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Senior Research Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NewLimit

Senior/Research Associate

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$75K - $100K/yr

Position NewLimit is seeking an Senior/Research Associate with experience in discovery biology to join our Vascular therapeutic team. Our Vascular program is developing reprogramming medicines to ...

Actalent

Senior Research Associate

Des Moines, IA

$30/hr

Senior Research Associate The Senior Research Associate performs laboratory experiments within well-defined guidelines, operates analytical equipment, and supports research projects under direct ...

Caltech

Senior Research Associate

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$29.75 - $37.25/hr

We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to join our team and help us accomplish this research mission. The successful candidate will push forward multiple rodent in vivo projects by serving as a ...

Onyx Bio

Senior Research Associate

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Senior Research Associate Onyx Bio -- Berkeley, CA (On-site) Company Overview Onyx is building a virtual immune system for faster and safer development of precision medicines. Our research generates ...

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How much do senior research associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior research associate in the United States is $45.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37.98 and $50.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by senior research associates in managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Senior Research Associates often juggle several projects at once, which can make prioritization and time management challenging. Balancing hands-on experimental work, data analysis, and documentation while meeting project deadlines requires strong organizational skills and clear communication with team members. Proactively coordinating with principal investigators and cross-functional teams helps ensure that expectations are aligned, resources are available, and progress stays on track. Utilizing project management tools and regular team meetings can also aid in overcoming these challenges.

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

AspectSenior Research AssociateResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree, relevant experienceMaster's or Ph.D., specialized research training
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research teams, industry or academiaAdvanced research settings, independent projects
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, biotech, academia, governmentResearch institutions, biotech firms, academia
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for career progression, responsibilitiesMore specialized, higher-level research roles

The main difference between a Senior Research Associate and a Research Scientist lies in their experience, level of independence, and research responsibilities. Senior Research Associates typically support research projects with substantial experience, while Research Scientists often lead projects and require advanced degrees like a Ph.D. for more independent research roles. Both roles are vital in research environments, but Research Scientists usually hold a higher level of expertise and responsibility.

How much does a senior research associate make in the US?

A senior research associate in the US typically earns between $60,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on the industry, location, and level of experience. Salaries can vary based on the organization and whether the role requires specialized skills or advanced degrees.

What is a senior research associate?

A senior research associate is a clinical or social scientist who runs experiments or studies at a medical center, think tank, university, or for a pharmaceutical company. As a senior research associate, your job duties include performing clinical research, complex testing of samples, data collection, and analysis of results. In this job, you direct researchers in your lab and collaborate with other scientific professionals to design experiments or compare results. Qualifications and skills needed for this career include a bachelor’s degree in a field related to your work and several years of experience as a research associate. A master’s degree or Ph.D. with significant research or laboratory components can substitute for some job experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior research associate?

To thrive as a Senior Research Associate, you need advanced research skills, data analysis expertise, and a relevant degree (often a master's or PhD) in a scientific or technical field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, statistical software (such as SPSS or R), and compliance with regulatory standards is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication make someone stand out in this position. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring accurate research outcomes, fostering innovation, and supporting collaboration within research teams.

What is a senior research associate?

A Senior Research Associate is an experienced professional who leads and conducts advanced research projects within academic, scientific, or corporate environments. They are responsible for designing experiments, analyzing data, supervising junior staff, and contributing to publications and grant proposals. Senior Research Associates often act as key members of research teams, providing expertise and ensuring projects are completed efficiently and accurately. Their role requires a strong background in their field, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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Senior Research Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Research Associate job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,688 per year, or $45 per hour.

Research Associate/Sr. Research Associate- Strain and Enzyme Engineering

Manus

Waltham, MA

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Research Associate / Senior Research Associate – Strain and Enzyme Engineering-Waltham, MA

Manus works across industries and value chains to accelerate the transition to BioAlternatives – better performing and more sustainable versions of complex molecules traditionally sourced from plants, animals, or fossil fuels. Our platform is proven to work across scales, bridging the Valley of Death between lab and manufacturing more efficiently and more reliably to deliver the benefits of biotechnology today.

Manus is seeking a Research Associate (RA) or Senior Research Associate (SRA) to support strain engineering and analytics workflows within our project pipeline. In this role, you will design and construct plasmids, generate chromosomally integrated Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, culture and screen engineered strains, and process the resulting analytical data (liquid extraction, Gas Chromatography (GC) and/or Liquid Chromatography (LC)) to identify strains with enhanced performance. This role focuses on execution of defined engineering campaigns to drive meaningful improvements in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

This hands-on position requires a desire and ability to work as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team, as well as the demonstration of a high degree of flexibility, creativity, and initiative. This person will be expected to play an integral part of Manus’s research and development team located in Waltham, Massachusetts (MA).

Responsibilities

Molecular biology: Design, construct, and validate plasmids for gene expression and pathway engineering in microbial hosts.

Strain construction: Generate chromosomally integrated E. coli strains (e.g., via recombineering or CRISPR-based methods) to support strain engineering campaigns.

Strain cultivation: Culture and maintain engineered E. coli strains in solid and liquid formats at lab scale.

Sample preparation: Perform liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction of fermentation broth and other sample matrices to prepare samples for analytical testing.

Analytical execution: Operate GC and/or LC instrumentation to generate quantitative data on strain performance (e.g., titer, yield, product profile).

Data analysis: Process, QC, and interpret analytical and strain-performance data; summarize and present findings to the project team.

Data management: Ensure accurate data collection, processing, and upload to LIMS systems.

Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (molecular biology, fermentation, downstream processing) to improve experimental outcomes.

Lab operations: Maintain instrumentation readiness and general lab organization.

Documentation: Author and update SOPs and experimental documentation.

Basic Qualifications

  • Research Associate: Bachelor’s degree with 0–4 years’ relevant experience.
  • Senior Research Associate: Bachelors with 4–7 years’ or master’s with 2–4 years’ relevant experience.
  • Degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, bioengineering, or a related field (field of degree is flexible; relevant hands-on experience is prioritized).
  • Hands-on experience with plasmid design and cloning (e.g., Gibson assembly, Golden Gate, restriction/ligation).
  • Experience culturing and screening engineered microbial strains in liquid and/or solid formats.

Preferred Skills

  • Direct experience generating chromosomal integrations in E. coli specifically (e.g., lambda Red recombineering, CRISPR-based integration).
  • Experience with LIMS systems (e.g., Benchling).
  • Data analysis and visualization experience (e.g., JMP, Python, SQL).
  • Familiarity with GC-MS or LC/MS (mass-selective detection) in addition to GC-FID or standard LC/UV-Vis workflows.
  • Experience with sample extraction (liquid-liquid or solid-phase) from biological or fermentation matrices.
  • Experience with automated liquid-handling systems.

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to work in industrial environments.
  • May require standing, walking, climbing stairs, and lifting equipment up to 50 lbs.
  • Use of PPE required in designated areas.