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Principal Research Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

University of Utah

Research Associate

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$50K - $100K/yr

Announcement Details Open Date 03/12/2026 Requisition Number PRN44458B Job Title Research Associate ... Makes recommendations to respective Principal Investigator (PI) as to preferable methods of ...

University of Utah

Research Associate

Campus, IL · On-site +1

Details Open Date 03/12/2026 Requisition Number PRN44458B Job Title Research Associate Working ... Makes recommendations to respective Principal Investigator (PI) as to preferable methods of ...

Rutgers University

Research Associate I

Newark, NJ · On-site

$74.33K/yr

Under the direction of Principal Investigator, Research Associate I participates in the research of two major areas: (1) the characterization of viral insulin/IGF-1-like peptides (VILPs) and their ...

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How much do principal research associate jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for principal research associate in the United States is $32.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.20 and $37.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Research Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Research Associate, you typically need an advanced degree in a scientific discipline, strong expertise in experimental design, and significant hands-on laboratory experience. Proficiency with specialized lab equipment, data analysis software (such as GraphPad Prism or FlowJo), and familiarity with regulatory standards like GLP or GMP are often required. Outstanding analytical thinking, attention to detail, and leadership abilities help you excel in managing projects and mentoring junior staff. These skills and qualifications are crucial for generating reliable research results, ensuring compliance, and driving scientific innovation within the organization.

How does a Principal Research Associate typically collaborate with cross-functional teams in a research setting?

As a Principal Research Associate, you will frequently work alongside scientists, project managers, and other research professionals to advance complex studies. Collaboration often involves coordinating experimental design, sharing data, and troubleshooting protocols with team members from different specialties, such as analytical chemistry, biology, or clinical operations. Clear communication and the ability to translate technical findings for non-specialist colleagues are key. This collaborative environment not only accelerates project milestones but also provides opportunities to learn from diverse experts and contribute to multidisciplinary solutions.

What is a Principal Research Associate?

A Principal Research Associate is a senior-level research professional who leads and manages scientific research projects within an organization, often in academia, biotechnology, or pharmaceuticals. They are responsible for designing experiments, analyzing data, supervising junior staff, and ensuring that the research meets regulatory and quality standards. Principal Research Associates often collaborate with cross-functional teams, contribute to publications, and may be involved in grant writing or project proposals. This role requires significant experience in the field, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of research methodologies.

What is the difference between Principal Research Associate vs Senior Research Associate?

AspectPrincipal Research AssociateSenior Research Associate
Required CredentialsMaster's or PhD, relevant research experienceMaster's degree, significant research experience
Work EnvironmentLead research projects, mentor junior staffConduct research, support project goals
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, biotech, academiaSimilar industries, often overlapping roles

The Principal Research Associate typically holds a higher level of responsibility, leading projects and mentoring others, whereas the Senior Research Associate focuses on executing research tasks and supporting project objectives. Both roles require advanced degrees and research experience, but the Principal Research Associate is more involved in strategic planning and leadership within research teams.

What cities are hiring for Principal Research Associate jobs? Cities with the most Principal Research Associate job openings:
What states have the most Principal Research Associate jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Research Associate jobs include:
Principal Research Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Research Associate job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, 35% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,685 per year, or $32.5 per hour.
Senior Research Associate

Senior Research Associate

Meharry Medical College

Nashville, TN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

The Senior Research Associate will contribute and help drive ongoing research programs in the Department of Integrative Genomics and Epidemiology at Meharry Medical College. This role requires substantial expertise in molecular biology, viral vector systems, and in vivo model development. The Senior Research Associate will also be responsible for training and mentoring junior researchers including students and research staff, in experimental techniques.
In the animal model (Nile rat), the Senior Research Associate will oversee the development of a longitudinal biobank of tissues and biofluids designed to support future mechanistic studies, including analyses of gene expression across defined durations of diabetes progression. The Senior Research Associate conduct comprehensive in vivo metabolic phenotyping, including oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), insulin tolerance tests (ITT), and pyruvate tolerance tests (PTT), to functionally characterize disease onset and progression under defined genetic and environmental conditions.
Additionally, the Senior Research Associate will establish and characterize primary cell cultures derived from Nile rat alongside human primary cell lines to enable mechanistic dissection of candidate gene function. The role includes executing advanced gene manipulation strategies across these systems, including transfection, viral transduction (lentiviral method), and targeted integration approaches to generate stable or genetically modified cell lines.
To interrogate gene regulatory pathways and cellular phenotypes relevant to metabolic disease, the Associate will apply several molecular and cellular techniques including molecular cloning, DNA vector construction, reporter gene assays, Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, qPCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.
Essential Functions (Principal Duties and Job Responsibilities):
  • Conduct molecular biology experiments
  • Liaise with PI and junior researchers on projects outline by the PI
  • Contribute to publications, and assist with training new students and junior researchers
  • Maintain accurate records of experiments and data in lab notebooks and electronic databases
  • Manage lab inventory and order reagents, chemicals, and consumables as needed

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
  • Extensive experience working with rodent models, including tissue collection, processing, and downstream molecular and cellular analyses.
  • Solid foundation in human and primary cell systems, including isolation, culture, genetic manipulation, generation of stable and/or modified cell lines.
  • Strong ability to independently design, optimize, and troubleshoot experimental workflows such as lentiviral overexpression of genes, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging.
  • Proficient in quantitative data analysis and interpretation, including biostatistics and image analysis tools (e.g. GraphPad Prism, ImageJ).

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Preferred:
  • Familiarity with transcriptomics (RNA seq analysis) and high-throughput sequencing.
  • Generation of stably transfected cell lines.
  • Generation of immortalized cell lines.

Education and Experience Required:
  • Master's or PhD degree in molecular biology, immunology, genetics, biochemistry, or a closely related biomedical field.
  • Expertise in molecular and cellular approaches to gene regulation, including vector design, transduction systems, and functional characterization of engineered cell models.

Education and Experience Preferred:
  • Several years of hands-on research experience in an academic or biomedical research setting, including independent experimental execution.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Meharry Medical College complies with Title IX and is an affirmative action employer. Candidates will be considered for employment without discrimination for an non-merit reason such as race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, handicap or veteran status.

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