how to get a researcher job

Career Paths

How to become a researcher (duties, salary and steps).

Mike Dalley

Everything important in our day-to-day life started as a groundbreaking piece of research.

This article takes you through the details of being a researcher, including what this exciting role entails, what the working environment and salary are like and, critically, what you can do to get started in the role.

What is a researcher?

A researcher collects data and undertakes investigations into a particular subject , publishing their findings. The purpose of this is to uncover new knowledge or theories. Researchers typically specialize in a particular field and follow rigorous methodologies in order to ensure their research is credible.

What are the different types of researchers?

There are many ways to categorize researchers, such as by their field, expertise or methodologies. Here are six basic types of researchers:

What does a researcher do?

Once the data is collected, researchers have to critically analyze their findings and communicate them . To ensure the research is reliable, researchers must embrace peer review , where their research is evaluated by other researchers in the same field, and draw conclusions accordingly. The entirety of this process must be bound by ethical considerations, as researchers have a duty to ensure their work is truthful, integral and accurate.

Researchers also undertake supportive duties, such as applying for grants and funding, and investigating new areas to research.

What is their work environment?

Researchers work in collaborative environments, and teamwork is common. That said, they also need to undertake plenty of solo work that requires concentration and quiet. Consequently, they need to be happy in a variety of different work settings.

How many hours do they work?

Field researchers might have to work longer hours at times in order to collect data. This also might involve travel time.

All researchers might have to work long hours when deadlines are due, or when projects are time-sensitive. Finally, because of the idiosyncratic nature of research work, all researchers might have their favorite personal working style and work their hours in preferred patterns.

How much do they earn?

One of the largest variables in researcher salaries is the field you decide to go into. Academic researchers are typically paid towards the lower end of the scale, as are government researchers. Industry or corporate researchers are paid a lot more, with computer and information research roles paying a median annual salary of over $130,000.

Researcher salaries can also vary based on the job level. Apprentices or research assistants have lower salaries, whereas research scientist or professor-level roles often pay over $100,000. Pay scales are connected to academic reputation, industry credentials, and the industry you work in. This also means that as your career in research progresses, you can expect to take home extremely good paychecks.

What is the job market like for researchers?

What are the entry requirements.

Starting your career as a researcher requires plenty of preparation. Here’s what you need to focus on in terms of education, skills and knowledge, and licensing and certification.

Skills and knowledge

Licensing and certification.

Licensing and certification requirements for researchers vary , depending on the field you are planning to go into. Academic credentials, as outlined above, are important, but being a member of relevant professional associations is also highly advised.

Do you have what it takes?

If you’re not sure what kind of career your skills, interests and passions might lead to, then consider taking CareerHunter’s six-stage assessment . These tests have been developed by psychologists and assess your skills and interests in order to provide you with best-fit careers that you can really thrive in.

How to become a researcher

Step 1: choose your field.

It’s important to choose a field that you have a strong interest or passion in. Also, consider where your talents and skills lie, and let this guide your decision too.

Step 2: Get qualified

Being a researcher is a competitive career: good grades in leading institutions will be required if you want to work as a researcher in prestigious organizations.

Step 3: Develop your research skills

Step 4: gain research experience.

A great way to start your career as a researcher is to undertake undergraduate research. This could be your own independent research project but is most commonly achieved through research internships or assistantships . With these experiences, you can collaborate with academic leaders, mentors or established researchers on their projects, and learn from their experience and expertise as well.

Step 5: Network with peers

Grow your network by attending conferences and seminars, and by leveraging your work experience. You can also grow your network by reaching out to researchers on LinkedIn, and by publishing your own research papers as your experience grows.

Step 6: Present and publish your work

Step 7: develop your résumé.

Ensure that your résumé links to your portfolio of published works , as well as your presentations. It should showcase to potential employers and academic institutions what you have done, and what you’re capable of doing.

Step 8: Seek funding

Applying for funding is a skill in itself, as researchers need to be able to write compelling and thorough applications. You’ll also need to use negotiating and influencing skills in order to secure the funding and get your projects off the ground.

Step 9: Apply for research jobs

Step 10: never stop discovering.

Being a successful researcher isn’t just about continuous learning; it’s about endless discovery as well. The best researchers stay curious about their field , exploring new research questions, learning and growing from failure, and asking new questions.

Final thoughts

Becoming a leading researcher requires a lot of career preparation, and hopefully this article can point you in the right direction if you feel this is the perfect job for you. Once you get started, choose your research projects carefully, and who knows? You could be the researcher that uncovers the next big thing in our lives!

How to become a researcher

Is becoming a researcher right for me.

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Still unsure if becoming a researcher is the right career path? Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a researcher or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

How to become a Researcher

Becoming a researcher typically requires a combination of education, training, and experience. Here is a detailed guide on how to become a researcher:

• Choose a field: The first step in becoming a researcher is to choose a field of study. This can include areas such as science, social sciences, humanities, or business.
• Get a Bachelor's Degree: Most researchers have at least a bachelor's degree in their chosen field. During undergraduate studies, students should focus on taking courses that align with their research interests and develop skills such as critical thinking, data analysis, and research methods.
• Pursue Graduate Studies: A graduate degree is often required to become a researcher. Depending on the field, a master's degree or Ph.D. may be necessary. Graduate programs typically involve coursework, research, and the development of a thesis or dissertation.
• Gain Research Experience: Research experience is critical in becoming a researcher. Students can gain experience by working as research assistants, participating in internships, or volunteering in research projects. This can provide valuable hands-on experience and help build a professional network.
• Develop Research Skills: Researchers need a wide range of skills, including critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills. It is important to develop these skills by taking courses, attending workshops, and participating in research projects.
• Build a Professional Network: Networking is crucial in the field of research. Attend conferences, seminars, and other events to meet other researchers and build relationships. This can also help with finding research opportunities.
• Apply for Research Jobs: Once the necessary education and experience have been gained, it is time to start applying for research jobs. Look for positions in academic institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies.
• Publish Research: Publishing research is an important part of being a researcher. This involves writing up research findings and submitting them to academic journals or presenting them at conferences.
• Continue Professional Development: Researchers must keep up with the latest developments in their field. This involves continuing education, attending conferences, and networking with other professionals.

Associations There are many associations and organizations for researchers that offer networking opportunities, professional development resources, and other benefits. Here are just a few examples of associations for researchers:

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): The AAAS is the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society, with a mission to advance science and serve society through initiatives in science policy, education, and public engagement. The organization offers a range of resources and benefits for researchers, including access to scientific journals, career development resources, and networking opportunities.
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): The ACM is a professional organization for computer scientists and researchers. The organization offers conferences, publications, and other resources to support research in the field of computing.
• American Psychological Association (APA): The APA is a professional organization for psychologists and researchers in psychology. The organization offers publications, conferences, and other resources to support research in the field.
• Society for Neuroscience (SfN): The SfN is a professional organization for researchers in neuroscience. The organization offers conferences, publications, and other resources to support research in the field.
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO): The ARVO is a professional organization for researchers in vision and ophthalmology. The organization offers conferences, publications, and other resources to support research in the field.
• Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP): The SIOP is a professional organization for researchers in industrial and organizational psychology. The organization offers conferences, publications, and other resources to support research in the field.

Online Resources There are many online resources available for researchers that can help them stay up-to-date with the latest research, find funding opportunities, collaborate with other researchers, and more. Here are some examples of online resources for researchers:

• Google Scholar: Google Scholar is a free search engine that provides access to scholarly literature, including articles, theses, books, and conference papers. Researchers can use Google Scholar to find relevant research articles and track citations of their own work.
• ResearchGate: ResearchGate is a social networking site for researchers that allows them to connect with other researchers, share research, and ask and answer questions. Researchers can use ResearchGate to collaborate with other researchers and get feedback on their work.
• PubMed: PubMed is a free search engine for biomedical literature, including articles, books, and conference papers. Researchers can use PubMed to find relevant research articles in the field of medicine and health.
• arXiv: arXiv is an online archive of preprints in the fields of physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology, and statistics. Researchers can use arXiv to share their work before it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• GrantForward: GrantForward is a database of funding opportunities for researchers in all fields. Researchers can use GrantForward to search for funding opportunities and set up alerts for new opportunities in their field.
• Open Science Framework (OSF): OSF is an online platform for managing and sharing research. Researchers can use OSF to manage their data, collaborate with others, and share their work openly.

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Research skills

By Benjamin Hilton · Last updated December 2023 · First published September 2023

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On this page:

• Introduction
• 1.1 Research seems to have been extremely high-impact historically
• 1.2 There are good theoretical reasons to think that research will be high-impact
• 1.3 Research skills seem extremely useful to the problems we think are most pressing
• 1.4 If you’re a good fit, you can have much more impact than the average
• 1.5 Depending on which subject you focus on, you may have good backup options
• 2.1 Academic research
• 2.2 Practical but big picture research
• 2.3 Applied research
• 2.4 Stages of progression through building and using research skills
• 3.1 How much do researchers differ in productivity?
• 3.2 What does this mean for building research skills?
• 4.1 How to predict your fit in advance
• 4.2 How to tell if you’re on track
• 5.1 Choosing a research field
• 6.1 Which research topics are the highest-impact?
• 6.2 Find jobs that use a research skills
• 7 Career paths we’ve reviewed that use these skills
• 8 Learn more about research

Norman Borlaug was an agricultural scientist. Through years of research, he developed new, high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties of wheat.

It might not sound like much, but as a result of Borlaug’s research, wheat production in India and Pakistan almost doubled between 1965 and 1970, and formerly famine-stricken countries across the world were suddenly able to produce enough food for their entire populations. These developments have been credited with saving up to a billion people from famine, 1 and in 1970, Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Many of the highest-impact people in history , whether well-known or completely obscure, have been researchers.

Table of Contents

In a nutshell: Talented researchers are a key bottleneck facing many of the world’s most pressing problems . That doesn’t mean you need to become an academic. While that’s one option (and academia is often a good place to start), lots of the most valuable research happens elsewhere. It’s often cheap to try out developing research skills while at university, and if it’s a good fit for you, research could be your highest impact option.

Key facts on fit

Why are research skills valuable.

Not everyone can be a Norman Borlaug, and not every discovery gets adopted. Nevertheless, we think research can often be one of the most valuable skill sets to build — if you’re a good fit.

We’ll argue that:

Research seems to have been extremely high-impact historically

There are good theoretical reasons to think that research will be high-impact, research skills seem extremely useful to the problems we think are most pressing, if you’re a good fit, you can have much more impact than the average.

• And, depending on which subject you focus on, you may have good backup options .

Together, this suggests that research skills could be particularly useful for having an impact.

Later, we’ll look at:

• How to evaluate your fit for building research skills

How to get started building research skills

• How you can use these skills to have an impact once you’ve started

If we think about what has most improved the modern world, much can be traced back to research: advances in medicine such as the development of vaccines against infectious diseases, developments in physics and chemistry that led to steam power and the industrial revolution , and the invention of the modern computer, an idea which was first proposed by Alan Turing in his seminal 1936 paper On Computable Numbers . 2

Many of these ideas were discovered by a relatively small number of researchers — but they changed all of society. This suggests that these researchers may have had particularly large individual impacts.

That said, research today is probably lower-impact than in the past. Research is much less neglected than it used to be: there are nearly 25 times as many researchers today as there were in 1930. 3 It also turns out that more and more effort is required to discover new ideas, so each additional researcher probably has less impact than those that came before. 4

However, even today, a relatively small fraction of people are engaged in research. As an approximation, only 0.1% of the population are academics, 5 and only about 2.5% of GDP is spent on research and development . If a small number of people account for a large fraction of progress, then on average each person’s efforts are significant.

Moreover, we still think there’s a good case to be made for research being impactful on average today, which we cover in the next two sections.

There’s little commercial incentive to focus on the most socially valuable research. And most researchers don’t get rich, even if their discoveries are extremely valuable. Alan Turing made no money from the discovery of the computer, and today it’s a multibillion-dollar industry. This is because the benefits of research often come a long time in the future and can’t usually be protected by patents. This means if you care more about social impact than profit, then it’s a good opportunity to have an edge.

Research is also a route to leverage. When new ideas are discovered, they can be spread incredibly cheaply, so it’s a way that a single person can change a field. And innovations are cumulative — once an idea has been discovered, it’s added to our stock of knowledge and, in the ideal case, becomes available to everyone. Even ideas that become outdated often speed up the important future discoveries that supersede it.

When you look at our list of the world’s most pressing problems — like preventing future pandemics or reducing risks from AI systems — expert researchers seem like a key bottleneck.

For example, to reduce the risk posed by engineered pandemics , we need people who are talented at research to identify the biggest biosecurity risks and to develop better vaccines and treatments.

To ensure that developments in AI are implemented safely and for the benefit of humanity, we need technical experts thinking hard about how to design machine learning systems safely and policy researchers to think about how governments and other institutions should respond. (See this list of relevant research questions .)

And to decide which global priorities we should spend our limited resources on, we need economists, mathematicians, and philosophers to do global priorities research . For example, see the research agenda of the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford .

We’re not sure why so many of the most promising ways to make progress on the problems we think are most pressing involve research, but it may well be due to the reasons in the section above — research offers huge opportunities for leverage, so if you take a hits-based approach to finding the best solutions to social problems, it’ll often be most attractive.

In addition, our focus on neglected problems often means we focus on smaller and less developed areas, and it’s often unclear what the best solutions are in these areas. This means that research is required to figure this out.

For more examples, and to get a sense of what you might be able to work on in different fields, see this list of potentially high-impact research questions, organised by discipline .

The sections above give reasons why research can be expected to be impactful in general . But as we’ll show below , the productivity of individual researchers probably varies a great deal (and more than in most other careers). This means that if you have reason to think your degree of fit is better than average, your expected impact could be much higher than the average.

Depending on which subject you focus on, you may have good backup options

Pursuing research helps you develop deep expertise on a topic, problem-solving, and writing skills. These can be useful in many other career paths. For example:

• Many research areas can lead to opportunities in policymaking , since relevant technical expertise is valued in some of these positions. You might also have opportunities to advise policymakers and the public as an expert.
• The expertise and credibility you can develop by focusing on research (especially in academia) can put you in a good position to switch your focus to communicating important ideas , especially those related to your speciality, either to the general public, policymakers, or your students.
• If you specialise in an applied quantitative subject, it can open up certain high-paying jobs, such as quantitative trading or data science , which offer good opportunities for earning to give .

Some research areas will have much better backup options than others — lots of jobs value applied quantitative skills, so if your research is quantitative you may be able to transition into work in effective nonprofits or government. A history academic, by contrast, has many fewer clear backup options outside of academia.

What does building research skills typically involve?

By ‘research skills’ we broadly mean the ability to make progress solving difficult intellectual problems.

We find it especially useful to roughly divide research skills into three forms:

• Academic research

Building academic research skills is the most predefined route. The focus is on answering relatively fundamental questions which are considered valuable by a specific academic discipline. This can be impactful either through generally advancing a field of research that’s valuable to society or finding opportunities to work on socially important questions within that field.

Turing was an academic. He didn’t just invent the computer — during World War II he developed code-breaking machines that allowed the Allies to be far more effective against Nazi U-boats. Some historians estimate this enabled D-Day to happen a year earlier than it would have otherwise. 6 Since World War II resulted in 10 million deaths per year, Turing may have saved about 10 million lives.

We’re particularly excited about academic research in subfields of machine learning relevant to reducing risks from AI , subfields of biology relevant to preventing catastrophic pandemics , and economics — we discuss which fields you should enter below .

Academic careers are also excellent for developing credibility, leading to many of the backup options we looked at above, especially options in communicating important ideas or policymaking .

Academia is relatively unique in how flexibly you can use your time. This can be a big advantage — you really get time to think deeply and carefully about things — but can be a hindrance, depending on your work style.

See more about what academia involves in our career review on academia .

Practical but big picture research

Academia rewards a focus on questions that can be decisively answered with the methods of the field. However, the most important questions can rarely be answered rigorously — the best we can do is look at many weak forms of evidence and come to a reasonable overall judgement. which means while some of this research happens in academia, it can be hard to do that.

Instead, this kind of research is often done in nonprofit research institutes, e.g. the Centre for the Governance of AI or Our World in Data , or independently.

Your focus should be on answering the questions that seem most important (given your view of which global problems most matter) through whatever means are most effective.

Some examples of questions in this category that we’re especially interested in include:

• How likely is a pandemic worse than COVID-19 in the next 10 years?
• How difficult is the AI alignment problem going to be to solve?
• Which global problems are most pressing?
• Is the world getting better or worse over time?
• What can we learn from the history of philanthropy about which forms of philanthropy might be most effective?

You can see a longer list of ideas in this article .

Someone we know who’s had a big impact with research skills is Ajeya Cotra. Ajeya initially studied electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley. In 2016, she joined Open Philanthropy as a grantmaker. 7 Since then she’s worked on a framework for estimating when transformative AI might be developed , how worldview diversification could be applied to allocating philanthropic budgets, and how we might accidentally teach AI models to deceive us .

Applied research

Then there’s applied research. This is often done within companies or nonprofits, like think tanks (although again, there’s also plenty of applied research happening in academia). Here the focus is on solving a more immediate practical problem (and if pursued by a company, where it might be possible to make profit from the solution) — and there’s lots of overlap with engineering skills . For example:

• Developing new vaccines
• Creating new types of solar cells or nuclear reactors
• Developing meat substitutes

Neel was doing an undergraduate degree in maths when he decided that he wanted to work in AI safety . Our team was able to introduce Neel to researchers in the field and helped him secure internships in academic and industry research groups. Neel didn’t feel like he was a great fit for academia — he hates writing papers — so he applied to roles in commercial AI research labs. He’s now a research engineer at DeepMind. He works on mechanistic interpretability research which he thinks could be used in the future to help identify potentially dangerous AI systems before they can cause harm.

We also see “policy research” — which aims to develop better ideas for public policy — as a form of applied research.

Stages of progression through building and using research skills

These different forms of research blur into each other, and it’s often possible to switch between them during a career. In particular, it’s common to begin in academic research and then switch to more applied research later.

However, while the skill sets contain a common core, someone who can excel in intellectual academic research might not be well-suited to big picture practical or applied research.

The typical stages in an academic career involve the following steps:

• Pick a field. This should be heavily based on personal fit (where you expect to be most successful and enjoy your work the most), though it’s also useful to think about which fields offer the best opportunities to help tackle the problems you think are most pressing, give you expertise that’s especially useful given these problems, and use that at least as a tie-breaker. (Read more about choosing a field .)
• Earn a PhD.
• Learn your craft and establish your career — find somewhere you can get great mentorship and publish a lot of impressive papers. This usually means finding a postdoc with a good group and then temporary academic positions.
• Secure tenure.
• Focus on the research you think is most socially valuable (or otherwise move your focus towards communicating ideas or policy).

Academia is usually seen as the most prestigious path…within academia. But non-academic positions can be just as impactful — and often more so since you can avoid some of the dysfunctions and distractions of academia, such as racing to get publications.

At any point after your PhD (and sometimes with only a master’s), it’s usually possible to switch to applied research in industry, policy, nonprofits, and so on, though typically you’ll still focus on getting mentorship and learning for at least a couple of years. And you may also need to take some steps to establish your career enough to turn your attention to topics that seem more impactful.

Note that from within academia, the incentives to continue with academia are strong, so people often continue longer than they should!

If you’re focused on practical big picture research, then there’s less of an established pathway, and a PhD isn’t required.

Besides academia, you could attempt to build these skills in any job that involves making difficult, messy intellectual judgement calls, such as investigative journalism, certain forms of consulting, buy-side research in finance, think tanks, or any form of forecasting.

Personal fit is perhaps more important for research than other skills

The most talented researchers seem to differ hugely in their impact compared to typical researchers across a wide variety of metrics and according to the opinions of other researchers.

For instance, when we surveyed biomedical researchers, they said that very good researchers were rare, and they’d be willing to turn down large amounts of money if they could get a good researcher for their lab. 8 Professor John Todd, who works on medical genetics at Cambridge, told us :

The best people are the biggest struggle. The funding isn’t a problem. It’s getting really special people[…] One good person can cover the ground of five, and I’m not exaggerating.

This makes sense if you think the distribution of research output is very wide — that the very best researchers have a much greater output than the average researcher.

How much do researchers differ in productivity?

It’s hard to know exactly how spread out the distribution is, but there are several strands of evidence that suggest the variability is very high.

Firstly, most academic papers get very few citations, while a few get hundreds or even thousands. An analysis of citation counts in science journals found that ~47% of papers had never been cited, more than 80% had been cited 10 times or less, but the top 0.1% had been cited more than 1,000 times. A similar pattern seems to hold across individual researchers , meaning that only a few dominate — at least in terms of the recognition their papers receive.

Citation count is a highly imperfect measure of research quality, so these figures shouldn’t be taken at face-value. For instance, which papers get cited the most may depend at least partly on random factors, academic fashions, and “winner takes all” effects — papers that get noticed early end up being cited by everyone to back up a certain claim, even if they don’t actually represent the research that most advanced the field.

However, there are other reasons to think the distribution of output is highly skewed.

William Shockley, who won the Nobel Prize for the invention of the transistor, gathered statistics on all the research employees in national labs, university departments, and other research units, and found that productivity (as measured by total number of publications, rate of publication, and number of patents) was highly skewed , following a log-normal distribution.

Shockley suggests that researcher output is the product of several (normally distributed) random variables — such as the ability to think of a good question to ask, figure out how to tackle the question, recognize when a worthwhile result has been found, write adequately, respond well to feedback, and so on. This would explain the skewed distribution: if research output depends on eight different factors and their contribution is multiplicative, then a person who is 50% above average in each of the eight areas will in expectation be 26 times more productive than average. 9

When we looked at up-to-date data on how productivity differs across many different areas , we found very similar results. The bottom line is that research seems to perhaps be the area where we have the best evidence for output being heavy-tailed.

Interestingly, while there’s a huge spread in productivity, the most productive academic researchers are rarely paid 10 times more than the median, since they’re on fixed university pay-scales. This means that the most productive researchers yield a large “excess” value to their field. For instance, if a productive researcher adds 10 times more value to the field than average, but is paid the same as average, they will be producing at least nine times as much net benefit to society. This suggests that top researchers are underpaid relative to their contribution, discouraging them from pursuing research and making research skills undersupplied compared to what would be ideal.

Can you predict these differences in advance?

Practically, the important question isn’t how big the spread is, but whether you could — early on in your career — identify whether or not you’ll be among the very best researchers.

There’s good news here! At least in scientific research, these differences also seem to be at least somewhat predictable ahead of time, which means the people entering research with the best fit could have many times more expected impact.

In a study , two IMF economists looked at maths professors’ scores in the International Mathematical Olympiad — a prestigious maths competition for high school students. They concluded that each additional point scored on the International Mathematics Olympiad “is associated with a 2.6 percent increase in mathematics publications and a 4.5 percent increase in mathematics citations.”

We looked at a range of data on how predictable productivity differences are in various areas and found that they’re much more predictable in research.

What does this mean for building research skills?

The large spread in productivity makes building strong research skills a lot more promising if you’re a better fit than average. And if you’re a great fit, research can easily become your best option.

And while these differences in output are not fully predictable at the start of a career, the spread is so large that it’s likely still possible to predict differences in productivity with some reliability.

This also means you should mainly be evaluating your long-term expected impact in terms of your chances of having a really big success.

That said, don’t rule yourself out too early. Firstly, many people systematically underestimate their skills . (Though others overestimate them!) Also, the impact of research can be so large that it’s often worth trying it out, even if you don’t expect you’ll succeed . This is especially true because the early steps of a research career often give you good career capital for many other paths.

How to evaluate your fit

How to predict your fit in advance.

It’s hard to predict success in advance, so we encourage an empirical approach: see if you can try it out and look at your track record.

You probably have some track record in research: many of our readers have some experience in academia from doing a degree, whether or not they intended to go into academic research. Standard academic success can also point towards being a good fit (though is nowhere near sufficient!):

• Did you get top grades at undergraduate level (a 1st in the UK or a GPA over 3.5 in the US)?
• If you do a graduate degree, what’s your class rank (if you can find that out)? If you do a PhD, did you manage to author an article in a top journal (although note that this is easier in some disciplines than others)?

Ultimately, though, your academic track record isn’t going to tell you anywhere near as much as actually trying out research. So it’s worth looking for ways to cheaply try out research (which can be easy if you’re at college). For example, try doing a summer research project and see how it goes.

Some of the key traits that suggest you might be a good fit for a research skills seem to be:

• Intelligence (Read more about whether intelligence is important for research .)
• The potential to become obsessed with a topic ( Becoming an expert in anything can take decades of focused practice , so you need to be able to stick with it.)
• Relatedly, high levels of grit, self-motivation, and — especially for independent big picture research, but also for research in academia — the ability to learn and work productively without a traditional manager or many externally imposed deadlines
• Openness to new ideas and intellectual curiosity
• Good research taste, i.e. noticing when a research question matters a lot for solving a pressing problem

There are a number of other cheap ways you might try to test your fit.

Something you can do at any stage is practice research and research-based writing. One way to get started is to try learning by writing .

You could also try:

• Finding out what the prerequisites/normal backgrounds of people who go into a research area are to compare your skills and experience to them
• Reading key research in your area, trying to contribute to discussions with other researchers (e.g. via a blog or twitter), and getting feedback on your ideas
• Talking to successful researchers in a field and asking what they look for in new researchers

How to tell if you’re on track

Here are some broad milestones you could aim for while becoming a researcher:

• You’re successfully devoting time to building your research skills and communicating your findings to others. (This can often be the hardest milestone to hit for many — it can be hard to simply sustain motivation and productivity given how self-directed research often needs to be.)
• In your own judgement, you feel you have made and explained multiple novel, valid, nontrivially important (though not necessarily earth-shattering) points about important topics in your area.
• You’ve had enough feedback (comments, formal reviews, personal communication) to feel that at least several other people (whose judgement you respect and who have put serious time into thinking about your area) agree, and (as a result) feel they’ve learned something from your work. For example, lots of this feedback could come from an academic supervisor. Make sure you’re asking people in a way that gives them affordance to say you’re not doing well.
• You’re making meaningful connections with others interested in your area — connections that seem likely to lead to further funding and/or job opportunities. This could be from the organisations most devoted to your topics of interest; but, there could also be a “dissident” dynamic in which these organisations seem uninterested and/or defensive, but others are noticing this and offering help.

If you’re finding it hard to make progress in a research environment, it’s very possible that this is the result of that particular environment, rather than the research itself. So it can be worth testing out multiple different research jobs before deciding this skill set isn’t for you.

Within academic research

Academia has clearly defined stages, so you can see how you’re performing at each of these.

Very roughly, you can try asking “How quickly and impressively is my career advancing, by the standards of my institution and field?” (Be careful to consider the field as a whole, rather than just your immediate peers, who might be very different from average.) Academics with more experience than you may be able to help give you a clear idea of how things are going.

We go through this in detail in our review of academic research careers .

Within independent research

As a very rough guideline, people who are an excellent fit for independent research can often reach the broad milestones above with a year of full-time effort purely focusing on building a research skill set, or 2–3 years of 20%-time independent effort (i.e. one day per week).

Within research in industry or policy

The stages here can look more like an organisation-building career , and you can also assess your fit by looking at your rate of progression through the organisation.

As we mentioned above , if you’ve done an undergraduate degree, one obvious pathway into research is to go to graduate school ( read our advice on choosing a graduate programme ) and then attempt to enter academia before deciding whether to continue or pursue positions outside of academia later in your career.

If you take the academic path, then the next steps are relatively clear. You’ll want to try to get excellent grades in undergraduate and in your master’s, ideally gain some kind of research experience in your summers, and then enter the best PhD programme you can. From there, focus on learning your craft by working under the best researcher you can find as a mentor and working in a top hub for your field. Try to publish as many papers as possible since that’s required to land an academic position.

It’s also not necessary to go to graduate school to become a great researcher (though this depends a lot on the field), especially if you’re very talented. For instance, we interviewed Chris Olah , who is working on AI research without even an undergraduate degree.

You can enter many non-academic research jobs without a background in academia. So one starting point for building up research skills would be getting a job at an organisation specifically focused on the type of question you’re interested in. For examples, take a look at our list of recommended organisations , many of which conduct non-academic research in areas relevant to pressing problems .

More generally, you can learn research skills in any job that heavily features making difficult intellectual judgement calls and bets, preferably on topics that are related to the questions you’re interested in researching. These might include jobs in finance, political analysis, or even nonprofits.

Another common route — depending on your field — is to develop software and tech skills and then apply them at research organisations. For instance, here’s a guide to how to transition from software engineering into AI safety research .

If you’re interested in doing practical big-picture research (especially outside academia), it’s also possible to establish your career through self-study and independent work — during your free time or on scholarships designed for this (such as EA Long-Term Future Fund grants and Open Philanthropy support for individuals working on relevant topics ).

Some example approaches you might take to self-study:

• Closely and critically review some pieces of writing and argumentation on relevant topics. Explain the parts you agree with as clearly as you can and/or explain one or more of your key disagreements.
• Pick a relevant question and write up your current view and reasoning on it. Alternatively, write up your current view and reasoning on some sub-question that comes up as you’re thinking about it.
• Then get feedback, ideally from professional researchers or those who use similar kinds of research in their jobs.

It could also be beneficial to start with some easier versions of this sort of exercise, such as:

• Explaining or critiquing interesting arguments made on any topic you find motivating to write about
• Writing fact posts
• Reviewing the academic literature on any topic of interest and trying to reach and explain a bottom-line conclusion

In general, it’s not necessary to obsess over being “original” or having some new insight at the beginning. You can learn a lot just by trying to write up your current understanding.

Choosing a research field

When you’re getting started building research skills, there are three factors to consider in choosing a field:

• Personal fit — what are your chances of being a top researcher in the area? Even if you work on an important question, you won’t make much difference if you’re not particularly good at it or motivated to work on the problem.
• Impact — how likely is it that research in your field will contribute to solving pressing problems?
• Back-up options — how will the skills you build open up other options if you decide to change fields (or leave research altogether)?

One way to go about making a decision is to roughly narrow down fields by relevance and back-up options and then pick among your shortlist based on personal fit.

We’ve found that, especially when they’re getting started building research skills, people sometimes think too narrowly about what they can be good at and enjoy. Instead, they end up pigeonholing themselves in a specific area (for example being restricted by the field of their undergraduate degree). This can be harmful because it means people who could contribute to highly important research don’t even consider it. This increases the importance of writing a broad list of possible areas to research.

Given our list of the world’s most pressing problems , we think some of the most promising fields to do research within are as follows:

• Fields relevant to artificial intelligence, especially machine learning , but also computer science more broadly. This is mainly to work on AI safety directly, though there are also many opportunities to apply machine learning to other problems (as well as many back-up options).
• Biology, particularly synthetic biology, virology, public health, and epidemiology. This is mainly for biosecurity .
• Economics . This is for global priorities research , development economics, or policy research relevant to any cause area, especially global catastrophic risks.
• Engineering — read about developing and using engineering skills to have an impact .
• International relations/political science, including security studies and public policy — these enable you to do research into policy approaches to mitigating catastrophic risks and are also a good route into careers in government and policy more broadly.
• Mathematics, including applied maths or statistics (or even physics). This may be a good choice if you’re very uncertain, as it teaches you skills that can be applied to a whole range of different problems — and lets you move into most of the other fields we list. It’s relatively easy to move from a mathematical PhD into machine learning, economics, biology, or political science, and there are opportunities to apply quantitative methods to a wide range of other fields. They also offer good back-up options outside of research.
• There are many important topics in philosophy and history, but these fields are unusually hard to advance within, and don’t have as good back-up options. (We do know lots of people with philosophy PhDs who have gone on to do other great, non-philosophy work!)

However, many different kinds of research skills can play a role in tackling pressing global problems.

Choosing a sub-field can sometimes be almost as important as choosing a field. For example, in some sciences the particular lab you join will determine your research agenda — and this can shape your entire career.

And as we’ve covered, personal fit is especially important in research. This can mean it’s easily worth going into a field that seems less relevant on average if you are an excellent fit. (This is due both to the value of the research you might produce and the excellent career capital that comes from becoming top of an academic field.)

For instance, while we most often recommend the fields above, we’d be excited to see some of our readers go into history , psychology, neuroscience, and a whole number of other fields. And if you have a different view of global priorities from us, there might be many other highly relevant fields.

Once you have these skills, how can you best apply them to have an impact?

Richard Hamming used to annoy his colleagues by asking them “What’s the most important question in your field?”, and then after they’d explained, following up with “And why aren’t you working on it?”

You don’t always need to work on the very most important question in your field, but Hamming has a point. Researchers often drift into a narrow speciality and can get detached from the questions that really matter.

Now let’s suppose you’ve chosen a field, learned your craft, and are established enough that you have some freedom about where to focus. Which research questions should you focus on?

Which research topics are the highest-impact?

Charles Darwin travelled the oceans to carefully document different species of birds on a small collection of islands — documentation which later became fuel for the theory of evolution. This illustrates how hard it is to predict which research will be most impactful.

What’s more, we can’t know what we’re going to discover until we’ve discovered it, so research has an inherent degree of unpredictability. There’s certainly an argument for curiosity-driven research without a clear agenda.

That said, we think it’s also possible to increase your chances of working on something relevant, and the best approach is to try to find topics that both personally motivate you and seem more likely than average to matter. Here are some approaches to doing that.

Using the problem framework

One approach is to ask yourself which global problems you think are most pressing , and then try to identify research questions that are:

• Important to making progress on those problems (i.e. if this question were answered, it would lead to more progress on these problems)
• Neglected by other researchers (e.g. because they’re at the intersection of two fields, unpopular for bad reasons, or new)
• Tractable (i.e. you can see a path to making progress)

The best research questions will score at least moderately well on all parts of this framework. Building a perpetual motion machine is extremely important — if we could do it, then we’d solve our energy problems — but we have good reason to think it’s impossible, so it’s not worth working on. Similarly, a problem can be important but already have the attention of many extremely talented researchers, meaning your extra efforts won’t go very far.

Finding these questions, however, is difficult. Often, the only way to identify a particularly promising research question is to be an expert in that field! That’s because (when researchers are doing their jobs), they will be taking the most obvious opportunities already.

However, the incentives within research rarely perfectly line up with the questions that most matter (especially if you have unusual values, like more concern for future generations or animals). This means that some questions often get unfairly neglected. If you’re someone who does care a lot about positive impact and have some slack, you can have a greater-than-average impact by looking for them.

Below are some more ways of finding those questions (which you can use in addition to directly applying the framework above).

Rules of thumb for finding unfairly neglected questions

• There’s little money in answering the question. This can be because the problem mostly affects poorer people, people who are in the future , or non-humans, or because it involves public goods . This means there’s little incentive for businesses to do research on this question.
• The political incentives to answer the question are missing. This can happen when the problem hurts poorer or otherwise marginalised people, people who tend not to organise politically, people in countries outside the one where the research is most likely to get done, people who are in the future , or non-humans. This means there’s no incentive for governments or other public actors to research this question.
• It’s new, doesn’t already have an established discipline, or is at the intersection of two disciplines. The first researchers in an area tend to take any low hanging fruit, and it gets harder and harder from there to make big discoveries. For example, the rate of progress within machine learning is far higher than the rate of progress within theoretical physics. At the same time, the structure of academia means most researchers stay stuck within the field they start in, and it can be hard to get funding to branch out into other areas. This means that new fields or questions at the intersection of two disciplines often get unfairly neglected and therefore provide opportunities for outsized impact.
• There is some aspect of human irrationality that means people don’t correctly prioritise the issue. For instance, some issues are easy to visualise, which makes them more motivating to work on. People are scope blind which means they’re likely to neglect the issues with the very biggest scale. They’re also bad at reasoning about issues with low probability, which can make them either over-invest or under-invest in them.
• Working on the question is low status. In academia, research that’s intellectually interesting and fits the research standards of the discipline are high status. Also, mathematical and theoretical work tends to be seen as higher status (and therefore helps to progress your career). But these don’t correlate that well with the social value of the question.
• You’re bringing new skills or a new perspective to an established area. Progress often comes in science from bringing the techniques and insights of one field into another. For instance, Kahneman started a revolution in economics by applying findings from psychology. Cross-over is an obvious approach but is rarely used because researchers tend to be immersed in their own particular subject.

If you think you’ve found a research question that’s short on talent, it’s worth checking whether the question is answerable. People might be avoiding the question because it’s just extremely difficult to find an answer. Or perhaps progress isn’t possible at all. Ask yourself, “If there were progress on this question, how would we know?”

Finally, as we’ve discussed, personal fit is particularly important in research . So position yourself to work on questions where you maximise your chances of producing top work.

Find jobs that use a research skills

If you have these skills already or are developing it and you’re ready to start looking at job opportunities that are currently accepting applications, see our curated list of opportunities for this skill set:

View all opportunities

Career paths we’ve reviewed that use these skills

• AI safety technical research and engineering
• AI governance and coordination
• Biorisk research
• China-related AI safety and governance paths
• Grantmaker focused on pressing world problems
• Research into global priorities
• Forecasting and related research and implementation
• Historian of large societal trends, inflection points, progress or collapse
• Expert in AI hardware

Specialist in emerging global powers

• Investigate a potentially pressing but unexplored global issue
• Research management
• Think tank research
• Research and advocacy promoting impactful climate solutions
• Improving China-Western coordination on global catastrophic risks
• Engineering
• Economics PhDs
• Machine learning PhDs
• Biomedical research
• Computer science PhDs
• Data science
• Philosophy academia

Learn more about research

• High Impact Science by Carl Shulman
• How to succeed as an early-stage researcher: the “lean startup” approach
• Podcast: Luisa and Robert Long on how to make independent research more fun
• A list of potentially high-impact research questions, organised by discipline

See all our articles and podcasts on research careers .

Read next:  Explore other useful skills

Want to learn more about the most useful skills for solving global problems, according to our research? See our list.

Plus, join our newsletter and we’ll mail you a free book

Join our newsletter and we’ll send you a free copy of The Precipice — a book by philosopher Toby Ord about how to tackle the greatest threats facing humanity. T&Cs here .

Notes and references

• “Green Revolution technology saved an estimated one billion people from famine and produced more than enough food for a world population that doubled from three to six billion between 1960 and 2000.” Archived link , retrieved 5-Nov-2018. ↩
• Turing, A. M. (1937). “ On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem “. Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society. 2. 42 (1): 230–265. ↩
• See Figure 1 of Bloom et al, (2017) ↩
• “We present a wide range of evidence from various industries, products and firms showing that research effort is rising substantially while research productivity is declining sharply. A good example is Moore’s law. The number of researchers required today to achieve the famous doubling every two years of the density of computer chips is more than 18 times larger than the number required in the early 1970s.” Bloom, N., Jones, C. I., Van Reenen, J., & Webb, M. (2017). Are ideas getting harder to find? National Bureau of Economic Research. ↩
• The number of academics and graduate students in the world ↩

If Turing and his group had not weakened the U-boats’ hold on the North Atlantic, the 1944 Allied invasion of Europe — the D-Day landings — could have been delayed, perhaps by about a year or even longer, since the North Atlantic was the route that ammunition, fuel, food and troops had to travel in order to reach Britain from America. ↩

• Open Philanthropy is 80,000 Hours’ largest funder, as of 2023 ↩

Sir Andrew McMichael, leading HIV vaccine researcher

For the good person whose CV you just described, would you prefer their CV landing on your desk or an extra grant?

“It’s not a simple choice. If they’re that good, they’ll probably get their own funding at some point. You can take them on without huge risk. I would always take the person.” How about if you could have half a million pound grant?

“It’s hard to turn down half a million pounds. I wouldn’t know many groups who would. You could buy another machine or do another project that would be too expensive otherwise. It depends on how much money I’ve got there already. It’s fantastic to get good people though, no question.”

Can good researchers always get funding?

“Yes, reasonably easily. Everyone can get bad patches. It’s unusual to always be on top of everything. For instance, you can get a dip at the end of a line of work, while you’re getting ready to start something else. But on the whole they can.”

John Todd, a Professor of Medical Genetics at Cambridge

Would you prefer £100,000 per year or [a good person] working for you?

“Definitely the guy”

How about £0.5mn per year?

“I’d still take the person at £0.5mn. By £5mn, I’d prefer the money! There’s a cut off somewhere between the two.”

Why would you pay so much?

“It’s very difficult to find brilliant people who have the true grit to get things done, even if it takes a long time. Most of them end up in the city.”

“The best people are the biggest struggle. The funding isn’t a problem. It’s getting really special people. I call them the one percenters…If you have a good person, it’s easy to get the grants for them. I don’t think there’s a really good researcher out there who couldn’t get funding from the MRC or Wellcome Trust.”

“One good guy can cover the ground of five, and I’m not exaggerating”

Katie Ewer, a cellular immunologist

Is your impression that it’s harder to find good researchers or additional funding?

“In order for research to progress, you need lots of different types of people within an organisation. You need people who are very methodical in what they do and are capable of doing large volumes of high through-put work, and then you need a few people at the top with the creativity to pull ideas out of the sky that nobody else would ever think of and convince Bill Gates to give you £1 million. I guess if you have somebody like that in your institution who is that creative and has that amazing ability and insight, then you can probably convince people to give you £1 million. But funding is always limited. We could proceed our field more quickly if we had as much funding as the HIV field.”

“If you are uniquely gifted in scientific research, then you should probably be a scientific researcher. But for the other 99.9% of the population, they’re probably best going and earning £1 million elsewhere and funding research.” ↩

• “Differences in rates of scientific production are much bigger than differences in the rates of performing simpler acts, such as the rate of running the mile, or the number of words a man can speak per minute… a large number of factors are involved so that small changes in each, all in the same direction, may result in a very large change in output. For example, the number of ideas a scientist can bring into awareness at one time may control his ability to make an invention and his rate of invention may increase very rapidly with this number.” Shockley, W. (1957) On the statistics of individual variations of productivity in research laboratories . Proceedings of the IRE, 45(3), 279-290. ↩

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Research Associate - Histology

• Houston, Texas (US)
• Hiring up to $70,000
• Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

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Senior Research Assistant in Human Immunology (wet lab)

• Boston, Massachusetts (US)
• Competative/Based on experience
• Boston University Atomic Lab

Senior Research Scientist in Human Immunology, high-dimensional (40+) cytometry, ICS and automated robotic platforms.

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• 11 days ago
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Stadtman Investigator Search 2024-2025

• Bethesda, Maryland
• Commensurate with experience
• National Institute of Health- Office of Intramural Research

Stadtman Investigator Search 2024-2025 Deadline: September 30, 2024 The National Institutes of Health, the U.S. government’s premier biomedical and...

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• 16 days ago
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Department Head - Biomedical Engineering

• Blacksburg, Virginia
• competitive salary + benefits - TBD
• Virginia Tech- Biomedical Engineering

VT BEAM seeks a Department Head to lead its innovative multidisciplinary approach bridging biomedical science with practical applications.

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Staff Scientist 1

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Based on experience
• The National Institutes of Health

The Staff Scientist 1 will play a major role in collaboration with the Laboratory Chief

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Staff Scientist - Data Science/Machine Learning

• Hiring up to $87,149

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Research Associate - Environmental Health

• Hiring up to $65,000

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Become a Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow

• Cambridge, Massachusetts
• $78,000 plus an additional $5,000 for project expenses
• Harvard Radcliffe Institute

Harvard Radcliffe Institute fellows are exceptional scientists, writers, s...

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Senior Staff Scientist - Drosophila

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Staff Scientist - Proteomics

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Staff Scientist - Immunology

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Research Associate - Metabolism

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Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo | Global Faculty Recruitment

• Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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• Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo

Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) is seeking candidates for tenure-track and open-rank faculty positions across various levels

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Lead Researcher – Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy

• Memphis, Tennessee
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude)

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Researcher in the Center for In Vivo Imaging and Therapy

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Scientist or Lead Researcher (Protein Engineering, Hematology, Shengdar Q. Tsai Lab)

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Lead OR Senior Researcher - Flow Cytometry

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Senior or Lead Researcher - Neurobehavioral Core

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Senior Scientist in Microbial Pathogenesis

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7 Strategies for Getting an Entry-Level Clinical Research Job

News December 8, 2020

Kunal Sampat, MNA, ACRP-CP, Host of the Clinical Trial Podcast

Many people applying for entry-level clinical research jobs may begin their journey by enrolling in a certificate program. They invest months or years, not to mention thousands of dollars, toward earning a certificate, yet upon finishing and hitting the job markets, are likely to still be dealing with unresponsive hiring managers who are looking for individuals with two years of experience. (It is important to note here that having a “certificate” in clinical research from some source is not the same as holding “certification” in clinical research—an achievement based on mastery of job roles and solid experience in the field.)

How does one get around such a situation to get that first dream job in clinical research with less hassle, less expense, and more reliable prospects for employment at the end of the process? Presented here are some strategies that can work extremely well for individuals with foreign medical degrees, backgrounds in life sciences or allied health, or experience working in a regulated environment.

1—Gain clarity on your career goals.

  When most people apply for clinical research jobs, they fire up their computer and start applying for open positions. Before applying you should begin your journey by answering the following questions:

• Do you want a paid job or a volunteer opportunity? Is the experience you’ll gain more important, or do you really need a paycheck right away?
• Who do you want to work for? Clinical research is a vast field with different types of companies offering different kinds of job opportunities. You can work for a contract research organization, a sponsor such as pharmaceutical or device company, a clinical research vendor, a regulatory authority such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , a nonprofit organization such as a patient advocacy group, an institutional review board, or a study site, to name some of the options.
• What job role are you most interested in? Is there a specific one you’d enjoy more than others? There are many other clinical research opportunities in addition to the clinical research associate (CRA) or clinical research coordinator (CRC) roles. For example, you can work as a data manager, safety monitor, patient recruiter, medical writer, biostatistician, project manager, regulatory compliance manager, or research billing expert.
• Would you enjoy working in the field (traveling or remote work) or in an office environment? Some people enjoy being on the road (and earning frequent flyer points). Others get more energy interacting with people at the office. Most clinical research roles offer the ability to work remotely or in an office setting.
• Are you open to relocating to a different city, state, or country? Entry-level positions may not offer the best pay, so you’ll need to decide if you’d be open to relocating, even if the pay was low.
• Are you looking for full-time, part-time, or contract employment? Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be more interested in a full-time position for the medical benefits or in a part-time role for a better work-life balance. Alternatively, you may be interested to contract opportunities at first and then transition into full-time employment once you have experience under your belt.

Answering these six questions honestly will give you the necessary clarity on which opportunities you should pursue and which ones you shouldn’t.

2—Invest in your clinical research education.

At a minimum, I encourage everyone to become familiar with the tenets of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) early in their job quest. Depending on the type of clinical research organization you decide to work at, your training beyond GCP will differ significantly. For example, training for an oncology pharmaceutical company will be different than training for a cardiology medical device company.

You can watch hundreds of YouTube videos on clinical trials or medical technologies, attend conferences or seminars, and get in-depth software training, but still not have a job in clinical research. Here is what you can do to narrow down your clinical research education priorities:

• Identify the dream role (career opportunity) you’re interested in applying for.
• Read through the job description—specifically, the job requirements.
• Highlight the skills you have little or no knowledge or experience with.
• Look up webinars, YouTube videos, and literature to develop those specific skills (i.e., fill the skill gap).

The above plan won’t make you an expert in those skills, but you will have built confidence in yourself and your ability to speak to these topics during interviews. If you feel you need more training, I encourage you to sign-up for membership with nonprofit professional organizations such as ACRP or SOCRA . Membership gives you access to many training resources; a lot of information is available to you for no additional cost aside from the basic membership fee.

Additionally, with your membership, you end up surrounding yourself with other experienced clinical research professionals via networking with their virtual communities and by attending educational events. You can then reach out to your fellow members for career guidance and make them aware of your interest in working in clinical research.

3—Fix your resume.

Your resume must not read like a job description. Most employers rely on a resume to screen applicants. Unfortunately, if your resume reads like a job description, the hiring manager does not get a clear understanding of your contributions in your current and previous roles. Instead, your resume should reflect your own professional achievements. You want to clearly state the results you achieved in your previous roles and, when possible, you should quantify the results. For example, instead of stating, “Worked in a research lab analyzing preclinical data,” you might want to state, “Analyzed data from two preclinical studies in mice for an Alzheimer’s drug.”

If you feel like your clinical or medical-oriented experiences are limited, focus on transferable skills for the research position you seek. Transferable skills such as financial management, project management, writing, and informational systems management are applicable to clinical research as well.

 4—Focus on 10 job opportunities and always follow up.

Focus on only 10 job applications at a given time. Many applicants apply for multiple jobs every week during their searches. Over the course of a couple of months, they have applied for dozens of jobs, but probably haven’t had a formal interview for any position. Instead of applying for every possible clinical research job as soon as they appear on the radar, I have found that applying for 10 at a given time gives applicants the time and energy to personalize their approach for each position.

Following up with employers is absolutely necessary. Even though hiring is a top priority for many organizations, hiring managers get busy with their day-to-day activities and hiring can take the back seat. By following up with the hiring manager, you’re demonstrating your continued interest in working for the company.

5—Write and speak clearly.

Aside from strong technical skills for many jobs, you may also need to demonstrate above-average written and verbal skills. This is important because clinical research is a cross-functional, team-oriented field. For most roles, you’ll be working in a team environment. When the job description states, “candidate must have excellent communication skills,” the employer wants to ensure you can write and speak clearly.

Many candidates will create a page-long, generic cover letter that repeats everything that can be found in their resume. Such a cover letter fails to show the employer why you’re the right fit for the role. Instead, I recommend applicants write a cover letter with three to five bulleted points that outline the benefits of hiring him or her for the job. The more personalized your cover letter is to a given employer and role, the greater chance you have for being invited for an interview.

Personalized cover letters might make reference to a specific clinical trial the hiring company is running, the company’s therapeutic area(s), and other details that show you’ve done your homework and are engaged in the opportunity to work there.

When it comes to verbal communication, the easiest way to have clarity in your message is to write down the key points you want to discuss on the phone. This forces you to be clear about why the company should hire you and not some other candidate with equivalent credentials.

6—Prepare for your interview.

Once you’ve landed with an interview date, it is time to prepare for the interview, using the following tips:

• Read the “About” and “News” section of the company website. Learn about the company’s clinical and regulatory leadership team. The news section will provide insights from the latest press releases from the company. This will give you an idea of what is on the company’s “mind.” You can also visit ClinicalTrials.gov for more information on the company’s trials, and to get a better understanding of the medical treatments being developed and their targeted patient populations.
• The biggest unknown in any interview is that you do not know what questions the interviewer will ask you. To help focus your answers, I recommend that you come up with a list of five to eight examples from your education or professional experiences that you’re proud of or that taught you something valuable. When possible, limit these to experiences that are medical or clinical in nature. Next you want to create a story around each of these examples that will become a valuable answer to an appropriate question. The best way to create a story is using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, and Results). For each of these examples, you want to write down the situation, the task in front of you, the action you took, and the results achieved as a result of your actions.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re almost ready for the interview. The last thing you need to do is to appear and sound professional during and after the interview. Be sure you write a personalized “thank you” note after each interview.

7—Have the courage to hear “No.” Remember that you will eventually hear “Yes.”

Many entry-level clinical research applicants lack the courage to hear that, “No, we cannot hire you for this job” from potential employers. It is painful to hear a “No” and rightfully so. Furthermore, most employers do a poor job of providing constructive feedback to applicants they don’t want to hire. Employers don’t want to say “No” to the not-so-great candidates because they fear not finding the “right” candidate for the job; they prefer to have a backup list of candidates in case their preferred candidate doesn’t work out.

This makes it even more important for candidates to encourage employers to make a decision, whether it’s a “Yes” or a “No.” This not only helps the candidate, it also helps employers to move on to other candidates who might be a better fit for the organization.

You don’t need to sign up for an expensive and time-intensive clinical research certificate program to secure an entry-level job in clinical research. Instead, you need to gain clarity around your clinical research career ambitions, learn GCP, invest in your continued education through nonprofits such as ACRP and SOCRA, fix your resume so that it doesn’t read like a job description, focus on 10 open opportunities at a given time, write and speak clearly in all your communications with the potential employer, plan for your interview using the Situation, Task, Action, Results (STAR) format, and embrace rejection if you’re not hired for the role. These strategies, collectively, will increase the odds of your success tremendously and you’ll be on your way to experiencing the joys of working in clinical research and clinical trial management.

by Guest Contributor Kunal Sampat, MNA, ACRP-CP, Host of the Clinical Trial Podcast

BEAVER Method—How to Get a Job in Clinical Research

Navigating a Career as a Clinical Research Professional: Where to Begin?

Getting Started in Clinical Research

How to Enter the Clinical Research Field

Who’s Who in Clinical Research

Introduction to Good Clinical Practice

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How to become a successful researcher at every stage of your career

November 16, 2020

By Sneha Mittal Sachdeva

Steps to building a successful research career – with a JACC webinar for physician-scientists

Pursuing a career in research can be daunting. Regardless of your field, it can be highly competitive, with challenges at every stage. These include the uncertainty of grants and fellowships, maintaining work-life balance, and  publishing in premium, high-impact journals opens in new tab/window .

For physician-scientists, the success rates for securing research grants has declined from 33 percent to 19 percent, while the number of grant applications has increased by 72 percent. However, with a roadmap for success, the path can provide personal and professional fulfillment and dynamism.

In this article – based on our webinar the  Journal of the American College of Cardiology opens in new tab/window  (JACC) – Dr. Valentin Fuster and Dr. Harlan Krumholtz share best practices to become a successful researcher at three stages of your career: early, mid-career and senior. While their advice is for physician-scientists, it can apply to people in all fields of research.

Webinar: How to become a successful researcher at every stage of your career

How to Become a Successful Researcher At Every Stage of Your Career (brighttalk.com) opens in new tab/window Join this  free webinar opens in new tab/window  with Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, Editor-in-Chief of the  Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) opens in new tab/window , and Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM, FACC, Director of the  Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation opens in new tab/window  at the Yale School of Medicine. They discuss how to maintain a successful physician-scientist career at three stages: early, mid-career and senior. They also suggest tips for grant receipts and talk about the importance of the mentor/mentee relationship and the need for creativity in grant submissions.

1. Identify the right research project

As a researcher, irrespective of the career stage, understand that you’re in constant competition to continue your research. To ensure that you’re working in the right direction, you can follow this step-by-step approach:

Identify your skills and resources: Identify the range of skills you currently have and your available resources. But don’t be afraid to think big!

Recognize the requirements: Next, recognize what kind of projects are you willing to do. Ask yourself if you are flexible, if you’re willing to take risks and if you can really choose and afford to be entrepreneurial in terms of the available opportunities for your project.

Research the topic: Read and learn from the existing literature around your research topic, demonstrate the rationale for selecting the topic and ensure you’ve completed the background research before finalizing your research topic.

Improve the likelihood of success: Identify what resources, skills, individuals and support can enhance the likelihood of your success.

Prioritize time: Estimate the amount of time required to complete the project vs your available time. Allocate your time carefully to important projects, and don’t underestimate the time, efforts and energy required for each project. If you’re a senior researcher, identify the opportunities for networking, learning and future opportunities, but take a calculated approach before taking on a new project.

Understanding the current scenario: Understand what projects your sponsors, funding teams or organization will pay you to do. Ask yourself if you can leverage the available opportunities to find a balance between what you want to do, what the world is interested in and the support you can expect to receive for the project.

Make a strong case: Do you understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing this? In a short description, try to write key compelling reasons why you should take the project, and only take on the project if the reasons are convincing.

Once you have clarity on the research project topic, ensure you put your energy and efforts toward making the project a success. Then take all your learnings to your next project.

2. Develop and nurture qualities of being a successful researcher.

Is a researcher born or created with dedication and hard work? Or is it a combination of both? The best researchers are curious by nature. Here are a few other qualities that predispose them for success:

Courage: The top quality of any successful researcher is the courage to ask the right questions, seek answers from peers, experts as well as literature and questioning how their project will make an impact. A successful researcher will fight the fall into the comfort zone and will understand the rewards of a life in science which can help him/her contribute to the world.

Persistence: When thinking about your research career growth, envision the position you would like to achieve and the journey you would like to take to reach that position. Even though sometimes the journey might not quite suit you, don’t quit, learn and improve as you go.

Determination & Resilience in the face of challenges: Everyone among the top successful researchers have faced challenges at one or more junctures of their life. Everyone faces difficult times when people don’t believe in them or doubt their capabilities. However, what made them stand apart was the resilience they displayed in the face of challenges. When times are hard, don’t quit easily because success only comes to those who work hard.

Self-motivation: Surround yourself by an environment where you see examples of success, where you see people you admire, people who inspire us to think about what we might aspire to be, who we want to be and how do we want to get there. Find colleagues who’re asking questions, trying to seek knowledge to improve people lives and don’t limit this search to people just in front of you, but look for opportunities across institutions and across borders.

3. Find a mentor for every stage of your life.

A mentor is someone who can provide guidance and support, accommodate and suit your individual needs and requirements, understand your aspirations and become an anchor for you at difficult stages of life. Regardless of the stage of your career, the role of a mentor is critically important in steering your interests and contributing to your growth.

You can have several mentors in your life based on your career stage; for example, a mentor to guide your thesis, a mentor who supports your career growth and a mentor who is an anchor for your life. A great mentor-mentee relationship is one where you have good chemistry and comfort. Mentorship doesn’t necessarily mean a mentor is supposed to tell you what needs to be done, but it’s a relationship where you can always seek guidance and supporting advice.

If you’re in early or middle stages of your career, find a mentor who is welcoming, supportive, encouraging and helps create or discover opportunities for your growth.

If you’re a senior researcher, contribute to society by discovering people with talent and encouraging them. Find the right triggers, understand talent, and support the people who have the right ingredients to become successful in their life.

4. Understand your talent and enhance it.

Understand your talents, skills and interests, and spend time enhancing these. You can ask yourself these key questions to help you grow in the right direction:

Self-discovery questions:

What are you trying to achieve in the next 5 years?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What projects keep me excited

Which strengths would you like to cultivate in the upcoming years?

Self-motivation:

What happens when things don’t work?

How can I keep myself motivated?

What are my contributions to the society?

What is the journey I would like to go through?

How can I achieve that big win?

How do I connect with people?

How do I motivate others around me?

How do others around me keep me motivated?

Research area of interest:

Do you enjoy working on new ground-breaking research or does your strength lie in enhancing the existing research?

How can you add value to your institution with your research?

Parting wisdom

At every stage of your career, remember to be a bold and creative problem solver. Ensure you thank the people who have made your journey important and memorable. Be satisfied with what you do, understand your talent and invest in them continuously. Begin with the end in mind. Your research is not the money, but the contribution you have made to the society and the impact you have had on your team. And most importantly don’t forget to enjoy each stage of your journey, learning lessons and striving towards becoming a better version of yourself each day.

Related stories and resources

Researcher Academy: Publishing in premium journals opens in new tab/window

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Contributor

Sneha mittal sachdeva.

What is a researcher and how to become one

A researcher conducts research in a particular field of study. They collect and analyze data, including surveys, experiments, and observations. Researchers may work in universities, government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations. They aim to generate new knowledge and contribute to the advancement of their field. They often publish their findings in academic journals and present them at conferences. Researchers are characterized by their curiosity, critical thinking skills , and dedication.

How long does it takes to become a researcher?

It typically takes 9-11 years to become a researcher:

• Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as biology, chemistry, or physics.
• Years 5-8: Pursuing a Doctoral degree in a specialized field of research, such as molecular biology or astrophysics.
• Years 9-11: Accumulating 2-4 years of work experience in research, including on-site and on-the-job training.

Avg. Salary $67,145

Avg. Salary $59,228

Growth Rate 17 %

Growth Rate 0.3 %

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15 %

Asian 26.37 %

Black or African American 6.39 %

Hispanic or Latino 9.63 %

Unknown 4.11 %

White 53.36 %

female 49.10 %

male 50.90 %

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00 %

Asian 7.00 %

Black or African American 14.00 %

Hispanic or Latino 19.00 %

White 57.00 %

female 47.00 %

male 53.00 %

Stress level is manageable

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life balance is fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Researcher?

Ability to work on intellectually stimulating projects

Flexibility in research topics and methods

Chance to work with cutting-edge technology and equipment

Possibility of securing grant funding for research projects

High degree of independence and autonomy in the research process

Intense competition for funding and publication opportunities

Potential for isolation and loneliness in solitary research work

Challenges in communicating findings to non-expert audiences

Limited financial compensation, especially in early career stages

Ethical concerns around research design, data collection, and participant consent.

Researcher career paths

Researchers can pursue various career paths. Many move into consultant roles, while others become project managers. Some continue in research roles, advancing to positions like laboratory technician, scientist, or senior scientist. Others transition into management roles, such as engineering manager or director. In some cases, researchers become instructors or engineers.

Key steps to become a researcher

Explore researcher education requirements.

The educational requirements for a researcher typically involve a Doctorate degree, with 60.61% of researchers holding this level of education. However, a Master's degree is also common, with 31.44% of researchers having this level of education. According to Hansjakob Werlen Ph.D. , Professor and German Studies Coordinator at Swarthmore College, "If your degree is not in a particular high-demand field. consider positions that. provide job opportunities where strong language and writing skills are in demand." This suggests that while a high level of education is important, the specific field of study can be varied.

In addition to a strong educational background, researchers should also possess certain soft skills. Shiri Noy Ph.D. , Assistant Professor at Denison University, notes that "communication, time management, organization, teamwork, approaches to problem-solving" are all important skills for researchers. She also emphasizes the importance of patience and adaptability, stating that "No one will know every technology, system, and skill they will encounter in their first job, so what's most important is knowing how to learn." This highlights the need for researchers to be lifelong learners and to be able to adapt to new situations and challenges.

Most common researcher degrees

Bachelor's

Master's

Start to develop specific researcher skills

Researchers need traditional skills like critical thinking and communication, both oral and written. Data science and modeling skills are also becoming increasingly important. As Glenn Starkman , Distinguished University Professor and Co-chair at Case Western Reserve University, puts it, "Traditional skills are likely to continue to be important: critical thinking and communication, both oral and written. However, I think there is no doubt that there are two new types of skills that will become especially valuable: first, data science and modeling skills, and second, inclusion, diversity, and equity skills."

Complete relevant researcher training and internships

Research researcher duties and responsibilities.

A researcher's responsibilities are diverse, but they often involve conducting experiments and analyzing data. They may use various techniques, such as molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry, to gather information. As Professor of Physics Tom Solomon from Bucknell University puts it, "If a student has completed a rigorous STEM education in college, they might benefit from a gap year that emphasizes working with people. spending a year in a lab before going on to graduate school."

• Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
• Perform cellular assays, DNA extractions, PCR, and sequencing to identify cellulase- producing soil bacteria.
• Implement data visualization tools by Java.
• Present research findings to select professors and professionals at scholar conferences.

Prepare your researcher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your researcher resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a researcher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Researcher Resume templates

Apply for researcher jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a researcher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

• Browse job boards for relevant postings
• Consult your professional network
• Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
• Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Researcher Job

Shehnaz Kausar

Manoj Kumar

Average researcher salary

The average Researcher salary in the United States is $67,145 per year or $32 per hour. Researcher salaries range between $37,000 and $119,000 per year.

What Am I Worth?

How do researchers rate their job?

Based On 1 Ratings

Researcher reviews

You may find it difficult to sell the value of your services to clients if you are unable to convince them that your background and experience have provided you with skills that go beyond run-of-the-mill internet searches. Establishing the business likely will require extensive networking, marketing, and self-promotion to build a client base. You have to be able to objectively evaluate information since not all information found on the internet is accurate. You need to have the skills and knowledge to go beyond basic Google or Bing searches. There are billions of pages of data that popular search engines don't reach, and you need to know how to find that data to be valuable to your clients. You have to be especially careful to avoid plagiarism and know how to cite your sources when gathering information online. You need to understand the different search operators and how to use them to find what you're looking for. You need to know what questions to ask your clients to get a clear understanding of what information they need.

Exploring more about reseaching field by building knowledge in a certain subject of research and growing the wisdom and knowledge.

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.

What I like is that,you get to interact with different people from various communities.Relationships are formed in the process

Language barrier can be a problem,because communication needs to be formed in the language that each community you interact with understands.

Researcher FAQs

How long does it take to become a researcher, is a researcher a job, what degree do you need to become a researcher, what does a researcher study, what is the role of a researcher, what qualifications do you need to be a researcher, search for researcher jobs, researcher jobs by state.

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Updated June 25, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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How to Become a Research Psychologist

Why become a research psychologist, what do research psychologists do, where do research psychologists work, research psychology careers.

What do you do if you love psychology but have no interest in working in mental health? Fortunately, psychology is a very diverse field, and there are plenty of opportunities. One that you might consider is becoming a research psychologist.

Consider the following question from a reader:

" I love psychology, which is why I'm currently working on my bachelor's degree in psychology. I don't want to work in mental health, so my ultimate plan is to become a researcher. While I know that this means I will probably need to go to graduate school, I'm not quite sure exactly where to begin. What type of psychology degree do I need if I want to work in research?"

At a Glance

What do you do if you love psychology but don't want to become a therapist or work in mental health? You might consider becoming a research psychologist. These professionals conduct research and may work in various settings, including universities, research labs, the military, government agencies, and private businesses.

This scenario is not at all uncommon in psychology. Many students love the subject, yet are not at all interested in working in mental health settings. Experimental fields are great options for people who are fascinated by psychology and enjoy performing research.

As a psychology student , you've probably already gotten a taste of just how diverse the field can be. This can be a great thing because it allows for so many different career paths and options, but it can also be confusing for students as they struggle to select an educational path.

Just like many other areas of psychology , becoming a research psychologist is not a "one size fits all" career. There are actually many different degrees that you could potentially pursue.

Start by taking into account what type of research you want to perform and what specific topics interest you the most.

In order to decide if this field is right for you, it is important to first understand exactly what these professionals do:

• Also known as experimental psychologists , research psychologists study a broad range of human and animal behavior.
• They design and conduct experiments exploring how people act, think, behave, interact, learn, feel, and perform under different conditions.
• They also design studies and evaluate research for flaws and bias.
• This can encompass an enormous range of topics, including memory , attention, cognition, decision-making, perception, and just about any psychological topic you can think of!

If you enjoy research and still want to work in mental health, there are also mental health professionals who perform research and conduct studies in clinical settings.

Educational backgrounds and requirements for experimental psychologists can vary depending upon where you want to work.

In most cases, you will start by earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. Some students may then choose to earn a master's, but many will go on to receive a doctorate degree.

Bachelor's Degree

Many students interested in becoming research psychologists begin with a bachelor's in psychology . However, some come from a background in a related area such as social work or even from an entirely unrelated degree area altogether.

Remember, it is possible to switch to psychology for graduate school , even if your undergraduate degree is in an unrelated subject.

Master's Degree

In some cases, students might then choose to pursue a master's degree in experimental psychology. However, it is important to note that job opportunities are generally more limited with a master's degree, which is why many opt to instead go on to earn a doctorate degree in psychology .

Doctorate Degree

While you might think you are limited to earning a PhD in experimental psychology, there are actually many different options that you might opt to pursue.

For example, if you are interested in studying the human brain, you might earn a degree focused on neuropsychology. Have an active interest in social behavior? Then, you might want to consider a doctorate in social psychology .

How to Get Started

While you might not be exactly sure about what specialty you want to pursue, you can now do plenty of things to prepare for your future as a research psychologist . Start by taking as many undergraduate courses in research methods , statistics , and experimental design as possible.

Sign up for research opportunities through your school's psychology department and consider signing up as a research assistant. It's a great way to gain valuable experience while earning college credits.

As you can see, research is something that plays a significant role in virtually every field of psychology . Your goal now is to determine which particular specialty area interests you the most and exactly where you might want to work someday.

Research psychologists are employed in a wide range of sectors, including private research firms, universities, corporations, the military, and government agencies.

So what kind of jobs will you be able to get as a research psychologist? While there are many different options, a few that you might consider include:

College Professor

Many research psychologists work at colleges and universities, teaching undergraduate and graduate students and conducting research.

Research Analyst

A research analyst evaluates data that has been collected. This career involves performing statistical analyses and managing data to ensure it is collected, recorded, and analyzed properly.

Research Scientist

A research scientist conducted grant-funded research. They are often the lead investigators of a study and are responsible for hiring assistants, managing projects, designing experiments, writing journal articles, and sharing the results of their experiments.

If you enjoy research and aren't interested in working in the field of mental health, a career as a research psychologist might be a great choice for you. To enter this field, you should focus on earning an undergraduate degree in psychology before going to graduate school to get your doctorate. Taking coursework in statistics and research methodology can help, but you should also take advantage of any opportunity to participate in research.

Bishop DV. The psychology of experimental psychologists: Overcoming cognitive constraints to improve research: The 47th Sir Frederic Bartlett Lecture .  Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) . 2020;73(1):1-19. doi:10.1177/1747021819886519

Smith KV, Thew GR. Conducting research in clinical psychology practice: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations .  Br J Clin Psychol . 2017;56(3):347-356. doi:10.1111/bjc.12142

Scholtz SE, de Klerk W, de Beer LT. The use of research methods in psychological research: A systematised review .  Front Res Metr Anal . 2020;5:1. doi:10.3389/frma.2020.00001

American Psychological Association.  Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology . Updated March 2014.

The Princeton Review.  Experimental Psychology .

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Our teams in Atlanta focus on theoretical and application aspects of computer science with a strong focus on machine learning and the algorithmic foundations and theoretical underpinnings of deep learning, with applications to natural language understanding, machine perception, robotics, and ubiquitous computing and sensing.

Our teams in Cambridge work closely with academics at local universities as well as collaborators at local institutes with a goal to impact both Google’s products and general scientific progress. We accomplish this by releasing open source tools, publishing our work and sharing our findings with the academic community.

More boardshorts than boardroom, high tech meets high tide at Google L.A. Our engineers work on such high-impact products as Ads, Chrome, and YouTube, while our sales teams push the limits of digital advertising for top-tier clients. Take advantage of our picture-perfect SoCal weather by hitting the rock wall and elevate team strategy sessions with a game of oversized chess on the roof deck. In-house coffee and juice bars provide pick-me-ups, and beach breaks double as brainstorm sessions when you borrow one of our 4-seat surrey bikes, beach cruisers, or surfboards and head to the boardwalk.

Google Research in Montreal performs both open-ended and applied research, in numerous areas including reinforcement learning, meta-learning, optimization, program synthesis, generative modeling, machine translation, and more. We also support the local academic community and have several academic collaborations, including with Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute.

Our headquarters has come a long way from its humble roots in a Menlo Park garage, but our innovative Silicon Valley spirit is stronger than ever. On our largest campus, we work on cutting-edge products that are changing the way billions of people use technology. Onsite benefits like fitness and wellness centers embody our philosophy that taking care of Googlers is good for all of us. Build team skills with a group cooking class or coffee tasting, ride a gBike to one of our cafés, or work up a sweat in a group class. Here at the Googleplex, we’re looking for innovators, collaborators, and blue-sky thinkers. We’re looking for you.

We work in close collaboration with academia, with a goal to impact both Google’s products and general scientific progress. We accomplish this in two ways: by releasing software libraries, a way to build research findings into products and services, and through publishing our work and sharing our findings with the academic community.

Our team in Pittsburgh conducts research in natural language processing, machine learning, image and video understanding, and optimization, and our impacts range from academic paper publications to software systems used throughout Google. We collaborate closely with research and applied groups in many areas, and also work closely with Carnegie Mellon University and other organizations in the extremely strong computer science community in Pittsburgh.

As our company headquarters, Mountain View and the surrounding offices in Sunnyvale, San Francisco, and San Bruno are home to many of our world-class research teams and the innovative projects they work on.

Our research teams in Seattle and Kirkland work on a wide range of disciplines — from quantum computing to applied science to federated learning and health. In doing the above, and more, a large focus of our work also focuses on advancing the state of the art in machine learning.

Nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Bay, with San Jose to the south, San Francisco to the north, and NASA right next door, you’ll find one of Google’s largest and newest global campuses in Sunnyvale. Here in the heart of the original Silicon Valley innovation is happening everywhere—from our Cloud team developing exciting new products and services, to moving into our latest office spaces which include interconnected building projects, the creation of green spaces connecting campuses with the community, and the creative restoration of local habitats. We love growing in Sunnyvale—and you will too.

We develop novel neural network architectures and learning algorithms, with applications to computer vision, natural language and speech processing, medical image analysis, and computer architecture and software.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Google Research teams in Accra collaborate with global research teams to lead many sustainability initiatives of particular interest to Africa. We implement theoretical and applied artificial intelligence with a strong focus on machine learning and algorithmic foundations to tackle some global challenges, such as food security, disaster management, remote sensing, among others.

Researchers in our Amsterdam office push the boundaries of what is possible in many domains, including natural language understanding, computer vision and audio, reinforcement learning and machine learning for the natural sciences.

In Berlin, our teams work on a range of topics from foundational to more applied and involve data comprised of text, images, video, audio and more. We are engaging and collaborating closely with Berlin’s vibrant academic and startup communities.

We work on machine learning, natural language understanding and machine perception, from foundational research to AI innovations, in search, healthcare, and crisis response.

We work on natural language understanding and conversational dialog, text-to-speech, (on-device) machine learning, human-centered AI research and user research as well as healthcare.

We work on problems in quantum computing as well as speech and language processing, and collaborate closely with Google’s product teams across the world.

The Nairobi Research Center is dedicated to advancing research in Food Security and Agriculture. Located in the vibrant capital of Kenya, the center brings together a diverse team of experts that address global food challenges through the development of cutting-edge solutions that shape a brighter future for generations to come.

We tackle big challenges across several fields at the intersection of computer science, statistics and applied mathematics while collaborating closely with a strong academic community.

We solve big challenges in computer science, with a focus on machine learning, natural language understanding, machine perception, algorithms and data compression.

Asia-Pacific

Google Research Australia aims to advance the state-of-the-art in machine learning, in areas such as Fundamental Machine Learning, Natural Language Understanding, and Systems Programming. We aim to apply our research in ways that benefit Australia, Google and global society.

We are interested in advancing the state of the art and applications in areas like Machine Learning, Natural Language Understanding, Computer Vision, Software Engineering and Multi-agent Systems.

We are interested in advancing the state of the art and applications in areas like machine learning, speech, and natural language processing.

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Our teams advance the state of the art through research, systems engineering, and collaboration across Google.

Our impact reaches billions

Google Research tackles challenges that define the technology of today and tomorrow.

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Our researchers are embedded in teams across computer science, to discover, invent, and build at the largest scale.

Our research-focused software engineers are embedded throughout the company, allowing them to setup large-scale tests and deploy promising ideas quickly and broadly.

Work across data mining, natural language processing, hardware and software performance analysis, improving compilation techniques for mobile platforms, core search, and much more.

Internships take place throughout the year, and we encourage students from a range of disciplines, including CS, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics to apply to work with us.

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The Quantitative Researcher Career Path

What does a quantitative researcher do and how can you land a job as one..

A career in quantitative research can be a highly rewarding and lucrative path for those interested in the financial sector. These professionals, often called "buy-side quantitative analysts", are typically found in investment funds and proprietary trading firms. Their primary responsibilites consist of conducting advanced research and analysis to inform proprietary investment and trading strategies. In doing so, they often leverage statistical and machine learning techniques.

To begin your journey into the field of quantitative research, you should start by building a robust base foundation in mathematics and statistics. While a bachelor's degree at a top-ranked unviersity may be sufficient for some entry-level positions, a master's degree or even a PhD is preferable. Some firms won't even consider your application if it doesn't meet their educational background requirements. In addition to a strong academic background, previous experience in a quant-related field is also highly valued by employers. This can come in many forms, such as an internship in quant research, data science, or machine learning. If you're currently looking for quant internships check out OpenQuant .

In terms of compensation, you can expect your total compensation to fall in the range from $200,000 to $250,000 . Depending on the specific firm you work at, this number can be even higher. While the stability of the job can vary, it is generally considered to be medium, as the demand for these professionals is high, but the competition is extremely fierce. There aren't many jobs on the market and internships are scarce. This is why having some educational or professional credentials can really stand you apart as an applicant.

The work-life balance of a quantitative researcher can also be arduous, as the job can require long hours and a high level of focus and attention to detail. The level of stress can also be medium to high, as the financial markets are constantly changing, and researchers must be able to adapt and respond quickly to new developments.

Despite the demands of the job, a career as a quantitative researcher is considered to be very prestigious, as these professionals are responsible for conducting research and analysis that inform important investment and trading decisions. There are also decent career progression opportunities for QRs, as many pursue roles in portfolio management or other leadership positions within the financial industry after a few years.

Quantitative researchers also tend to work very closely with quant traders and quant developers. Oftentimes, quant researchers will help to develop models and algorithms that traders use to make decisions and may also help quant developers with analyzing the results of their simulations. In some cases, the responsibilities of these roles may be more specialized, depending on the financial market and/or fund type.

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How to Get a Scientific Research Job in the US (If You Are Coming from Elsewhere)

Growing up in Australia, I remember a common phrase: ‘only in America’. Sometimes this was in reference to bizarre cultural events or phenomena but it was generally accepted that the USA was an extraordinary place, where everything was bigger, brighter, and more outrageous. America has fostered a culture of big ideas and innovation, partly because…

Published June 19, 2019

Growing up in Australia, I remember a common phrase: ‘only in America’. Sometimes this was in reference to bizarre cultural events or phenomena but it was generally accepted that the USA was an extraordinary place, where everything was bigger, brighter, and more outrageous. America has fostered a culture of big ideas and innovation, partly because starting a business is relatively straightforward and an unsuccessful business venture is not necessarily seen as a failure. Life sciences and biotech in America can also take advantage of fast delivery times and increased reagent availability, as many companies producing research products are headquartered in or have a significant presence in the USA.

Based on 2017 statistics , there are 1.4 million employees in life sciences in the USA and more than 2500 biotech companies. Of these 2500 companies, some will be small startups with only a handful of employees while the ‘pharma giants’, such as Pfizer and Merck, employ tens of thousands of people. Add to this the number of prestigious universities and other non-profit institutions conducting research and it’s clear that there’s plenty of potential opportunities for job-hunting scientists in the USA. However, you may be wondering how a non-US citizen can go about finding employment, especially if you’re located in a far-off country.

You’ll hear it 100 times during any job search – network , network , network .

First, make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date, accurate, and showcases your skills and experience. No spelling errors, a professional-looking photo, and a short summary about yourself will show that you’re serious about finding a good position. LinkedIn acts as your online resume and allows you to present your best professional face to potential recruiters . Unlike Facebook, it’s perfectly acceptable to connect with people you don’t know personally if their experience is relevant to your own.

Secondly, monitor news in your scientific field. Which academic lab has funding, who raised startup capital, which company has just decided to focus on a drug or product highly relevant to your expertise? A physical presence in the USA could be helpful if you are able to line up contacts to visit while you’re there, but without any job leads it’s a long and probably expensive trip to simply go door knocking.

Online job postings are helpful but don’t be discouraged if you apply and hear nothing back. If you see jobs that don’t quite match your skills but are in your area of interest, try contacting the advertiser to see if they have any other potential positions. This is particularly true for industry jobs, where a company may be hiring multiple people to develop an existing team or project. If the job has been posted by a recruitment agency, the recruiter may be involved in hiring for other companies with similar positions.

If you’re able to connect with a potential employer and secure a job interview, that’s great! If you’re not already in the US, a phone interview is the most common first step. Make sure you are well prepared by taking the time to research the company or institution and the kind of work they do. Always think of several (intelligent) questions to ask your interviewer , as many of your questions will be answered during the interview. If you are being asked to use an app you’re not familiar with (Zoom, Skype, BlueJeans, etc.), make sure you install it on your computer ahead of time and know how to use it.

I’ve recently had an insight into the recruiting process at a small-to-medium size biotech company. If you get an interview, the company or lab is probably already satisfied that you can perform the techniques required for the position (unless you lied on your resume – please do not lie on your resume). The most important considerations are teamwork, integrity, a great attitude and being able to adapt . You may well be asked ‘situational’ questions and it’s great to practice these for any stage of your job search. Don’t just present your skills and experience like a shopping list, give examples: when did you demonstrate teamwork? In what situation did you demonstrate grace under pressure? Don’t be afraid to sell yourself, and practice until you’re able to fluently describe yourself both on paper and in person as a fantastic potential member of a team, not a pipetting machine.

If you are offered a position in the USA, congratulations! However, there are a few more things you need to consider before going ahead.

It’s OK to negotiate when you receive your offer letter. If your new position is in industry, it’s almost expected. An academic salary may be dictated by grant funding or University regulations but that doesn’t mean negotiating is out of the question.

For an industry job, check Glassdoor or other resources to see the average salary for similar positions. Keep in mind that the salaries also reflect the high cost of living in areas such as Boston or San Francisco!

You may be offered a relocation bonus if you’re coming from far away. If you’re not offered relocation expenses, ask if this is possible to help cover the costs of moving to a new country.

When investigating job opportunities or attending interviews, it is acceptable to enter the USA on a visitor visa or ESTA waiver program. However, make sure you have booked your travel to leave the USA and have this information ready if it’s requested when you arrive. Don’t book a one-way ticket into the US unless you have proof (i.e., a visa) of ongoing employment. You may not start work until you exit the USA and obtain a visa and you can’t transition from visitor status to a work visa while inside the USA. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) takes these laws extremely seriously – never perform any work, paid or otherwise, unless you have the appropriate visa.

If you’re not a US citizen, you’ll need a work visa. Generally speaking, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field to qualify for a work visa in a scientific setting. Relevant field means directly related to the job you’re applying for – a degree in Business is not sufficient for a position in Neuroscience. Most life sciences institutions or companies, except for small startups, will be experienced in this process and most have their own lawyers to deal with visa applications. Even so, it’s a good idea to have some background information on the visa process.

Keep in mind that the visa process will take some time. A company or university can sometimes apply for premium processing when petitioning the US government for your visa, which will expedite your visa application for an additional fee. However, completing paperwork, scheduling interviews at the US consulate in your home country, and waiting for your completed passport may take weeks or even months.

You need to bring plenty of enthusiasm and flexibility to the table when dealing with recruiters or potential employers. Hiring a foreign national means extra expense and paperwork. Depending on the visa, there may be significant costs to the university or company. Keep in mind that it is illegal for your potential employer to ask you to pay visa filing fees! Both you and your employer will be in breach of the law if you do this, so never deal with any employer that asks you to cover filing fees in any way or implies that your salary will be reduced to compensate. I have been audited by Homeland Security while working as a postdoc and this is the first question I was asked.

It’s also a good idea to consider where in the USA you would be living. The biggest and busiest areas in life science industry are Cambridge, Massachusetts, the California Bay Area, and Seattle. Smaller but still important areas include San Diego, Los Angeles, and various major cities in Texas. Keep in mind that these are some of the most expensive cities to live in the world. As much as postdocs often survive on small stipends, foreign nationals are required to prove that they will have enough money to live on during their stay. If you apply for a visa with an offer for a job that pays very poorly and no existing savings or funds, USCIS may not be convinced that you can support yourself. If you are bringing family with you (husband or wife, US immigration does not recognize unmarried partners), they may be able to work in the USA but obtaining work authorization can take many months.

To conclude, the USA offers fantastic opportunities for scientific job-seekers and living on the other side of the world is not necessarily a barrier to securing a job. Keep in mind some important points:

• Learn how to sell yourself. In general, Americans are very happy to hear about your accomplishments and it’s not seen as poor taste unless you overinflate your abilities or bend the truth!
• Many jobs are never advertised – don’t be afraid to politely approach recruiters, companies or institutions if you feel there could be opportunities
• Without US citizenship, you will require a work visa. Be aware that this process may take time, and never break the rules

With determination and a little bit of luck, you might just find your dream job stateside.

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Research Lab Specialist Senior

Job summary.

An exciting opportunity has been created for an experienced researcher to join the Alumkal Laboratory (https://alumkal.lab.medicine.umich.edu/) at the U of M Division of Heme-Onc and the Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, MI. The individual will join as a Research Lab Specialist Senior and work directly with Dr. Joshi Alumkal, Leader of the U of M Prostate/Genitourinary Oncology Cancer Section. They will be an integral member of research team whose focus is epigenetics and drug resistance in prostate cancer.  

Our goal is to develop new, targeted treatment strategies for men with advanced prostate cancer. Our laboratory focuses on identifying mechanisms by which key chromatin modifying enzymes and chromatin readers drive transcription of pathways that promote treatment resistance. We use genomics studies in prostate cancer clinical samples and genomic and functional studies in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo model systems to understand this process.  

The position is in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and highly translational environment in the U of M Division of Hematology/Oncology and the Rogel Cancer Center in the U of M School of Medicine. Highly-motivated candidates with expertise in xenograft mouse models, molecular biology, and biochemistry applied to oncology basic/translational research will be most competitive for this position.  

The individual will be responsible for working collaboratively across the research program focused on prostate cancer epigenetics and drug resistance. Expertise with molecular biology and biochemistry will be required for this position. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to: maintaining a high level of professional expertise in the field; assisting and providing research ideas and input to other scientists within the laboratory; designing and executing experiments; and establishing laboratory procedures and systems that enforce and maintain a high level of organization in the lab. Candidates will have the ability to gain the confidence of other scientists and staff and have the ability to develop strategic relationships and partnerships with key constituents.  

The Research Lab Specialist will have a Master's degree and 5 or more years of research experience in the practice of science and team science. They are likely to have deep expertise in a singular area of focus but may also have worked as boundary spanners across multiple fields. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated a satisfactory track record of scholarly activity including high-quality peer-reviewed publications with a record of collaborative research.

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

• Performing laboratory experiments - Independently and collaboratively develop and manage research experiments, determining the most suitable methods to be used. Interpret and perform complex data analysis on experimental results and determine whether they are consistent with goals. Maintain a high level of professional expertise through familiarity with current scientific literature. As needed, develop innovative techniques and experimental systems to meet research program goals.
• Project management: Develop and oversee laboratory research projects in collaboration with PI. Provide direction and ideas including identification of scientific problem, design of approach to address it, and identification, acquisition, and management of resources to perform investigations.
• Grant preparation and financial laboratory management: In collaboration the PI, help prepare grant applications, including planning, budgeting, editing, and figure preparation. Attend budget meetings and participate in resource allocation and planning, including assigning personnel effort to specific grants and projects.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication including writing, editing, figure preparation, revisions, and submission in collaboration with project leaders (i.e. Research Fellows, Clinical Fellows, Staff Scientists).
• Track personnel progress on their projects and help ensure maximum productivity. Foster and support teamwork. Ensure that research team members maintain accurate and detailed records of all experimental procedures, data collections and analysis performed.
• Provide training to all members of the lab including staff scientists, postdoctoral fellows, clinical research fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students.

Required Qualifications*

• Master's Degree required
• 5-6 years related experience
• Supervisor and financial management experience required
• Molecular biology techniques required: PCR, primer design, cell culture, transfections, transductions, Western blots, cloning.
• Ability to generate figures, assist in manuscript and grant submissions, and provide scientific and writing feedback.
• Familiarity with supply ordering, procurement, and lab management.
• Strong publication record.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with and manage a high performing laboratory group.
• Proficient with computers specifically MS Office (which includes Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and statistical analysis software such as GraphPad Prism.
• Knowledge of policy and regulations applicable to the laboratory, including but not limited to safety, animal work, and radiation.
• Technical proficiency, scientific creativity collaborative ability, and independent thinker.
• Must have excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills: both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problems.
• Must possess energy and drive to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, including those led by other team members.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate complex scientific equipment and develop and troubleshoot complex experimental protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive cross functional collaborations both internally and externally.
• Ability to analyze short- and long-term project needs. Ability to strategize long term laboratory-wide research directions.
• Ability to schedule, manage and coordinate multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Desired Qualifications*

• Doctoral degree in relevant field and 3 years of relevant post-doctoral work experience. 
• Expertise in epigenetics, genomics, and cancer biology are required. Expertise with ChIPseq, RNAseq, RRBS, scRNAseq, and data visualization/analysis is strongly preferred. Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 KO technology is strongly preferred.

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How to Write a Salary Increase Letter (Example Included!)

Negotiating your salary can be a key step in advancing your career and boosting your financial stability—but it can also be pretty intimidating. The good news is that with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be so scary. That's where a salary increase letter comes in.

Whether you're asking for a raise due to your great performance, increased responsibilities, or changes in the market, a well-crafted letter asking for salary increment can be a powerful (and smooth) way to make your case.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about writing a salary increase letter, from understanding its purpose to tips on crafting an effective one. We'll also include sample letters and templates to help you get started. Plus, we’ve interviewed Muse career coach Jenn Smith , who shares her top advice on navigating this critical career move.

Need a higher salary? Check out open jobs on The Muse for your next big move »

What is a salary increase letter?

A salary increase letter is a formal document that employees use to request a raise from their employer. Unlike a salary review letter—which is typically initiated by the employer to communicate pay adjustments—a salary increase letter is written by the employee seeking a boost in compensation.

Writing a salary increase letter can be necessary for several reasons:

• Performance improvements : You've consistently exceeded your performance goals or achieved a significant milestone and believe your contributions are worth a higher salary.
• Increased responsibilities : Your role has expanded significantly, and your current salary no longer reflects the scope of your responsibilities.
• Market adjustments : Industry standards and market rates for your position have increased, and your current salary needs to catch up to these benchmarks.

When writing a letter to request a salary increase, it's generally more effective to address it to your direct manager or your department’s director rather than HR. Your manager is more familiar with your work, contributions, and the value you bring to the team. They are also likely involved in budget decisions and have the authority to advocate for your raise.

Is it OK to ask for a raise through a salary increase letter?

Yes, writing a salary increase letter can be a formal and respectful way to request a raise. It allows you to clearly articulate your reasons, provide evidence of your achievements , and give your employer time to consider your request. Plus, a letter is a documented record of your request and can be reviewed by decision-makers at different levels of the organization.

On the other hand, having an in-person conversation can be generally more effective. “This allows you to present your case dynamically, outlining your accomplishments, contributions, and the value you bring, and respond to questions or concerns in real-time,” Smith says, adding that a direct conversation also allows for immediate feedback. “Your manager can provide insights into decision-making, share any constraints or considerations, and offer guidance.”

She also believes it’s a good idea to supplement your conversation with a follow-up email to ensure clarity and provide a reference for future discussions.

How to write a salary increase letter

These tips will prepare you for writing an effective pay raise letter:

1. Research salary benchmarks

Conducting extensive research will strengthen your case and help you present a compelling argument.

“Research industry salary benchmarks for your role, experience level, and geographic location,” Smiths says. “Use reliable sources like industry salary surveys, compensation reports, and online salary databases.”

Additionally, be sure to understand your company's salary ranges, performance evaluation criteria, and typical raise percentages.

2. Choose the right time

Timing is crucial when it comes to writing a letter requesting pay increase. Making your request at the wrong time can significantly reduce your chances of success.

“Typically, organizations have annual or semiannual performance review cycles,” Smiths says. “Discuss this with your manager before the performance review process starts so they can consider it as they begin budget conversations.”

One common mistake she sees is “asking for a raise at an inappropriate time, such as during a company's financial downturn or immediately after a major organizational change or layoffs.” Avoid doing that at all costs.

3. Keep it clear and straightforward

Begin your letter by setting the context for your request and remind your employer of your role within the company. Clearly state your position, tenure with the company, and the purpose of the letter.

4. Detail your contributions and impact

In the main section of your letter, outline your accomplishments and contributions to the company. Highlight specific achievements, projects, or responsibilities that demonstrate your value.

Provide evidence of your impact, such as performance metrics, positive feedback from clients or colleagues, and examples of how your work has benefited the company, explaining how your contributions justify the proposed raise.

5. Conclude with gratitude and reaffirmation

Summarize your key points and reiterate your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss your compensation. Express gratitude for the support and experiences you have gained and reiterate your commitment to the company. This positive tone reinforces your professionalism and leaves a lasting impression.

Salary increase request letter example

Here’s a sample letter for salary increase request to show you how these tips can be put into practice:

Alex Johnson 123 Elm Street Springfield, IL 62704 [email protected] July 25, 2024

Emma Thompson Director of Sales Innovative Tech Solutions 456 Maple Avenue Springfield, IL 62704

Dear Ms. Thompson,

I hope you are well. I am writing to formally request a review of my current salary. I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Innovative Tech Solutions over the past three years and appreciate the opportunities for growth and development that have been provided to me.

During my time here, I have consistently exceeded expectations and made significant contributions to the Sales team. For example, I spearheaded a new email marketing campaign that increased sales by 15% and successfully launched our new TechY product line, resulting in a 20% revenue boost.

In addition to my core responsibilities, I have taken on new challenges, such as leading the training program for new sales representatives and managing key client accounts, which have significantly contributed to our team's success.

I have also undertaken several professional development activities, including completing a certification in Advanced Sales Strategies and attending workshops on market trends, which have further enhanced my skills and ability to contribute to our team.

Based on my research of industry standards and salary benchmarks for my role and experience level, I believe that an adjustment in my compensation is warranted. Therefore, I respectfully request a salary increase to $85,000. This adjustment would better reflect the value I bring to the team and align my compensation with industry standards.

I am confident this increase will further motivate me to continue delivering high-quality work and contributing to the success of Innovative Tech Solutions. I am more than willing to discuss this request in person and provide any additional information that may be required.

Thank you for considering my request and for your ongoing support.

Sincerely, Alex Johnson

Raise request letter template

Now, here's a template for a raise request letter to help guide you in drafting your own:

[Your Name] [Your Address] [Email Address] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Title] [Company’s Name] [Company’s Address]

Dear [recipient’s name],

I hope you are well. I am writing to formally request a review of my current salary. I have thoroughly enjoyed working at [Company’s Name] over the past [number] years and appreciate the opportunities for growth and development that have been provided to me.

During my time here, I have consistently exceeded expectations and made significant contributions to the [Department] team. For example, I [List your accomplishments, using quantifiable results whenever possible, such as increased sales by 15% through a new email marketing campaign; successfully launched a new product line, resulting in a 20% revenue increase; etc.].

In addition to my core responsibilities, I have taken on new challenges, such as [List additional responsibilities].

In addition to these accomplishments, I have undertaken several professional development activities, including [certifications, courses, and training programs], which have further enhanced my skills and ability to contribute to our team.

Based on my research of industry standards and salary benchmarks for my role and experience level, I believe that an adjustment in my compensation is warranted. Therefore, I respectfully request a salary increase to [desired salary or salary range]. This adjustment would better reflect the value I bring to the team and align my compensation with industry standards.

I am confident this increase will further motivate me to continue delivering high-quality work and contributing to the success of [Company Name]. I am more than willing to discuss this request in person and provide any additional information that may be required.

Sincerely, [Your name]

How often should I make a salary raise proposal ?

Typically, you should ask for a raise once a year, ideally around your annual performance review. If you have taken on significant additional responsibilities or have had exceptional achievements, it might be appropriate to request a salary review sooner. However, be mindful of your company's financial health and the timing of your request.

Should I wait for a performance review?

Waiting for a performance review is often a good strategy, as this is a natural time for salary discussions. However, if you feel that your contributions have significantly outpaced your current compensation, you might consider requesting a meeting outside of the review cycle. Just ensure your request is well-timed and substantiated.

What if the salary increase request is denied?

If a salary review is denied, consider asking for specific feedback. “Work with your manager to set clear goals—create a development plan that outlines the steps you need to receive a raise,” Smith says. “Consider discussing alternative forms of compensation, which could include bonuses, additional vacation days, flexible working arrangements, and professional development opportunities.”

Key takeaways

Whether you opt for a formal letter via email , a direct conversation, or a combination of both, the key is to present a well-reasoned case for your increased-salary request. When crafting your letter, keep these takeaways in mind:

• Avoid approaching the conversation with an aggressive or entitled attitude. Politeness and professionalism will help you make a positive impression.
• Document any professional development activities you've undertaken , such as certifications, courses, training programs, or conferences. This shows your commitment to growing within your role and adds weight to your request.
• Be confident in your request to demonstrate your self-assurance and understanding of your worth. Clearly state your desired salary or salary range and show you are informed about salary ranges for your position.
• Explain how a salary increase will help you contribute even more to the company's success. Position your request as a mutually beneficial arrangement that will enhance your productivity and the value you bring to the organization.
• Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or overly complex sentences. Ensure your message is easily understood and directly addresses your key points. After writing it, don’t forget to proofread it.

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A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the Time, Study Finds

It was much more accurate than primary care doctors using cognitive tests and CT scans. The findings could speed the quest for an affordable and accessible way to diagnose patients with memory problems.

By Pam Belluck

Scientists have made another major stride toward the long-sought goal of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease with a simple blood test . On Sunday, a team of researchers reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling the condition.

The study , published Sunday in the journal JAMA, found that about 90 percent of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s. Dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73 percent of the time, while primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61 percent of the time.

“Not too long ago measuring pathology in the brain of a living human was considered just impossible,” said Dr. Jason Karlawish, a co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the research. “This study adds to the revolution that has occurred in our ability to measure what’s going on in the brain of living humans.”

The results, presented Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, are the latest milestone in the search for affordable and accessible ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s, a disease that afflicts nearly seven million Americans and over 32 million people worldwide. Medical experts say the findings bring the field closer to a day when people might receive routine blood tests for cognitive impairment as part of primary care checkups, similar to the way they receive cholesterol tests.

“Now, we screen people with mammograms and PSA or prostate exams and other things to look for very early signs of cancer,” said Dr. Adam Boxer, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study. “And I think we’re going to be doing the same thing for Alzheimer’s disease and hopefully other forms of neurodegeneration.”

In recent years, several blood tests have been developed for Alzheimer’s. They are currently used mostly to screen participants in clinical trials and by some specialists like Dr. Boxer to help pinpoint if a patient’s dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s or another condition.

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More From Forbes

A psychologist explains how the ‘lion’s gate portal’ can benefit you.

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Days like 8/8 can benefit you regardless of your belief in them as they create the perfect storm of ... [+] positivity, placebo and manifestation practice.

Research has confirmed time and again that the gaps between psychological science and spirituality are wide. While one uses treatment modalities developed through scientific rigor, the other banks on faith, belief and optimism.

Paradoxically, however, psychological healing often intersects with spirituality in the realm of practice. “Manifestation” exercises such as meditation and chanting, positive visualization, journaling and affirmations are prescribed in both spaces regularly and are often rooted in gaining more knowledge of and control over the subconscious and unconscious mind.

Research published in 2023 also indicates that certain psychological constructs, like being in a “flow state,” mirror spiritual experiences. The study further argues that incorporating spirituality into your life may enhance self-understanding and potential through self-belief, a goal therapists often set for clients they treat.

All of this is to say that there are many paths that lead to a desired destination. Whether you are a realist with elaborate plans for the future or you’re a spiritual soul building a deeper connection with the universe, manifestation exercises can help you break substantial ground on the journey you’re already on.

And while there is no perfect time to start this journey, many swear by certain fated days, meant to be more powerful and “bountiful” than others. Today is supposed to be one such day, marking the opening of the “Lion’s Gate portal.” Here’s the lore behind the popular legend.

Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro Release Date Proposed In New Report

Daniel cormier calls out ufc for protecting its ‘golden goose’, raygun, the australian breakdancer in the olympics: explained, the astrological tale behind lion’s gate portal.

Spiritual practitioners claim the eighth of August to be the day the universe supposedly opens a cosmic gateway known as the Lion’s Gate Portal. With Sirius rising and the Sun in Leo, believers claim this is a magical window for transformation and manifestation, as if the universe itself is conspiring to grant all wishes.

For those who believe the lore, it presents a tantalizing chance to harness the universe’s supposed powers. Whether it’s celestial truth or just a fanciful story lacking scientific or cosmic corroboration, the intent to start manifesting in your life is never unuseful. Regardless of these beliefs, manifestation can always help people achieve their best potential.

Why Does Manifestation Work Well With Spirituality?

While they may use vastly different language, construct different arguments and are trying to prove different things—spiritual healing and psychological healing often coincide when it comes to execution. Here’s a psychologist’s take on why manifestation works in both worlds:

• The placebo effect of faith and positive outcomes. Research published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B suggests that belief systems, including spiritual practices, can impact physical health and well-being. Another study examining the Covid-19 pandemic found that patients with higher emotional, social, physical and spiritual resilience experienced less severe symptoms and recovered more quickly, illustrating how faith can influence outcomes through the placebo effect. And finally, in a 2020 article discussing the power of religious practices, psychiatrist Harold Koening notes: “Placebos have been used in medicine since antiquity and may have significantly improved health and quality of life when little was known about the causes of most illnesses. Many outcomes were likely due to the placebo effect, as available treatments were either unproven or later disproven.” In the same vein, practices like manifestation may rely on the placebo effect, where believing in positive outcomes creates a psychological environment that supports achieving those outcomes.
• The powerful role of self-efficacy. Prolific researcher Albert Bandura's work on self-efficacy highlights the power of one’s belief in their own ability to succeed. When individuals engage in manifestation practices, spiritual or not, they are essentially boosting their self-efficacy—which can lead to better performance and greater resilience in the face of challenges. This helps in building a positive self-image and enhances strength to take righteous actions towards one's ambitions.
• Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT , a well-established psychological treatment modality, emphasizes the importance of changing negative thought patterns to improve mental health. Manifestation techniques, such as affirmations and visualization, align closely with CBT principles by encouraging individuals to focus on positive thoughts and outcomes, thereby reducing anxiety and self-sabotaging thoughts.

How You Can Harness The “Magic” Of Days Like 8/8

Whether ordained by the universe or not, there may not be a better time than now to channelize your mental and spiritual energy toward manifesting the goals you desire to achieve. Here’s why the efficacy of these tools can feel like magic:

• Meditation and visualization. Meditation and visualization are powerful tools that help individuals focus their intentions and reduce stress. Research led by epidemiologists at West Virginia University shows that regular meditation can enhance cognitive function and emotional regulation.
• Journaling. Writing down aspirations and goals can clarify intentions and create a tangible blueprint for success. Journaling has been shown to improve mental health by allowing individuals to process emotions and articulate their own thoughts.
• Environmental enhancements. Creating a conducive environment for manifestation, such as lighting candles or using fragrances, can enhance mood and focus. Research published in Scientia Pharmaceutica suggests that certain olfactory stimulation can positively affect mood and cognitive function.
• Affirmations. Repeating affirmations can reinforce positive beliefs and motivate individuals to pursue their goals. A 2015 study indicates that affirmations, when practiced consistently and spoken as if true, can improve performance and self-perception through a sense of achieving rewards.

While the myths surrounding events like the Lion’s Gate portal may blend astrological assumptions into daily life, the practice of manifestation itself holds significant psychological value at all times in life. The power of intention, belief and structured practice can have profound effects on cognitive health and personal growth. By understanding and harnessing these psychological techniques, individuals can achieve positive transformations, regardless of their spiritual beliefs.

Test your levels of spirituality by taking the science-backed Ego Dissolution Scale, here .

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Watch CBS News

Dow plunges more than 1,000 points amid fears of U.S. economic slowdown

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: August 5, 2024 / 9:22 PM EDT / CBS News

Stocks in the U.S. plunged for a third consecutive trading day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling more than 1,000 points amid growing fears of an economic downturn sparked by a slowdown in hiring and consumer spending. 

The S&P 500 slid 160 points, or 3%, to 5,186 on Monday, the index's biggest one-day drop in nearly two years, according to FactSet. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite sank 3.4% as investors fled some of the Big Tech players that until recently had powered the U.S. market higher — Apple shed 4.8%, while Meta and Nvidia, fell 2.5% and 6.4%, respectively. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1,034 points, shedding 2.6% of its value. Earlier in the day, it had lost as more than 1,200 points, but the markets regained some of their early losses as Wall Street digested Monday data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Services index, which showed that service employment picked up in July. 

"The details of the ISM report were encouraging, with business activity, new orders and employment all rebounding markedly in July," Oxford Economics said in a Monday research note. The report "aligns with our view of an economy in transition rather than one on the brink of collapse."

Even with Monday's rout, U.S. stocks still remain in positive territory this year. The S&P 500 has gained 9.4% in 2024, even after including its recent slide, while the Dow remains up by 2.6%.

What's driving down stocks

Stocks  lost ground on Thursday after weak reports on manufacturing and construction, which stoked fears the U.S. economy may finally be buckling under the pressure of high interest rates. 

Then on Friday, government data showed that hiring last month was far weaker than expected , adding to Wall Street's fears that a "soft landing," in which the U.S. economy could avoid a recession despite the highest interest rates in 23 years, could instead become a hard landing. 

"The main factor that has staying power is the economy's slowdown," wrote Wells Fargo head of global investment strategy Paul Christopher in a report. "Investors have been watching household financial stress build for the past two years, but during that time, job growth remained above its December 2009-December 2019 average of 180,000 new jobs per month."

But Friday's jobs report showed that employers added only 114,000 new jobs last month, far fewer than the 175,000 jobs expected by economists, he noted. 

Tech stocks have been hit particularly hard in recent weeks as investors pull back from artificial intelligence companies amid questions about when the emerging sector will deliver profits. 

"It has been a tough few weeks for the AI group as earnings were reported," analysts with Melius Research wrote. 'Microsoft, Meta, Google and Amazon were all asked about payoffs from AI investments. While pretty clear that they all need to keep spending, the market remains skeptical of the pace."

The market rout extended to Asian and European markets, with Japan's benchmark stock index plunging 12.4% on Monday. The Nikkei had dropped 5.8% on Friday, making this its worst two-day decline ever. 

Stocks in Korea and Taiwan also fell sharply, with all three Asian markets damaged as investors pull back from companies focused on artificial intelligence out of concern the sector has been overhyped.

When will the Fed cut rates?

With the disappointing economic data, Wall Street is worried the Federal Reserve may have kept its benchmark interest rate too high for too long, heightening the risk of a recession. The central bank kept the federal funds rate unchanged when it met  on July 31 to discuss economic conditions and whether and when it should begin cutting rates.

A rate cut would make it less expensive for U.S. households and companies to borrow money, but it could take time for the effects to boost the economy. On Monday, some investors called for the Fed to start cutting rates sooner rather than later to stave off an economic downturn.

"The Federal Reserve needs to start easing monetary policy more aggressively than had been anticipated, in order to head off a looming recession in the world's largest economy," said Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, an independent financial advisory and asset management firm, in an email. "The Fed was behind the curve at the beginning of the cycle, it cannot afford to be behind the curve this time too."

Economists still don't expect a recession

Although worries over weakness in the U.S. economy and volatile markets have rippled around the world, domestic economic activity remains solid, with many analysts saying that a recession remains unlikely. Stephen Brown, deputy chief North America economist with Capital Economics, still expects a soft landing, while acknowledging that the risk of a sharper downturn is rising. 

The economy has accelerated this year, with the nation's gross domestic product jumping to 2.8% in the second quarter, blowing past forecasts. A recession is typically marked by two consecutive quarters of negative GDP. And although July's jobs report was disappointing, analysts point out that it reflects just one month of data, while also noting that the depressed hiring figures in July could have also been impacted by Hurricane Beryl . 

"It can be a mistake to read too much into a single data release," noted Solita Marcelli, chief investment officer Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, told investors in a research note. "The number of people who reported being unable to work [in July] due to the weather was 436,000; this compares to an average of 33,000 for July since 2000."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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