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Entry Level Cancer Research Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Cancer Research information

See Michigan salary details

$12

$23

$68

How much do entry level cancer research jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level cancer research in Michigan is $23.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.86 and $20.10 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Entry Level Cancer Research position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Cancer Researcher, you typically need a bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, or a related field, along with foundational laboratory and data analysis skills. Familiarity with lab equipment (such as PCR machines and spectrophotometers), basic statistical software (like SPSS or R), and adherence to safety protocols are important. Strong attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication help distinguish candidates in this collaborative and precise work environment. Mastery of these skills ensures rigorous and reliable research, vital for advancing cancer treatments and patient outcomes.

What is an Entry Level Cancer Research job?

An Entry Level Cancer Research job typically involves assisting senior researchers in studying cancer biology, treatment methods, and potential cures. Responsibilities may include conducting experiments, analyzing data, maintaining laboratory equipment, and documenting findings. These positions are often found in academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or government agencies. Candidates usually have a bachelor's or master's degree in biology, biotechnology, or a related field. This role provides valuable hands-on experience for those looking to advance in oncology research or medical fields.

What are the typical daily responsibilities for someone working in entry level cancer research?

In an entry level cancer research role, you can expect to spend much of your time conducting laboratory experiments, preparing samples, and recording meticulous notes on your findings. You'll often assist senior researchers by maintaining lab equipment, managing inventories, and helping with data entry or basic analysis. Collaboration is key, so you’ll regularly participate in team meetings and may present your results or discuss troubleshooting methods. These responsibilities allow you to build practical skills and contribute meaningfully to ongoing research projects, laying a strong foundation for career growth in the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cancer Research jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Cancer Research jobs in Michigan are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Cancer Research job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,456 per year, or $23.3 per hour.

Research Assistant - Department of Oncology

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • On-site

$19 - $26.25/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago


Wayne State University rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

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Job description

Research Assistant - Department of Oncology
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Assistant - Department of Oncology at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Essential functions (job duties):
Perform laboratory based scientific techniques or clinical/population science (human subjects) research. Design and perform experiments, recruit participants for studies by developing surveys and interviewing candidates. Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines. Assist staff with experiments/research protocols as required. Communicate with principal investigator and Postdoctoral scholars/fellows on the status of research.
Collect and log laboratory results, clinical outcomes and/or survey data. Evaluate and perform data analysis using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated. Proofread and edit research data and documents to ensure accuracy.
Assist principal investigator with writing methods and summarizing/organizing data to be used in preparing and presenting presentations for professional, scientific and academic conferences and submittal to academic and scholarly peer-reviewed journals.
Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required. Order and organize required research supplies and records. Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Unique duties:
Perform statistical and/or bioinformatics analysis and prepare reports based on plans devised by faculty members. - Assist in preparing manuscripts and abstracts, as well as proofreading accepted manuscripts prior to publication. - Stay up-to-date with statistical/bioinformatics and programming methodologies relevant to cancer research. - Implement assignments with excellence and work collaboratively with staff and faculty. - Compile information from clinical studies and report to ClinicalTrials.gov. - If required, participate in biostatistics/ bioinformatics educational activities related to cancer research for investigators, fellows, residents, and graduate students.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree
Bachelor'sdegree in a related field of study, preferred. Requires advanced knowledge predominantlyintellectual in character in a field of science or learning acquired by aprolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
Experience: Entry level (less that a year of job-related experience)
Experience performing basic research techniques or interacting with humansubjects, preferred.
Knowledge,Skills and Abilities:
Abilityto work independently. Ability toanalyze, summarize and interpret research findings and data in reports and spreadsheetsand communicate results. Knowledgeof scientific integrity principles. Excellent timemanagement and organization skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills anddemonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment. Microsoft office software skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- Master's degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, Biomedical Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, or closely related discipline preferred. - At least 2 years of work experience with R programming, demonstrating excellent proficiency. Any work experience gained during the completion of an MS/PhD degree will be considered as part of this requirement. Statistical and/or bioinformatics work experience in collaborative medical research highly desirable.The candidate must be able to support cancer research across a wide range of biostatistical/bioinformatics domains, provide methodological guidance as needed, and assist with requests received through the Core. A strong desire to learn new statistical/bioinformatics methods is highly expected, given the evolving analytical needs of cancer research. Experience with causal inference, particularly using structural equation modeling, is considered a plus.
School/College/Division:
H06 - School of Medicine
Primary department:
H0632 - Oncology
Employment type:
  • Regular Employee
  • Job type: Full Time
  • Job category: Research
Funding/salary information:
  • Compensation type: Annual Salary
  • Hourly rate:
  • Salary minimum:
  • Salary hire maximum:
Working conditions:
Typical work environment may include a laboratory and/ or office environment. May require working non-standard business hours including evenings and weekends. May be required to travel to scientific conferences.
Job openings:
  • Number of openings: 1
  • Reposted position: No
  • Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)
  • Prior posting/requisition number:
Background check requirements:
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

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