Clinical research associate : Employers and vacancy sources

Typical employers include pharmaceutical companies or contract research organisations (CROs), which conduct research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

A CRO may organise the placement of a clinical research associate (CRA) on contract with the sponsor (the pharmaceutical company). Reporting directly to the sponsor, the CRO may organise and conduct the whole study or any part of it, with the CRA reporting to the organisation and feeding back to the sponsor. Alternatively, the CRO may organise and conduct the entire clinical trial programme.

Large contract organisations are more likely to recruit an inexperienced graduate into a monitoring role and provide the training to progress to the level of a CRA.

Hospital academic departments occasionally employ CRAs in clinical trials units.

Sources of vacancies

• Clinical Research Focus
• New Scientist Jobs  
• PJ Online
• Nature Jobs  
• Guardian Jobs  
• Independent Jobs  
• British Medical Journal Careers
• Flame Pharma

Useful websites include:

• CRAcademy
• PJ Careers
• emedcareers
• InPharm
• Quintiles

There are a number of specialist recruitment agencies dealing with clinical research and recruiting candidates for permanent positions and contract work. Contract research organisations and pharmaceutical companies may also advertise vacancies on their own websites.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.