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Graduate Research Associate Jobs in Westminster, CO

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Senior Clinical Research Associate

Denver, CO · On-site

$110K - $138K/yr

Senior Clinical Research Associate - Oncology - West Region ICON is a global healthcare ... A graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or equivalent, or a qualified RN * Eligible to ...

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Clinical Research Associate II

Denver, CO · On-site

$91K - $114K/yr

Clinical Research Associate - Oncology - West Region ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and ... A graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or equivalent, or a qualified RN * Eligible to ...

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All JobsGraduate Research Associate JobsGraduate Research Associate Jobs in Westminster, CO

Graduate Research Associate information

See Westminster, CO salary details

$16

$32

$47

How much do graduate research associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate research associate in Westminster, CO is $32.84, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.44 and $37.36 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 cities near Westminster, CO are hiring for Graduate Research Associate jobs?

Cities near Westminster, CO with the most Graduate Research Associate job openings:

Graduate Research Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Research Associate job openings in Westminster, CO as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $68,307 per year, or $32.8 per hour.

NIST PREP Research Associate in Cryogenic Optical Cavity

Southeastern Universities Research Association

Boulder, CO • On-site

$80K - $82K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.
Research Title: Cryogenic Optical Cavity Graduate Research Associate
The work will entail: We are developing a cryogenic optical reference cavity for laser stabilization and atomic clock applications at NIST. The goal of this system is to reach unprecedented levels of frequency stability using a sapphire cavity at liquid-helium temperatures.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
  • Design, construction and operation of the optical cavity system including laser optics, digital and analog electronics, opto-mechanics and cryogenics.
  • Design and implementation of experiments to evaluate and optimize various aspects of cavity performance
  • Identification and exploration of new scientific goals and opportunities using the cryogenic cavity
  • Evaluation of experimental data
  • Communication of experimental results in the form of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations

Qualifications:
  • U.S. Citizen Preferred
  • Bachelors degree in physics, electrical engineering or related field
  • Strong mathematics/physics skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Preferred: Prior experience with atomic physics or precision measurement experiments
  • Preferred: Prior experience building or operating laser systems, laboratory control electronics, ultra-high-vacuum systems and/or cryogenics

Privacy Act StatementAuthority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)
Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.
SURA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion, or sexual orientation. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
PREP0004959

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