How to hire a research scholar

How to hire a research scholar, step by step

Here's a step-by-step research scholar 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 scholar job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new research scholar
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a research scholar do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your research scholar 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 scholar 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 research scholar 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of research scholars.

   Type of Research Scholar	Description	Hourly rate
   Research Scholar		$17-44
   Laboratory Researcher	Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment... Show more	$8-20
   Graduate Research Student	Graduate research students are learners who conduct degree program-related research in a research unit or an academic department. These students manage themselves independently as well as their work... Show more	$9-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Analyze Data
   • C++
   • Original Research
   • PCR
   • Molecular Biology
   • Data Analysis
   • Research Findings
   • Next-Generation Sequencing
   • Python
   • Cell Culture
   • Biomedical
   • Research Projects
   • Java
   • Independent Research

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
   • Map DNA markers in the rice genome.
   • Develop a sensitive assay for evaluating replication stress and DNA damage with imaging cytometry.
   • Study the moisture absorption micro-mechanisms in glass-fiber/polymer composite materials using simulation and experimental methodologies (NSF research grant).
   • Design and implement numerical simulations of tsunami run-up in Fortran.
   • Prepare calibrators and reagents and investigate quantitative measurement of biochemicals by using HPLC and UV.

   More research scholar duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, research scholars' average salary in oklahoma is 52% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research scholars earn 61% less than senior-level research scholars.
   • Certifications. A research scholar 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 scholar's salary.

   Average research scholar salary

   $58,047yearly

   $27.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research scholar salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

   Average research scholar salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$78,098	$38
   2	District of Columbia	$77,865	$37
   3	Massachusetts	$68,274	$33
   4	Washington	$65,166	$31
   5	Arizona	$63,586	$31
   6	Illinois	$61,327	$29
   7	New York	$61,228	$29
   8	Louisiana	$60,667	$29
   9	Georgia	$60,339	$29
   10	North Carolina	$56,246	$27
   11	Maryland	$55,504	$27
   12	Idaho	$55,197	$27
   13	Minnesota	$54,035	$26
   14	Colorado	$53,171	$26
   15	Virginia	$53,086	$26
   16	Ohio	$49,779	$24
   17	Pennsylvania	$48,444	$23
   18	Tennessee	$48,094	$23
   19	Florida	$47,055	$23
   20	Iowa	$42,876	$21

   Average research scholar salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$141,006	$67.79	202
   2	New York University	$94,126	$45.25	29
   3	Columbia University in the City of New York	$93,881	$45.14	63
   4	Sandia National Labs	$91,411	$43.95	132
   5	Stanford University	$89,319	$42.94	176
   6	University of California-Berkeley	$84,705	$40.72
   7	Princeton University	$78,593	$37.79	92
   8	Bard College	$77,269	$37.15	2
   9	California Institute of Technology	$75,642	$36.37	9
   10	Susquehanna International Group	$75,277	$36.19	33
   11	Gillette	$75,049	$36.08
   12	Committee of 100	$74,664	$35.90
   13	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$74,006	$35.58	6
   14	Wellesley College	$72,855	$35.03
   15	The University of Chicago	$70,651	$33.97	123
   16	Resource/Ammirati	$70,639	$33.96
   17	Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc.	$70,171	$33.74
   18	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	$69,336	$33.33	102
   19	Massachusetts General Hospital	$69,287	$33.31
   20	Cz Biohub	$66,687	$32.06	28

4. Writing a research scholar job description

   A research scholar job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a research scholar job description:

   Research scholar job description example

   Applications will go live in late Fall 2022.
   
   Participation in this program requires that you are located in the United States for the duration of the engagement.
   
   This opportunity is intended for students who are pursuing a PhD degree with an anticipated graduation date after December 2024, depending on their program and unique circumstances. If you are graduating before December 2024, we encourage you to apply to the Research Internship opening.
   
   To start the application process, you will need an updated CV or resume and a current unofficial or official transcript in English (PDFs preferred). Please ensure your anticipated graduation dates (in MM/YY) and any proficiency in coding languages are listed on resume
   
   Minimum qualifications:
   
   + Currently enrolled in a PhD in Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, or Natural Sciences.
   
   + Experience in one area of computer science (e.g., Natural Language Understanding, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Algorithmic Foundations of Optimization, Quantum Information Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, etc.).
   
   Preferred qualifications:
   
   + Currently attending a degree program in the US.
   
   + Currently enrolled in a full-time degree program and returning to the program after completion of the internship.
   
   + Experience as a researcher, including internships, full-time, or at a lab.
   
   + Experience contributing to research communities or efforts, including publishing papers in conferences or journals.
   
   + Experience with one or more general purpose programming languages (e.g., C/C++, Java, MATLAB, Go, Python, etc.).
   
   + Ability to speak and write in English fluently.
   
   The Student Researcher Program's primary objective is to foster academic collaborations with students through research at Google. Join us for a paid Student Researcher position that offers the opportunity to work directly with Google research scientists and engineers on research projects.
   
   The Student Researcher Program offers more opportunities for research students to work on critical research projects at Google in a less structured way. The program allows opportunities beyond the limitations of our traditional internship program on aspects such as duration, time commitment, and working location (with options for on-site or remote). The topics student researchers work on tend to be open-ended and exploratory, and don't always have a clear deliverable like a traditional internship would.
   
   Google Research is building the next generation of intelligent systems for all Google products. To achieve this, we're working on projects that utilize the latest computer science techniques developed by skilled software engineers and research scientists. Google Research teams collaborate closely with other teams across Google, maintaining the flexibility and versatility required to adapt new projects and foci that meet the demands of the world's fast-paced business needs.
   
   + Participate in research to develop solutions for real-world, large-scale problems.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right research scholar for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your research scholar job on Zippia to find and recruit research scholar 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 scholars, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 scholar

   Once you've selected the best research scholar candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 research scholar. 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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