Just got my first role in clinical research and honestly still processing it.
I recently accepted a contract position in an entry-level clinical research role at a CRO. I’ll basically be supporting clinical trial operations and patient-facing research activities.
Background: I graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences last year and have been trying to break into clinical research for a while now. Most of my experience before this was healthcare-adjacent and customer-facing work, so getting an actual opportunity in clinical research feels huge.
The role is through a staffing/recruiting company, so technically I’m a contractor right now, which I know is pretty common in biotech/clinical research. The pay is fairly low, and the commute is pretty long, so I’m aware it’s not perfect financially, but I’m looking at this more as an entry point into the industry and a way to build real experience. I’m also a little uneasy about being on a temporary contract and potentially being let go once the project ends.
From what I understand, the company mainly works on early-phase clinical trials and collaborates with pharma/biotech sponsors.
Ultimately, I’d like to stay in clinical research long-term, but I definitely want to progress into roles with more responsibility and significantly better compensation over time. I wouldn’t even mind pursuing further education if needed.
A few questions for people already in the field:
- How valuable is CRU experience long-term?
- What skills should I focus on learning early?
- What separates average coordinators/CRAs/research staff from the really strong ones?
- If you started in a contract role, how did you leverage it into something bigger?
Would genuinely appreciate any advice from people who’ve been through this path already.