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Associate Researcher Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Research Associate

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$20K - $500K/yr

Announcement Details Open Date 06/05/2026 Requisition Number PRN45274B Job Title Research Associate Working Title Director of Health Care Transformation Research Career Progression Track A00 Track ...

$7.25 - $999.99/hr

Faculty appointment at the Associate Professor level * Approximately 70% clinical / 30% research, with opportunity to expand protected research time * Ongoing NIH-funded research environment with ...

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Associate Researcher information

See Utah salary details

$27.3K

$103K

$149.8K

How much do associate researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate researcher in Utah is $102,965.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,000.00 and $140,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate researcher?

To thrive as an Associate Researcher, you need a strong background in scientific methodology, data analysis, and a relevant bachelor's or master's degree in your field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, statistical software (like SPSS or R), and research management systems is typically required. Attention to detail, critical thinking, and effective communication help you collaborate and contribute meaningful insights to research projects. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing valid, reliable results and advancing the goals of research teams.

What are some common challenges associate researchers face when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Associate Researchers often juggle several projects at once, which can be challenging in terms of time management and prioritization. Balancing deadlines, coordinating with various team members, and ensuring high-quality data collection and analysis requires strong organizational skills. Proactive communication with supervisors and collaborators is essential to manage expectations and address any bottlenecks early. Utilizing project management tools and regularly updating progress can help alleviate these challenges and keep research activities on track.

What is an associate researcher?

Associate Researchers are professionals who assist in conducting scientific studies, experiments, or investigations in a specific field. They typically work under the supervision of a principal investigator or senior researcher, helping with data collection, analysis, and documentation. Their responsibilities can also include preparing laboratory materials, conducting literature reviews, and ensuring compliance with research protocols. Associate Researchers are often found in academic, government, or private sector research settings and may have a background in science, engineering, or social sciences.

What is the difference between Associate Researcher vs Research Assistant?

AspectAssociate ResearcherResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree, research experienceTypically Bachelor's degree, entry-level
Work EnvironmentIndependent research, data analysis, project managementSupporting research tasks, data collection
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, corporate R&DUniversities, labs, research projects

The main difference between an Associate Researcher and a Research Assistant lies in experience and responsibilities. Associate Researchers usually have more research experience, handle independent tasks, and contribute to project design, while Research Assistants support data collection and basic tasks. Both roles are common in academic and research settings, but Associate Researchers typically have higher qualifications and more autonomy.

What are the most commonly searched types of Researcher jobs in Utah? The most popular types of Researcher jobs in Utah are:
What cities in Utah are hiring for Associate Researcher jobs? Cities in Utah with the most Associate Researcher job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Researcher job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,965 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Research Associate

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT • On-site

$20K - $500K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 7 days ago


University Of Utah rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 159 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

382nd of 617 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Announcement
Details
Open Date
06/05/2026
Requisition Number
PRN45274B
Job Title
Research Associate
Working Title
Director of Health Care Transformation Research
Career Progression Track
A00
Track Level
FLSA Code
Professional
Patient Sensitive Job Code?
No
Standard Hours per Week
40
Full Time or Part Time?
Full Time
Shift
Day
Work Schedule Summary
VP Area
President
Department
01355 - HCI Senior Leadership
Location
Campus
City
Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment
External Posting
Pay Rate Range
20000 to 500000
Close Date
08/31/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah invites applications for an exceptional Associate or Full Professor to serve as the Founding Director of Research in Cancer Care Transformation at our new Vineyard Campus. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary scholar or clinician-scientist to shape a new academic and clinical enterprise dedicated to Delivering a Cancer-Free Frontier to the Mountain West and beyond.
HCI Salt Lake City Campus
As part of the University of Utah (located in Salt Lake City, UT) the current HCI enterprise includes over 300 cancer-focused research teams and has established outstanding programs in laboratory research, clinical cancer research, and cancer control and population sciences and cross-disciplinary disease centers. HCI is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, and provides care for cancer patients in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. With over 1 million square feet dedicated to research and clinical care, it provides patient and prevention education to residents from across the Mountain West and beyond. The institute uniquely and seamlessly integrates the cancer hospital with research buildings, enhancing the connection between cutting-edge research and clinical care.
The new HCI Vineyard Campus & Strategic Focus
HCI is establishing a new state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer campus in Vineyard, Utah to be completed by 2028. This tenure-track faculty position will be based at the new HCI Vineyard Campus, the new HCI center in Vineyard has been supported by the state of Utah and extraordinary philanthropic contributions. HCI Vineyard will provide important access to patients in central and southern Utah, and exciting opportunities for new collaborations with academic and entrepreneurial partners in the area, including Utah Valley University (UVU), Brigham Young University (BYU) and numerous technology/AI companies (Silicon Slopes). The new HCI Vineyard Campus will implement HCI's extensive clinical trial portfolio and house national cancer research leaders.
The Vineyard Campus is HCI's first campus-scale expansion and will serve as a major new hub for innovation in cancer care and research. In its first phase, the campus will advance four key areas of focus:
1. Health Care Transformation - redesigning cancer care delivery to improve access over distance, quality, efficiency, and patient experience.
2. AI, Data Science & Digital Oncology - leveraging technology to serve communities and patients through innovation, overcome distance as a barrier, and enable precision prevention and treatment.
3. Innovation in Clinical Trials - providing state-of-the-art oncology care and increasing access for rural and underserved populations.
4. Community Outreach & Engagement - partnering with communities across the Mountain West to close gaps in prevention, screening, and survivorship.
These four areas are designed to work in concert, creating a powerful ecosystem where innovations in one area fuel progress in others. Together, this synergy will enable Vineyard to pioneer new models that deliver a cancer-free frontier across the Mountain West.
Collaborative Spirit & Culture
HCI and the University of Utah are known for their highly collaborative and collegial culture, where faculty work across disciplines to solve the most pressing challenges in cancer care. The successful candidate will thrive in this environment, building bridges between clinical, research, and community teams to deliver measurable impact, and will hold a faculty appointment in their corresponding academic department/division.
Why Join Us
This is a founding leadership role with significant resources, institutional support, and a mandate to innovate. You will join a vibrant, passionate community of researchers, clinicians, and educators committed to Delivering a Cancer-Free Frontier through discovery, collaboration, and action.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit to PRN45274B Position number:
- Cover letter describing leadership experience and vision for health care transformation
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three references
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to cancer prevention, care, and survivorship for all communities within the area we serve - which includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming - with impact worldwide.
In your cover letter or during your interview process, we invite you to share how your professional experiences have prepared you to serve as a member of our team as we work to reduce the cancer burden experienced by all people and communities. This may include description of your prior experiences related to research, prevention, clinical care, community engagement/outreach, training, administration, or other areas relevant to Huntsman Cancer Institute's mission and this position.
Responsibilities
We seek an innovative, collaborative leader with a proven record in health services research, implementation science, digital health innovation, or clinical/translational excellence. The successful candidate will:
1. Build and direct a new program in Health Care Transformation, with dedicated resources for collaborative faculty recruitment and program growth.
2. Develop a federally funded grant portfolio in Health Care Transformation, both as leader and collaborator.
3. Collaborate closely with HCI clinical and research leaders, University of Utah health system and department leaders, and community partners to design scalable, data-driven care solutions.
4. Lead efforts to overcome barriers to care through innovation, with a special focus on rural, frontier, and other underserved populations.
5. Advance research, implementation, and clinical practice in telehealth, value-based care, and AI-enabled prevention, early detection, and treatment.
6. Actively contribute to leadership of the HCI Innovative Medical Practices Advancing Care Transformation (IMPACT) Center as Research Director.
7. Will be a member of Huntsman Cancer Institute's Research Leadership Council, shaping the strategic agenda of the cancer institute and serve on Huntsman Cancer Institute's Enterprise Leadership Council.
8. Report to the Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute as well as the Director of the IMPACT Center.
Minimum Qualifications
Preferences
1. MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent with a strong national reputation and track record of scholarship, clinical leadership, or program development in health services research/oncology research or related field.
2. Demonstrated ability to recruit, mentor, and inspire faculty and trainees.
3. Success in securing extramural funding and advancing health care
4. Strong track record in and commitment to multidisciplinary team science.
Type
Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Applicants should submit to PRN45274B Position number:
- Cover letter describing leadership experience and vision for health care transformation
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three references
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

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The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. The U is advancing a new national model for higher education that delivers societal impact through education, research, health care, and community service, while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve lives across Utah and around the world.

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Headquarters location

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Year founded

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