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Clinical research associate

Clinical drug research is a competitive but growing field and work experience in a scientific or healthcare environment is crucial for a job as a clinical research associate

As a clinical research associate (CRA), you'll run clinical trials to test drugs for their effectiveness, risks and benefits to ensure that they are safe for the intended use.

You'll work on new and existing drugs and will typically be involved in all stages of the clinical trial, including identifying an investigational site and setting up, initiating, monitoring and closing down the trial.

Clinical trials may be carried out at various stages or phases and include trials on healthy humans, trials on patients with a disease, and studies conducted after the launch of a new drug to monitor safety and side effects.

Responsibilities

Tasks vary depending on your employer and level of experience. However, you'll typically need to:

• develop and write trial protocols (outlining purpose and methodology)
• present trial protocols to a steering committee
• design data collection forms, known as case report forms (CRFs)
• coordinate with the ethics committee, which safeguards the rights, safety and wellbeing of all trial subjects
• manage regulatory authority applications and approvals that oversee the research and marketing of new and existing drugs
• identify and assess the suitability of facilities to use as the clinical trial site
• identify/select an investigator who will be responsible for conducting the trial at the trial site
• liaise with doctors, consultants or investigators on conducting the trial
• set up the trial sites - ensuring each centre has the trial materials, including the trial drug often known as the investigational medicinal product (IMP)
• train the site staff to trial-specific industry standards
• monitor the trial throughout its duration, which involves visiting the trial sites on a regular basis and dealing with and solving any issues
• verify that data entered on to the CRFs is consistent with patient clinical notes, known as source data/document verification (SDV)
• collect completed CRFs from hospitals and general practices
• write visit reports and file and collate trial documentation and reports
• meet with team members to discuss on-going trials, results and any trends or adverse events
• ensure all unused trial supplies are accounted for
• close down trial sites on completion of the trial
• discuss results with a medical statistician, who writes technical trial reports
• archive study documentation and correspondence
• prepare final reports and occasionally manuscripts for publication.
• Starting salaries for CRAs are in the region of £26,000 to £34,000. It's likely these posts will require some experience in a related area.
• As a senior CRA (SCRA), also known as a CRA II, you can earn a salary of around £35,000 to £50,000.
• In some senior roles, as a manager or director, salaries of in excess of £55,000 can be achieved.

Salaries vary from company to company. Additional benefits, such as a car allowance and bonus and pension, are typically offered.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working conditions vary between companies, although the hours are usually full time, Monday to Friday. You should expect to work some evenings, although weekend or shift work is uncommon.

Part-time work is possible, as are career breaks. Short term contracts of six to 12 months with a company are common, meaning you may work more like a contractor than a permanent employee.

What to expect

• It's likely your role will be a mixture of desk-based work and site visits. You'll visit trial sites to set up and close down a trial as well as to monitor the trial while it is running which could involve visits every four to six weeks. Some trials may be running abroad which will involve international travel. There may be opportunities for home-working the remainder of the time. In some instances you may find a role that is almost exclusively office-based with the focus being on document review.
• Most UK pharmaceutical companies are located in the south of England. Field-based positions are generally found in key locations throughout the UK. Some jobs, for example in a company laboratory, can be found locally, while others are regionally based.
• Self-employment or freelance work is possible once you've gained significant experience.
• The job can involve a lot of travelling and you may be out of the office three or four days a week, possibly including overnight stays. Some companies operate a system whereby the CRA specialises in a specific disease area and covers the whole of the UK. Others operate their CRAs on a regional basis.
• Initiatives are in place to encourage more women into science-based careers, such as Women in STEM .

Qualifications

To become a clinical research associate (CRA) you need to have a degree in life sciences, medical sciences or nursing.

This could include subjects such as:

• biochemistry
• biomedical science
• microbiology
• molecular biology
• pharmacology or pharmacy
• toxicology.

Entry without a degree or with a HND only is unlikely. You might occasionally be able to enter from the administration side - for example, you could start as a study-site coordinator in the NHS or as a clinical trials administrator/assistant. However, you would need substantial experience and further qualifications to progress to the role of CRA.

A postgraduate qualification is not essential, with many employers only looking for a related undergraduate degree. However, it could give you valuable experience in clinical trials and may be an advantage against competition when applying for jobs. A relevant PhD can also be advantageous in some companies, who may consider it as highly-relevant work experience counting towards gaining promotion to senior positions or moving into protocol development. Check with desired employers to find out what they're looking for.

Search for postgraduate courses in clinical research or clinical trials .

You'll need to have:

• excellent communication, both written and verbal, and interpersonal skills
• the ability to build effective relationships with trial centre staff and colleagues
• the ability to motivate others
• strong customer focus
• an excellent grasp of numeracy and a keen eye for detail
• presentation skills
• the ability to multitask and think on your feet
• project management skills
• a flexible and adaptable approach to work
• organisational, IT and administrative skills - the job involves a lot of documenting and recording information through computerised processes, such as clinical trial management systems and electronic data capture
• an understanding of the importance of good clinical practice (GCP) , which is a legal requirement for all CRAs.

You'll usually need a clean driving licence for travel between trial sites and your office.

Skills in an additional language, particularly any European ones, may also be useful for roles abroad.

Work experience

Relevant experience is crucial for securing a job as a CRA. Without it, you're likely to start work at a lower level, as a clinical data coordinator or clinical trials administrator/assistant, where you won't be involved in initiating or designing the trials. Once you've gained experience, you will then move on to a full CRA position.

A small number of companies may recruit graduates without experience if they have the necessary personal skills, but it's more likely that employers will look for someone who has some actual experience in a related workplace. This can include any work that uses scientific and analytical skills, for example:

• academic or pharmaceutical research
• clinical data work
• clinical laboratory work
• medical sales
• nursing or care work

Another useful way of gaining experience is to complete an industrial placement as part of your undergraduate degree. This can give you the real-world experience in a related area as well as helping you to make contacts that could lead to potential job offers in the future.

Competition for jobs is strong and work experience in a clinically-relevant field will considerably improve your chances.

For free mentoring resources and experiences designed to support aspiring healthcare and legal professionals - including virtual work experience that is accepted by medical schools, see Medic Mentor .

Find out more about the different kinds of  work experience and internships  that are available.

Typical employers include pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, biotech companies and contract research organisations (CROs), which conduct research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

A CRO will organise the placement of a CRA on behalf of the sponsor (the pharmaceutical company) and may be involved in planning, organising and conducting the whole study or just part of it. The CRA will report back to the organisation and will feed back to the sponsor.

Large contract organisations are more likely to recruit an inexperienced graduate into a monitoring role and provide the training to progress to the level of a CRA.

Hospital academic departments occasionally employ CRAs in clinical trials units.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BMJ Careers
• emedcareers
• New Scientist Jobs
• Pharmiweb Jobs

Contract research organisations and pharmaceutical companies may advertise vacancies on their own websites.

Specialist recruitment agencies also handle vacancies. These include AL Solutions and RBW Consulting .

Professional development

Training takes place mainly in-house and on the job. The nature of the training can vary from company to company, with some employers providing a structured system.

Some companies will pay for relevant external training courses through organisations such as the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) . They provide training in areas such as:

• advanced monitoring
• effective project management for clinical trials
• essentials of clinical trial monitoring
• process thinking in clinical trials.

You can also complete the ICR Certificate and Diploma to provide evidence of your clinical research knowledge and skills.

Becoming a member of the ICR can aid career development as it provides networking opportunities, discounted training, specialist interest groups and access to industry news. You can progress through the ICR membership levels but to do so you'll need to undertake a certain amount of continuing professional development (CPD) each year.

If you don't already have a postgraduate qualification, you can take a postgraduate certificate, diploma or Masters in areas such as:

• clinical pharmacology
• clinical pharmacy
• clinical research
• pharmaceutical medicine.

It's also possible to do a PhD. These courses can facilitate professional development and career advancement but you should check this against the career route you want to follow and employers of interest.

Career prospects

Career structures vary from company to company. How quickly you move up the grades depends on a range of factors including motivation, the opportunities available for training and development, ability and previous experience.

Before becoming a CRA, you may begin at a lower level such as a clinical trial administrator or junior CRA. As a CRA (also known as a CRA I), you'll work on pre-trial procedures, setting up and organising clinical trial sites (with some supervision), archiving documents and correspondence.

With the right combination of skills and experience you can move into the role of senior CRA (SCRA), also known as a CRA II. Work will include selecting investigators, coordinating ethics committee and regulatory authority applications, supervising trial supplies and attending investigator meetings.

As you progress further you'll also be responsible for supervising, training and mentoring junior staff, project management of whole trials (possibly on an international scale), protocol development and design of case report forms (CRFs). You could become a clinical team manager, clinical trial manager or clinical project manager depending on where your interests and skills lie. Beyond this are director roles within the same areas.

If you work within a contract research organisation you can build up and widen your experience with a variety of sponsor pharmaceutical companies in different therapeutic areas and in different phases of clinical research. This could allow you to move to a pharmaceutical company.

Self-employment may be possible as CRAs are employed on a freelance basis by certain companies. This should usually only be considered when you have developed experience, contacts and clients.

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CRA Careers at IQVIA

Help tackle healthcare’s greatest challenges to improve patient health.

Not ready to apply? Join our Global Talent Network .

Put your passion to work

IQVIA Clinical Research Associates play a vital role in the evolution of clinical development. They bring passion, ambition, and a deep level of expertise to help solve complex clinical issues while ensuring adherence to regulations and sponsor requirements. Here, you'll find the autonomy and flexibility you need to take your CRA career to the next level.

Choose your path

Sponsor-dedicated.

When you join as a sponsor-dedicated CRA, you’ll embrace the stability of a global contract research organization and harness the power of industry-leading technology. As part of this alignment, you'll gain valuable experience, working side by side one of our pharmaceutical customers, and expand your knowledge in a wide variety of therapeutic areas.

Our sponsor-dedicated model brings together the right people, experience and ideas to deliver high quality solutions specific to the customer’s needs.

Full-service

When you become a CRA as part of our full-service alignment, you'll embrace your passion for a specific therapeutic area and support a variety of sponsors. With access to world-class training and cutting-edge technology, developed specifically for IQVIA CRAs, you'll have the resources you need to create the career you want.

Our full-service model delivers cutting-edge clinical research through state-of-the-art innovation.

IQVIA Biotech

When you pursue a CRA career with IQVIA Biotech, you'll work directly with customers in a collaborative environment to help change the face of biotech. Using your extensive therapeutic knowledge, you’ll oversee uniquely-focused clinical studies, where you’ll be exposed to pioneering protocols and experience a dedicated partnership with your team like none other.

IQVIA Biotech is at the forefront of clinical trials in a variety of therapeutic areas through the delivery of flexible solutions within the biotech sector.

IQVIA empowers you to drive your own path within the organization. As no person's route is the same and the clinical research landscape is forever changing, you are encouraged to continually seek career growth opportunities and align your interests with your career goals.

Senior Clinical Research Associate 2

At IQVIA, we are committed to supplying our CRAs with the right tools, training and development support to allow for success and career growth. In addition to the rewarding work, collaboration and engaged line management, there is a constant focus on development as your career growth supports also the growth of the company.

Director, Clinical Operations

For me, it’s the people and knowing I’m making a difference in creating a healthier world that inspire me to come to work every day. I can go to anyone with a challenge, and they are willing to help. Together, we’re thinking outside of the box to navigate each sites’ unique needs and challenges.

Senior Clinical Research Associate

Explore unlimited opportunities

Clinical Research Associates can leverage their experience in a variety of ways that enable them to pursue their unique passions. Whether you choose to advance within a specific therapeutic area or want to explore something new, you can create the career you want. Explore the various career opportunities when you join IQVIA as a CRA.

What you can expect

All CRAs at IQVIA, regardless of alignment, thrive within our dynamic culture and experience:

Professional Development

Work-Life Balance

Supportive Leadership

Best-in-Class Training

Collaboration

Explore clinical monitoring jobs.

• R1413887 CRA 1 Learn more Multiple Locations
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• R1409280 Clinical Research Associate- Sponsor Dedicated Learn more Multiple Locations

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Editor – patient recruitment and enablement.

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Clinical Research Internship Belgium

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Clinical Research Coordinator-French-Dutch and English Speaker

IQVIA is hiring a Clinical Trials Coordinator (trilingual) to provide service to one of our sponsors a well known pharma company with offices i

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Clinical Research Internship Czech Republic

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Medical Information Specialist with Turkish and English language

IQVIA Safety Operations team play an important part in the design, build and execution of end-to-end safety solutions for major pharmaceutical

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Junior Clinical Research Associate - Sponsor dedicated

Clinical Research AssociateIQVIA Turkey is looking for talented and motivated team member to join our Sponsor dedicated team as junior CRA. At

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Site Activation Coordinator- Spanish speaker - no experience

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Clinical Research Associate- Sponsor Dedicated

Clinical Research AssociateIQVIA Spain is looking for talented and motivated team member to join our Sponsor dedicated team as junior CRA. At t

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Senior Site Activation Specialist (contract Specialist)

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What Jobs Can You Get With A Biology Degree - A New Scientist Careers Guide

• Career guides

“What can I do with a biology degree?” is a question biology students often ask themselves. Everything from microscopic proteins and the DNA within the cells of all living organisms to how we interact with complex ecological systems on Earth falls under the realm of biology. Some of the major types of biology include molecular biology , anatomy, physiology and ecology .

With science becoming more interdisciplinary, new careers in biology are emerging as well. Indeed, a degree in biology provides you with knowledge and skills highly relevant to countless industries. 

Graduating from the best universities for biology in the UK, as ranked in the 2024 league table by the Complete University Guide, can lead to lucrative career opportunities. Top universities include Cambridge, University College London (UCL), Oxford, Imperial College London and Durham.

Popular areas where your biology degree will be highly valued include pure biology and life sciences , clinical science , technology and engineering , and environmental science . This article discusses the top three highest paying jobs with a biology degree in each of these fields.

Pure biology and life sciences

Traditional jobs for biology graduates typically involve teaching, research or health promotion. In these fields, you could inspire future biological scientists and conduct high-impact research. With experience and excellence, you could even become a pioneer in whichever area you work in, helping progress the field of biology as a whole.  

• Headteacher

Job role: Headteachers run schools and ensure their success. They are the face of the school and they set out the school’s values and agenda, devise strategies for areas of improvement, comply with health and safety standards, manage finances and foster relationships with students, parents, teachers and, sometimes, politicians. You can still continue to teach biology as a headteacher.

Route: With a biology degree, you could start teaching biology at school once you complete the qualified teacher status (QTS). Get involved with senior roles within your school and help with running the school. Ideally, complete the National Professional Qualification for Headship. After several years of experience as a senior teacher, you could become a headteacher. 

Average salary (experienced): £131,000  

• Professor of biology

Job role: Teaching biological sciences at higher education level is no small feat. Senior lecturers and academics at universities are typically pioneers in their area of interest and have contributed greatly to research, especially at renowned institutions.

Route: Once you have graduated with a BSc in biology, you usually need a Master’s to enter a PhD programme. After working as a research scientist, getting involved in lecturing and doing high-impact research as a postdoc for several years, you could apply for professorship. Senior academics usually end up doing research in a niche area of biology.

Average salary (experienced): £55,000; over £100,000 at certain universities e.g. Cambridge  

• Sports physiologist

Job role: Sports and exercise scientists apply their knowledge of human physiology to help people enhance their sporting performance and improve their overall health. Their working environment may include sports centres, hospitals or research facilities. Many work privately, seeing a range of clients including athletes.

Route: A degree in physiology or biology is typically required; a Master’s or PhD specifically in sports physiology or exercise science can further enhance your employability. After you have established a good reputation, you could manage your own consulting company or work exclusively for high-profile athletes.

Average salary (experienced): £60,000

Naturally, biology is at the heart of medicine and healthcare . Expertise in fields such as genetics , microbiology and biochemistry are driving innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. If you completed a biology degree, you could do a Master’s, clinical training or placements to qualify for a range of clinical careers.  

• Pathologist

Job role: Pathologists process and examine tissue samples collected from patients to aid the diagnosis of medical conditions. They work with high-tech machines and microscopes and are usually based in hospital labs.

Route: Relevant undergraduate degrees include biology or biomedical science. To work in the NHS, you must enrol onto the Scientist Training Programme (STP) and register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You could additionally complete Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) to obtain consultant status.

Average salary (experienced): £69,000

• Clinical scientist

Job role: Clinical scientists can work in a range of specialisms, such as neurophysiology, cardiac science or microbiology. They form a crucial part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver healthcare efficiently and safely. Your exact duties will depend on your chosen career path and may include working as a laboratory technician or seeing patients and performing tests.

Route: This job also involves completion of the STP and HCPC registration, and, optionally, HSST for consultancy. A biology degree is broad enough to allow you to move into most specialisms in clinical science. As a senior clinical scientist, you could take on managerial roles in your department or apply your expertise in biotech , e.g. quality control or research and development.

Average salary (experienced): £68,000

Job role: Geneticists analyse the genomics in all living organisms, but in a clinical setting their focus is limited to human genetics. They study genes involved in health and disease to help medical teams diagnose and offer targeted therapies for genetic conditions and cancers. 

Route: Relevant pre-STP degrees include genetics, biology or other life sciences. A Master’s or PhD is the norm, particularly in academic research. With experience, you could manage genomic research departments, become a professor or move into industries, e.g. the pharmaceutical sector.

Average salary (experienced): £58,000

Technology and engineering

As with most industries, research, medicine and agriculture are becoming heavily reliant on technology. Fields such as biotechnology, bioinformatics and biomedical engineering require excellent knowledge of biology as well as engineering and physics principles. As such, biology graduates with an interest in technological innovation can play a vital role in the biotech sector.

• Data scientist

Job role: Data science is one of the highest paying jobs in tech, particularly in life sciences that deal with large amounts of complex data. Data scientists with a background in biology perform complex data analysis for universities, research facilities or biotech companies with the aim of providing actionable insight.

Route: After a biology degree, you could either do a Master’s in data science or gain relevant experience to land a junior position. Learning advanced methods relating to machine learning and artificial intelligence can significantly boost your job prospects. With experience, you could become a principal data scientist at a biotech firm or an independent consultant data scientist.

Average salary (experienced): £82,500

• Software engineer

Job role: Software engineers with a background in biology design, build and test software for use in biological research at hospitals, labs or biotech firms. They ensure their programme meets their clients’ needs and troubleshoot any potential errors.

Route: A biology degree puts you in a good position to apply to biotech firms for junior positions as employers often prefer candidates with in-depth knowledge of the field. To gain programming skills, you can do a Master’s in software development or become self-taught. With experience, you could move into consultancy or run your own business.

Average salary (experienced): £70,000

• Biomedical engineer

Job role: Biomedical engineering combines principles from biology, physics and engineering to design medical machines and equipment, ranging from prosthetics and implants to surgical robots and scanners. Those in this field often conduct research to build new products to be used in healthcare.

Route: An undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering is the traditional route, but you can still enter this field with a biology degree if you do a relevant Master’s or gain relevant experience, e.g. working as a biological technician. 

As a senior biomedical engineer working in a specialised area, e.g. bionic eyes, you could move into industry and take on managerial roles in health-tech companies. You could also work for the NHS if you complete the STP and register with the HCPC.

Average salary (experienced): £50,000

Environmental and animal care

Biologists working in the environmental and animal care sector offer immense value when it comes to tackling global challenges such as sustainability, conservation , biodiversity and restoration. Environmental scientists can help shape policies and practices aimed at preserving natural environments and safeguarding animal welfare , ensuring a better, greener world.  

Job role: Agronomists supervise agricultural operations and offer guidance to farmers on enhancing soil health and increasing crop yields. Working environments include farms, laboratories and offices. They research soil properties, fertilisers and other substances, and innovate new farming techniques.

Route: A degree in biology with exposure to agriculture is typically sufficient to secure junior positions. Some employers prefer candidates with postgraduate qualifications in certain areas, e.g. crop technology. You could move into consultancy if you become a specialist in advanced methods such as laser weeding.

• Environmental consultant

Job role: Eco consultants investigate the effects of an organisation’s activities on the climate and vice versa. They provide guidance to organisations or governmental bodies on green energy, waste management and environmental regulations. 

Route: After your biology degree, ideally with a focus on ecology, you could complete a Master’s in environmental science to maximise your chances of landing a job and reaching consultancy level quickly. The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) may be of interest, as it offers postgraduate courses with academic and industrial research projects. With experience, you could become a chartered consultant.

Job role: Zoologists explore animals and their behaviours and may work in academia, wildlife conservation or government. They develop specialisation in one field, such as entomology (insects), ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles) or marine biology . Tasks vary based on the sector, but typically involve applying research methods in the field or laboratory to study animals.

Route: Aim to focus on zoology for your biology degree and gain exposure to wildlife conservation. A Master's or PhD degree can significantly enhance your prospects, particularly if you wish to conduct independent research. As you gain experience, you could manage zoology departments, become a consultant or move into environmental journalism.

Average salary (experienced): £48,000

Biology degrees provide a breadth of knowledge about all living organisms and how they interact with the world surrounding them. This, along with their critical thinking and transferable skills, make biology graduates highly employable across sectors. From analysing molecules in disease to building artificial organs or even conserving endangered species, there is no shortage of jobs involving biology .

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