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Unpaid Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GreenSand AI

AI Software Engineering/Research Internship (unpaid) Location: Remote (U.S. based preferred) Type: Part-time, (flexible # of hours/week, whatever works for you, it is not expected to be more than 20 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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

Warren, NJ · On-site

$15.50 - $20.75/hr

Unpaid Interns will perform a variety of clerical, administrative, supportive tasks and customer ... research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of ...

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Unpaid Research information

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How much do unpaid research jobs pay per month?

As of Sep 6, 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.

Research Internship(Spring 2027)

Children's Research Triangle

Chicago, IL • On-site

Part-time, Internship

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Children's Research Triangle (CRT) is a mental health non-profit that seeks to provide therapy to children and families in underserved communities. CRT has also been in the forefront of many issues related to maternal substance abuse in pregnancy, the outcomes of children prenatally exposed to alcohol and drugs, the child welfare implications of substance abuse in families, as well as the treatment of youth who have been exposed to trauma. The staff at CRT has written articles that have been published in Pediatrics, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Research in Developmental Disabilities, and numerous other leading medical and psychological journals.
Intern description
The CRT research team is offering part-time unpaid research internships to qualified undergraduates in the Chicago area. Most of the work is remote; however, interns are expected to come into the office at least once a week in order to help with tasks on site. The spring cohort typically starts mid-January and goes through mid-May, although scheduling can be flexible. Interns will be involved in multiple ongoing projects, such as:
  • ongoing evaluation of the Trauma Treatment Program
  • evaluation of a grant program providing training in Youth Mental Health First Aid
  • the development of a database about children 0 to 18 who have participated in psychological evaluations at CRT
  • evaluation of the Youth MIND program, which provides trauma-informed screening, assessment, and therapy to youth and families in the Chicago area
  • evaluation of a gun violence prevention program being implemented in schools around the city

Interns will be actively involved in most aspects of the research process including searching for relevant literature, putting together research materials, interviewing families, inputting and cleaning data in Excel and IBM SPSS, and helping with data management and analysis. This internship does not provide any clinical experience, i.e., direct contact with children, but is geared for students who would like to learn more about the research/program evaluation work at a non-profit organization. Students will receive the necessary training to do these tasks on these projects and will receive supervision from research team members led by a licensed clinical psychologist. Interns are expected to work at least 6 hours per week, but more hours can be accommodated. Internships can be set up for up to 3 semesters.
Qualified Applicants will be undergraduate students who have:
  • Completed at least one introductory course in psychology, behavioral science, child development, or social work with a grade of B or above, or enrolled in a pre-medical course of study,
  • Demonstrated merit in their undergraduate studies up until the present time,
  • Expressed an interest in pursuing future careers or further education in empirical research or medicine, and
  • Displayed the ability to work well with other people in a team-oriented atmosphere.

Compensation
Interns may be offered authorship on submitted papers to which they have contributed substantially.
To Apply
The Research Team interviews candidates throughout the year, but it is typically divided into three cohorts: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Interested candidates should fill out the job links for their intended cohort. If there are any questions, please email Lorenz Cabe, the Research Internship Manager, at lcabe@cr-triangle.org.
Application Deadline
Applications for the spring cohort must be submitted by October 1st.
Interviewing Timeline
Interviews for our cohorts typically start two months before the cohort begins, based on the availability of space for new interns. Interviews for the spring cohort will take place from October 1st-November 30th.

Apply