1

Preclinical Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Manages the preclinical external research program and physician partnerships in coordination with cross-functional clinical science partners * Responsible for new study proposal review, ensures ...

Posted today

The Principal Scientist/Project Leader in the Preclinical Research department will serve as a key scientific contributor for the development and execution of strategies for preclinical evidence ...

New

Showing results 21-40

preclinical research information

See salary details

$35K

$56.1K

$101K

How much do preclinical research jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for preclinical research in the United States is $56,057.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,500.00 and $47,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is preclinical research?

A Preclinical Research job involves studying the safety, efficacy, and biological effects of new drugs, medical devices, or treatments before they are tested in humans. Researchers conduct laboratory experiments and animal studies to gather critical data on toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and mechanism of action. This phase ensures that only the most promising candidates proceed to clinical trials, minimizing risks for human participants. Preclinical researchers work in pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or academic institutions, collaborating with regulatory agencies to meet industry standards. Their findings play a key role in shaping drug development and approval processes.

What are the typical daily responsibilities in preclinical research?

In a Preclinical Research role, your day-to-day responsibilities may include designing and conducting laboratory experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and documenting results in line with regulatory standards. You will likely collaborate closely with scientists, regulatory teams, and sometimes external partners to support the development and safety assessment of new drugs or therapies. Tasks also often involve maintaining laboratory equipment, preparing reports, and presenting findings to project teams. This hands-on environment offers a mix of routine procedures and problem-solving challenges, contributing to meaningful scientific progress.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in preclinical research?

To thrive in Preclinical Research, you need a solid grounding in biology, pharmacology, and laboratory techniques, often backed by a degree in life sciences or a related field. Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), statistical software, and regulatory compliance (such as GLP certification) is highly valued. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and clear communication help professionals excel in collaborative and fast-paced research environments. These competencies are vital to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of data supporting the development of new therapies.

What cities are hiring for Preclinical Research jobs?

Cities with the most Preclinical Research job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Preclinical Research jobs?

The most popular types of Preclinical Research jobs are:

What states have the most Preclinical Research jobs?

States with the most job openings for Preclinical Research jobs include:

Infographic showing various Preclinical 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 $56,057 per year, or $27 per hour.

Preclinical Research Team Lead (Animal Research)

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Shrewsbury, MA • On-site

$33.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Charles River Laboratories rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 95 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we'll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Research Team Lead to provide technical leadership and operational support for preclinical research studies. In this role, you will serve as a lead technician, oversee daily study activities and lab animal care, mentor other research technicians, and help ensure the successful execution of research projects while maintaining compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations and company procedures.

This position is ideal for an experienced research technician who enjoys hands-on work, team leadership, and contributing to the advancement of scientific discovery.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and perform technical activities across a variety of research studies, including complex and specialized protocols.
  • Conduct clinical observations, collect biological samples, administer test substances, and monitor animal health and well-being.
  • Ensure accurate collection, review, and documentation of study data in compliance with GLP, study protocols, and SOPs.
  • Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, training, and mentorship to research staff.
  • Assist with study planning, start-up activities, scheduling, and coordination across research teams.
  • Support staffing activities, including onboarding, training, coaching, and performance development.
  • Partner with scientific and operational teams to improve processes, develop new techniques, and drive operational excellence.
  • Assist with internal and external audits, inspections, and quality initiatives.
  • Ensure laboratory equipment, work areas, and research environments are maintained according to company standards.
  • Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, or a related scientific discipline.
  • 4+ years of experience in laboratory research, animal science, preclinical research, or a related scientific environment.
  • Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Working knowledge of GLP regulations and laboratory procedures.
  • Ability to organize multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and data management systems.

Preferred

  • GLP experience.
  • AALAS LAT certification.
  • Experience leading or mentoring technical teams.
  • Knowledge of study design, protocol execution, and laboratory animal care.

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to lift and move materials, equipment, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to stand, sit, and perform detailed technical procedures for extended periods.
  • Ability to work with laboratory animals and utilize fine motor skills during research procedures.

Work Environment

This role is based in a laboratory and research setting and involves working with laboratory animals, research equipment, chemicals, and biological materials. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required.

Additional Information

This position may require overtime, weekend, holiday, and after-hours coverage based on study and operational needs.

The pay for this position is $33.50/hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market.  Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.


About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We're committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.  Based on your position these may include:  bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.


What Charles River Laboratories employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Charles River logo

About Charles River

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market. With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Wilmington, MA, US

Year founded

1947