Careers in clinical research: How do I get one?



Are you a student who wants to pursue a career in clinical research? There are so many options that choosing a career path can be overwhelming. 

Dr Tina Soulis is CEO of Neuroscience Trials Australia, a not-for-profit Contract Research Organisation (CRO) that provides support for researchers and commercial entities running clinical trials. We asked for her best advice to students thinking about clinical research.

Dr Tina Soulis, CEO of Neuroscience Trials Australia

1. Learn what jobs are out there

There are so many ways to be involved in clinical research. Work out which might interest you by learning more about the possibilities. 

Here are just some of the many potential roles needed to make clinical research possible. 

  • Clinical Trials Administrator
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Project Manager (clinical)
  • Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
  • Data Manager
  • Ethics and Governance Officer
  • Study Coordinator
  • Regulatory roles
  • Medical writing
  • Safety Officers/Pharmacovigilance
If any of the above appeals, look into them further to see what qualifications and experience are required.

2. Become familiar with industry associations and government

Know the major industry bodies. They can provide great networking and career opportunities.


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ARCS (Australian Regulatory and Clinical Scientist Association)

ARCS Australia assists with education, professional development, and career pathways in healthcare. Over the past two years, they have introduced an intern program – keep an eye on seek.com for expressions of interest.  They also have some great networking opportunities - they have a local Melbourne group for folks wanting to get into the industry. The group usually meets at least once per quarter and has guest speakers.  

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This is Australia’s industry body for biotechnology. You could approach them to do an internship. They have an annual meeting in October, and you can also ask to attend their events – although this can be costly so volunteering may be the best option. This is a great way to network and get to know people.

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This is the largest biotechnology network in Australia.  They have great events and again you could go and volunteer there.

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TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Based in Canberra, the TGA is the government body who regulates our medicines.  They are always looking for graduates and there are many roles that you could fulfil,  which are often great industry starting roles. Roles could include regulatory, safety support, scientific reviewer, and more.

3. Know who to approach

If you're looking for an internship or job, there are plenty of organisations to consider.

Large Contract Research Organisations

A contract research organisation (CRO) provides support to institutions and companies by allowing them to outsource various aspects of research. Here are some of the largest ones:
Pharmaceutical companies

Most pharmaceutical companies in Australia are based in Sydney. However, some have offices in Melbourne, including CSL, GSK, and Servier. 

Ethics officers in public hospitals
Ethics Officers ensure that clinical trials are held to appropriate ethical standards. Public hospitals including the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash Health, the Alfred, Western Health, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre all have ethics officers.

Clinical trial units

All major hospitals run clinical trials, and their units are often looking for study coordinators. 

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