research associate r & d candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new research associate r & d. 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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