Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Clinical Research Assistants
For undergraduate students interested in a healthcare career, a common entry-level position is a clinical research assistant, a "super foundational level" role often appealing to those considering medical school or a career pivot. Other entry-level options include lab assistant positions, performing tasks such as "running samples, um, test[ing] tumor tissue," similar to undergraduate STEM work.
Clinical Research, Healthcare, Lab Assistant, Entry-Level Positions, Medical School
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cindy Tong
Sr. Clinical Trial Coordinator
UCLA Health, Hematology/Oncology
UCLA, 2017
UCLA FEMBA 2026
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Research and Development (R&D)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Clinical Research Assistant is an entry-level position.
2. Lab Assistant is another entry-level position, often involving sample and tumor tissue testing.
3. These entry-level roles are accessible to undergraduate students, particularly those in STEM fields or pre-med.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
The most direct entry-level position at my clinic, and I'd say this is fairly standard across healthcare departments, is a clinical research assistant. You're at a very foundational level.
We tend to hire undergraduate students who either want to pivot from pre-med to a different area of healthcare or are on a direct path to medical school.
Sometimes, if you want to work in a lab setting and transition to more patient-facing roles, there are normal lab assistant positions. Some lab assistants run samples or test tumor tissue.
This is similar to much of the work done in undergrad by STEM majors, but it's a full-time, entry-level job. That's where most people start.