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Graduate Research Associate Jobs in Orlando, FL (NOW HIRING)

... graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Post Doctoral Scholar

Orlando, FL ยท On-site

$57K/yr

... graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

... graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

... graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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Graduate Research Associate information

See Orlando, FL salary details

$15

$30

$43

How much do graduate research associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate research associate in Orlando, FL is $30.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.47 and $34.57 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate research associate?

Graduate Research Associates are graduate students, often pursuing a master's or doctoral degree, who assist faculty members or research teams with academic research projects. Their responsibilities can include collecting and analyzing data, conducting literature reviews, preparing research reports, and sometimes co-authoring publications. These positions help students gain practical research experience and develop skills relevant to their academic and professional careers.

What are some typical challenges graduate research associates face when balancing research responsibilities with coursework or teaching duties?

Graduate Research Associates often juggle multiple commitments, including research, coursework, and sometimes teaching assistantships. Managing time effectively can be challenging, especially when project deadlines and academic requirements overlap. Many associates develop strong organizational and communication skills to handle shifting priorities, and it's common to coordinate closely with advisors to set realistic goals and expectations. Proactively seeking support from peers and utilizing university resources can also help in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate research associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Research Associate, you need a solid academic background in your field, strong analytical skills, and experience with research methodologies, typically supported by enrollment in a relevant graduate program. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS, R, or MATLAB), literature databases, and possibly lab equipment or coding languages is often required. Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and time management are critical soft skills for producing high-quality research and collaborating with faculty and peers. These skills are vital for conducting rigorous research, contributing to academic publications, and advancing both individual and institutional research goals.

What is the difference between Graduate Research Associate vs Research Assistant?

AspectGraduate Research AssociateResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsTypically enrolled in a graduate program; may have a bachelor's degreeUsually holds a bachelor's degree; some roles require a master's
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, or industry R&D departmentsResearch labs, academic settings, or fieldwork environments
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, and industry R&D teamsUniversities, government agencies, and private companies

The Graduate Research Associate role generally involves advanced research responsibilities within academic or industry settings and often requires enrollment in a graduate program. Research Assistants typically support research projects with less independent responsibility and may have fewer educational prerequisites. Both roles are essential for research projects but differ mainly in educational status and scope of responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Graduate Research jobs in Orlando, FL?

The most popular types of Graduate Research jobs in Orlando, FL are:

What cities near Orlando, FL are hiring for Graduate Research Associate jobs?

Cities near Orlando, FL with the most Graduate Research Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Graduate Research Associate job openings in Orlando, FL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,185 per year, or $30.4 per hour.

Research Technology Engineer II

Orlando, FL โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

The Opportunity:

The University of Central Florida, in Orlando, Florida, is seeking a Research Technology Engineer II for the Department of Office of Research. Duties and responsibilities will support research faculty, post-docs, and graduate students in running workloads in on-premise HPC environments, national research computing resources, and cloud environments; leveraging high-speed research networks; enabling large-scale data transfers; and supporting machine learning and AI workloads. The goal is to advance UCF researchers' science by providing tools, training, support, and services, such as high-performance computing, high-throughput computing, cloud computing, research data processing, and research storage.

Remote work/telecommuting is permitted.

Minimum Qualifications:

The position requires a Bachelor's degree and 4 years of relevant experience.

Additional minimum qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering.
  • 4 years of professional work experience required in each of the following: conducting research; supporting faculty and graduate students; teaching or training; and hands-on experience in HPC or parallel computing systems.

  • Demonstrated experience in python, R and MATLAB, and developing AI algorithms. The required experience could have been obtained during graduate studies.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

  • Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

  • Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

  • Retirement savings options

  • Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

  • Education assistance

  • And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Office of Research - Operations

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Schedule may vary as required based on operational needs.

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

Negotiable

Job Posting End Date


The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.


As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.


UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.


For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.


If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email onac@ucf.edu.