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Entry Level Phd Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Phd information

What are entry level PhD jobs?

Entry level PhD jobs are positions designed for individuals who have recently completed their doctoral studies and are beginning their professional careers. These jobs typically require advanced research, analytical, or technical skills developed during a PhD program and may include roles in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit sectors. Examples of entry level PhD jobs include postdoctoral researcher, data scientist, research scientist, policy analyst, and consultant. While the specific requirements and responsibilities vary by field, these positions offer opportunities to apply specialized knowledge and begin building a professional track record.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level PhDs transitioning from academia to industry roles?

Entry-level PhDs often encounter challenges adjusting to the faster-paced, results-oriented environment of industry compared to academia. Adapting to collaborative, cross-functional teams and learning to communicate technical findings to non-expert stakeholders is crucial. Additionally, shifting focus from independent research to project-based work with clear deliverables may require new time management and prioritization skills. However, these challenges present excellent opportunities for professional growth and skill development in a supportive team setting.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level PhD professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level PhD professional, you need advanced research skills, subject matter expertise, and a doctoral degree in your field. Familiarity with specialized software, statistical tools, and laboratory or data analysis systems is commonly required depending on the discipline. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative mindset help set you apart in multidisciplinary environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for driving innovation, contributing to complex projects, and integrating effectively into research or industry teams.

What is the difference between Entry Level Phd vs Research Assistant?

AspectEntry Level PhdResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsPhD or near completionBachelor's or Master's, sometimes pursuing PhD
Work EnvironmentAcademic, research labs, universitiesResearch labs, academic institutions, industry
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, some industry R&DUniversities, government agencies, private sector
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles for PhD holdersEntry-level research roles for those with advanced degrees

Entry Level Phd positions typically require candidates to have completed or be close to completing a PhD, often working in academic or research environments. Research Assistants usually hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree and support research projects. While both roles involve research activities, Entry Level Phd roles are geared toward recent PhD graduates or candidates, whereas Research Assistants often have less advanced degrees but support similar research tasks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Phd jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Phd jobs in Michigan are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Phd jobs in Michigan?

For Entry Level Phd jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Phd jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Phd jobs in Michigan are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Phd job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Temporary. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution.

Research Assistant - Department of Oncology

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • On-site

$19 - $26.25/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


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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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