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Unpaid Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Odyssey House Inc.

Unpaid Intern

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$14.50 - $19.25/hr

Conduct research, documentation, or analysis related to academic objectives * Interns will not ... This is an unpaid internship * No wages, stipends, or employment benefits are provided * Internship ...

Documented

Research Fellowship

Washington, DC · Remote

$55K - $65K/yr

Research Fellowship Location: Virtual, Washington D.C. preferred Experience: 2 years relevant ... We will consider paid and unpaid work experience: * Strong interest in U.S. politics, particularly ...

New Jersey Courts

Unpaid Intern

Somerset, NJ · On-site

$15.75 - $21.25/hr

Unpaid Intern Job Number: 2026-12873 Central Office/Vicinage: Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage ... research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of ...

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How much do unpaid research jobs pay per month?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average monthly pay for unpaid research in the United States is $6,439.50, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $4,416.67 and $7,666.67 per month, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is unpaid research?

Unpaid research refers to research work or positions where individuals contribute to academic, scientific, or professional projects without monetary compensation. Often, students, recent graduates, or those seeking experience take unpaid research roles to gain valuable skills, build their resumes, and expand their professional networks. While these positions do not provide a salary, they can offer significant educational and career development benefits. However, the ethics and accessibility of unpaid research opportunities are frequently debated in academia and professional fields.

What are some strategies for balancing unpaid research work with other commitments, such as studies or part-time employment?

Balancing unpaid research with other responsibilities can be challenging, as it often requires strong time-management skills and clear communication with your research supervisor. Setting a consistent schedule, prioritizing tasks, and keeping open lines of communication about your availability can make it easier to manage expectations. Many research teams are understanding about academic or work obligations, so proactively discussing workload and deadlines can help prevent burnout. Additionally, leveraging productivity tools and regularly assessing your commitments can ensure you maintain a healthy balance while still gaining valuable research experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an unpaid researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Unpaid Researcher, you generally need strong analytical abilities, academic research experience, and a solid educational background relevant to the field of study. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS or NVivo), literature databases, and proper research methodologies is often required. Excellent organization, attention to detail, and perseverance are standout soft skills for this position. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing high-quality research outputs and contributing effectively to academic or scientific projects despite limited financial compensation.

What is the difference between Unpaid Research vs Paid Research Assistant?

AspectUnpaid ResearchPaid Research Assistant
CompensationNo monetary compensationPaid salary or hourly wage
CredentialsOften no formal credentials requiredMay require relevant education or experience
Work EnvironmentAcademic or volunteer settingsResearch labs, institutions, or companies
EmployerUniversities, nonprofits, or individual researchersResearch institutions, universities, or corporations

Unpaid Research involves volunteering or assisting without pay, often for academic credit or experience, while Paid Research Assistants receive compensation for their work. The roles differ mainly in remuneration, credentials, and work settings, though both contribute significantly to research projects.

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Unpaid Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Unpaid Research job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,274 per year, or $37.2 per hour.

Unpaid Research Intern - School Credit Only - Temporary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch)

Seattle, WA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description


Unpaid Research Intern - School Credit Only - Temporary
Job ID
31351
Type
Temporary Part-Time
Location
US-WA-Seattle
Category
Laboratory Research Sciences
Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Talbot Lab (Basic Sciences Division) seeks a part-time Undergraduate Research Intern to support ongoing exciting research on neuro-immunology, studying host-microbiota interactions in infectious diseases. This position is ideal for an individual interested in an entry-level introduction to a research lab environment, helping in the development of a project that studies how neurons regulate intestinal immunity.

The ideal candidate is a reliable, organized, detail-oriented individual, interested in learning and applying experimental approaches in a genetic model organism (Mus musculus), including immune cell isolation, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, image analysis, animal dissection, neurobiology, and microbiology tools.

The position will help the trainee increase their understanding of the scientific method by developing practical lab skills and how to evaluate scientific articles. Internship timelines start this Summer, 2026 or Fall, 2026.

Please submit a complete CV including previous experience and lab classes with you application to be considered. Candidates must be able to present written confirmation from their Institution's advisor attesting that they will be receiving school credits for the internship.

Responsibilities

The intern will work under the direction of the Principal Investigator and senior-level laboratory personnel. They will gain experience and training in research techniques while also learning to assist their mentor with performing and analyzing experiments.

The internship is part-time and requires a commitment of up to 19 hours per week for 6 months (undergraduate research credits might apply).

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

    A motivated undergraduate student with an interest in performing research.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Course and/or lab experience in biology, mathematics/statistics, and chemistry to support wet lab research and data analysis.

This is an internship position, Fred Hutch will not provide salary, benefits or visa sponsorship to the research intern.

This is a fully on-site role located in Seattle/WA. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Additional Information
We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.

Apply