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Cancer Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The program provides recent CSUDH graduates with an immersive, hands-on research experience in cancer and related health sciences, helping prepare participants for graduate education and research ...

The program provides recent CSUDH graduates with an immersive, hands-on research experience in cancer and related health sciences, helping prepare participants for graduate education and research ...

The program provides recent CSUDH graduates with an immersive research experience in cancer and related health sciences, preparing participants for graduate education and research careers. The ...

The program provides recent CSUDH graduates with an immersive research experience in cancer and related health sciences, preparing participants for graduate education and research careers. The ...

The program provides recent CSUDH graduates with an immersive research experience in cancer and related health sciences, preparing participants for graduate education and research careers. The ...

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Cancer Research information

See California salary details

$25K

$85.6K

$181.2K

How much do cancer research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for cancer research in California is $85,602.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,857.00 and $107,715.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cancer Research vs Cancer Biologist?

AspectCancer ResearchCancer Biologist
Required CredentialsTypically requires a PhD or Master's in biology, biochemistry, or related fieldsUsually holds a PhD in biology, biochemistry, or molecular biology
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research institutions, pharmaceutical companiesLaboratories, academic institutions, research centers
Employer & Industry UsageResearch organizations, biotech firms, universitiesAcademic labs, research institutes, biotech companies
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared with Cancer Biologist due to overlapping roles in research

While both Cancer Researchers and Cancer Biologists work in laboratory settings focusing on cancer, Cancer Researchers often have broader roles including clinical trials and drug development, whereas Cancer Biologists primarily focus on understanding the biological mechanisms of cancer at the cellular and molecular levels.

Are cancer researchers in demand?

Cancer researchers are in demand due to ongoing advancements in cancer biology and treatment, with employment opportunities available in academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The field often requires strong analytical skills, laboratory experience, and relevant certifications, and job growth is expected to align with broader healthcare and research trends.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cancer researcher?

To thrive as a Cancer Researcher, you need a strong background in biomedical sciences, laboratory techniques, and often a PhD or relevant graduate degree. Familiarity with molecular biology tools, statistical analysis software, and laboratory information management systems is typically required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help researchers design studies, analyze data, and collaborate effectively. These skills are vital for advancing cancer understanding, developing new treatments, and contributing to impactful scientific progress.

How do you become a cancer researcher?

To become a cancer researcher, typically, you need to earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or biomedical sciences, followed by a master's or Ph.D. in a specialized area of cancer research. Gaining laboratory experience, developing skills in data analysis, and staying current with scientific literature are also important for advancing in this field.

What are typical collaboration opportunities for professionals working in cancer research?

Professionals in cancer research frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary teams that include clinicians, pathologists, bioinformaticians, and laboratory technicians. These collaborations are essential for translating laboratory findings into clinical applications, designing effective studies, and analyzing complex data sets. Team meetings, joint grant proposals, and co-authored publications are common, providing valuable opportunities for professional growth and learning from experts in related fields. This collaborative environment also allows researchers to contribute to larger projects and stay updated with the latest advancements in oncology.

What careers are in cancer research?

Careers in cancer research include roles such as research scientist, clinical researcher, laboratory technician, and data analyst. These positions often require knowledge of biology, chemistry, or related fields, and may involve working in laboratories, hospitals, or research institutions to develop treatments and understand cancer mechanisms.

Do cancer researchers make good money?

Cancer researchers typically earn a median salary ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Advanced roles or those with PhDs and specialized skills in laboratory techniques or data analysis may earn higher salaries, especially in academic or industry settings.

What is cancer research?

Cancer research is the scientific study of cancer, including its causes, development, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Researchers in this field work to understand how cancer cells grow and spread, and they develop new methods for detecting and treating different types of cancer. This work can involve laboratory experiments, clinical trials, and the analysis of patient data. The ultimate goal of cancer research is to improve patient outcomes and find cures or more effective therapies for cancer.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cancer Research jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cancer Research jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Cancer Research jobs?

Cities in California with the most Cancer Research job openings:

Infographic showing various Cancer Research job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,602 per year, or $41.2 per hour.

Program Coordinator, Cancer Research and Training

University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • On-site

$75K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


University Of California Irvine rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 41 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 618 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Who We Are
Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.
To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) is a campus-wide multidisciplinary matrix organization whose goal is to promote and enhance cancer- relevant research and patient care at UC Irvine. The CFCCC provides research resources to its 250+ faculty and clinician members and offers multidisciplinary cancer care to its patients.
Your Role on the Team
Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of analytical practices, policies and procedures; researches, analyzes and develops solutions to a wide range of issues. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Primarily deals with policies, programs and proposals which are complex in nature and diverse in scope. Develops new programs, policies or procedures for possible implementation.
The Coordinator reports to the Manager, Cancer Research and Training and supports a portfolio of programs and activities at the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) that advance cancer research and training initiatives. The Coordinator assists with the implementation, coordination, administration, tracking, monitoring and evaluation of education, training, and research support programs aligned with Cancer Center priorities. This includes the following:
Training and Education
• Coordinate and administer education, training and workforce development portfolio across the cancer career continuum (from high school to faculty levels) spanning basic, translational, clinical and population science.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of cancer- focused education and training initiatives, including experiential summer training programs for high school students, undergraduate research training, faculty leadership and mentorship development programs, and educational activities such as journal clubs, seminars, symposia, lectures and workshops.
• Collect and organize program information to support identification of gaps in the training pathway and coordinate new initiatives to address these gaps
• Coordinate and support education and training activities across the Cancer Center, to ensure integration with the three Research Programs, eight Shared Resource units, the Community Outreach and Engagement Office and the Sue & Ralph Stern Center for Cancer Clinical Trials & Research.
• Engage faculty, trainees and institutional partners to expand participation and strengthen interdisciplinary training opportunities.
• Assist in ensuring education, training and workforce development activities align with Cancer Center strategic priorities, NIH expectations, and NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) requirements.
Research Oversight and Support
• Provide administration and operations for programs and initiatives that support cancer research activities, support services, research development, training grants and collaborative funding opportunities.
• Assist with coordination of cancer-focused training and research funding mechanisms, including T32 programs, R25 initiatives, ACS-IRG, ACS-DICR and related research support services.
• Support logistics and coordination for the development of programs and resources that support research activities, support services, and collaborative and multidisciplinary cancer research funding proposals.
• Coordinate and provide administrative support for activities that strengthen research and grant competitiveness, including pilot support, mentoring structures, proposal development efforts and coordination with institutional research development service units.
• Track and monitor program performance, funding outcomes and alignment with Cancer Center research priorities.
Program Evaluation, Tracking and Outcomes Monitoring
• Assist in maintaining systems to monitor participation, outcomes and program impact across research and training initiatives.
• Coordinate data collection and documentation to support tracking and monitoring of trainee progression across the cancer career pipeline, including academic advancement, publications, funding success and career placement.
• Track, monitor and organize program metrics to inform program improvement and decision-making.
• Assist in preparation of reports, summaries and documentation for leadership, university units (e.g., Office of Research, School of Medicine, etc.), advisory committees and external funding agencies, including materials supporting NCI CCSG and training grant reporting requirements.
These are mandatory components of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) and are vital to NCI's continued designation to the CFCCC. The NCI designation has a vital reputational and financial impact for CFCCC, UCI and UCI Health. Adherence to the guidelines of the CCSG is mandatory and involves ongoing monitoring of the organization for structure, direction, and fiscal management. All decisions at the CFCCC are taken within the context of the CCSG requirements.
What It Takes to be Successful
Required:
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across UC Irvine and the Health System with leadership, faculty, staff and students.
  • Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
  • Must possess the skill, knowledge, and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties.
  • Knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe).
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with all levels of leadership, faculty and staff.
  • Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
  • Knowledge of organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
  • Knowledge of pertinent policies, procedures, regulations and requirements of the University of California, State, Federal, and other external agencies.
  • Strong analytical / problem-solving skills. Strong ability to apply and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
  • Strong skills in analyzing, researching and synthesizing large amounts of data for preparing sound and relevant proposals / analyses with strong attention to detail.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes and maintain work pace appropriate to the workload to meet deadlines.
  • Experienced program and project management skills, strong analysis techniques and demonstrated attention to detail.
  • Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
  • A minimum of 4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in an academic research environment, medical center, community non-profit setting, or other large matrix organization.

Preferred:
  • Project Management Professional certification, Lean Six Sigma certification, or similar certification.
  • 4-6 years of experience is higher education is required, within the UC system.
  • 4-6 years of experience with large multidisciplinary, multi-component research grants (e.g., Cancer Center Support Grant).

Total Rewards
In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.
Conditions of Employment:
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:
  • Background Check and Live Scan
  • Employment Misconduct*
  • Legal Right to work in the United States
  • Vaccination Policies
  • Smoking and Tobacco Policy
  • Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.
  • California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
  • E-Verify
  • Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php
Closing Statement:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.
Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship
Must be able to provide proof of work authorization

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