What does a Research Project Coordinator do?

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 coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real research project coordinator resumes:
- Manage study documentation throughout study life cycle including IRB annual renewals, modifications, patient study charts and regulatory binder.
- Recommend administrative revisions to IRB submit studies including inform consent documents.
- Demonstrate small molecule are protective against DNA damage in mouse model of melanoma.
- Conduct analysis using SPSS which result in developing a new software for students to selecting college.
- Conduct primary research through interviews with Boston area travelers and analyze raw data into reports via SPSS.
- Maintain FDA correspondence and government documentation.
- Create print collateral and PowerPoint presentation templates.
- Conduct and analyze research in chemistry and pharmacology for anticancer treatments.
- Train physicians and FDA officials in critical appraisal of randomize clinical trial reports using internationally recognize methodology.
- Used common laboratory methods of synthesis, isolation, and purification in order to develop various hardener prototypes.
- Perform DNA experiments such as mini-preps, gel electrophoresis, bacteria plating, and prepare solutions in a molecular biology laboratory.
- Guide the technical implementation of an automate analysis system (electrophoresis station), with the enhancement of its operational efficiency.
- Coordinate and implement clinical research in accordance with the standards of good clinical practice and ICH guidelines.
- Develop advanced feature extraction methods using wavelet transform, Fourier transform and statistical time-series models for the recognition of acoustic sources.
Research project coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Research Project Coordinators are proficient in Data Collection, Patients, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Research Project Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Collection, 12%
Oversee data management using Microsoft Access/Excel and created new policies that reduced errors in data collection while increasing standardization.
- Patients, 9%
Conducted qualitative and quantitative evaluation and dissemination of clinical data collected to accompany biological specimens from cancer patients.
- Project Management, 6%
Project management of Phase I-IV drug and device trials, including regulatory compliance, budget monitoring, and participant recruitment.
- Public Health, 5%
Draft Emergency Action Protocol for the coordination of RxStat partners in the event of drug-related public health emergencies.
- IRB, 5%
Maintain contact with research professors to ensure Behavioral Lab satisfaction and policy adherence, as well as IRB compliance
- Data Analysis, 4%
Perform statistical data analysis and interpret results within the context of business / customer objectives.
"data collection," "patients," and "project management" are among the most common skills that research project coordinators use at work. You can find even more research project coordinator responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research project coordinator to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "natural sciences managers lead research teams and therefore need to work well with others in order to reach common goals." Research project coordinators often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "used interpersonal skills to welcome patients before clinical trial visit with nurse and doctor. "
Leadership skills. Many research project coordinator duties rely on leadership skills. "natural sciences managers must be able to organize, direct, and motivate others," so a research project coordinator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways research project coordinator responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "conducted primary research and literature review and created best practices manual for youth leadership programs. "
Problem-solving skills. research project coordinators are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to research project coordinator responsibilities, because "natural sciences managers use scientific observation and analysis to find answers to complex technical questions." A research project coordinator resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "performed randomization and eligibility checklist generation, data entry, queries, warnings and delinquencies resolutions. "
Time-management skills. research project coordinator responsibilities often require "time-management skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "natural sciences managers must be able to perform multiple administrative, supervisory, and technical tasks while ensuring that projects remain on schedule." This resume example shows what research project coordinators do with time-management skills on a typical day: "assist with industry related research projects working with internal team to meet multiple deadlines during the day. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in research project coordinator job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what research project coordinators do. Research project coordinator responsibilities rely on this skill because "natural sciences managers must be able to communicate clearly with a variety of audiences, such as scientists, policymakers, and the public." You can also see how research project coordinator duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "coordinate for dr. lloyd werk's obesity cluster grant funded by nih; communication, data collection & administrative tasks. "
The three companies that hire the most research project coordinators are:
- Medpace15 research project coordinators jobs
- University of Maryland, Baltimore12 research project coordinators jobs
- University of Washington5 research project coordinators jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable research project coordinator resume templates
Build a professional research project coordinator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your research project coordinator resume.Compare different research project coordinators
Research project coordinator vs. Clinical associate
A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between research project coordinators and clinical associate. For instance, research project coordinator responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "public health," "data analysis," and "research study." Whereas a clinical associate is skilled in "rehabilitation," "home health," "vital signs," and "cpr." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, clinical associates reach lower levels of education than research project coordinators. Clinical associates are 9.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Research project coordinator vs. Coordinator and research assistant
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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, research project coordinator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "research study," "r," and "status reports." Meanwhile, a coordinator and research assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "research projects," "emr," "surgical procedures," and "epic." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Coordinator and research assistants may earn a lower salary than research project coordinators, but coordinator and research assistants earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $46,971. On the other hand, research project coordinators receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $50,025.coordinator and research assistants earn similar levels of education than research project coordinators in general. They're 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Research Project Coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Research project coordinator vs. Clinical research assistant
A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, research project coordinators are more likely to have skills like "project management," "public health," "research study," and "powerpoint." But a clinical research assistant is more likely to have skills like "patient care," "research projects," "clinical research studies," and "excellent organizational."
Clinical research assistants earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $42,184. Comparatively, research project coordinators have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $50,025.Most clinical research assistants achieve a lower degree level compared to research project coordinators. For example, they're 8.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Research project coordinator vs. Senior clinical research associate
Even though a few skill sets overlap between research project coordinators and senior clinical research associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a research project coordinator might have more use for skills like "project management," "public health," "data analysis," and "research study." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior clinical research associates require skills like "oncology," "cra," "site management," and "field training. "
The pharmaceutical industry tends to pay the highest salaries for senior clinical research associates, with average annual pay of $94,732. Comparatively, the highest research project coordinator annual salary comes from the professional industry.The average resume of senior clinical research associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to research project coordinators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.8%.Types of research project coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025