Research Compliance Specialist
What this job does:
Ensures that all research at a university, hospital, or research institute follows ethical, legal, and regulatory rules. Reviews research protocols involving human subjects, animals, or hazardous materials; conducts audits to catch problems before regulators do; and trains researchers on how to stay compliant. Serves as a bridge between researchers and the federal and institutional committees (IRB, IACUC, IBC) that oversee research integrity.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Writing IRB and IACUC protocols, obtaining informed consent, managing animal use protocols, ensuring biosafety compliance, reading and evaluating complex scientific protocols, communicating nuanced science to diverse audiences
Typical starting salary range
$68k to $115k
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Protocol review and compliance assessment: IRB/IACUC/IBC submissions (30%)
- Monitoring, auditing, and post-approval inspections (20%)
- Advising and consulting with researchers on regulatory requirements (20%)
- Developing and delivering training and education programs (15%)
- Other: policy development, record keeping, regulatory updates, committee support (15%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Federal research regulations (Common Rule, OHRP, OLAW, USDA, HIPAA); IRB/IACUC/IBC protocol review; compliance auditing and monitoring; training and education delivery; scientific and regulatory writing; attention to detail; interpersonal and communication skills; critical thinking and problem-solving; policy development; organizational and project management skills
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Talk about your firsthand experience navigating the very regulations this role enforces - writing IRB and IACUC protocols, obtaining informed consent, managing animal use protocols, and ensuring biosafety compliance. This insider perspective makes you a more effective and empathetic compliance professional. Highlight your ability to read and evaluate complex scientific protocols, your training in responsible conduct of research, and your experience communicating nuanced scientific information to diverse audiences.
Alternative job titles to search:
Research Compliance Officer; Research Compliance Analyst; IRB Analyst; IRB Coordinator; IACUC Coordinator; Research Integrity Officer; Human Research Protection Specialist; HRPP Compliance Analyst; Research Ethics Specialist; Regulatory Compliance Analyst
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
