Quote:
Originally Posted by fauxfire
Hello all!
I'm a Life Science grad with 2nd Lower Honours from NUS, been working in a non-science job for about a year since I've graduated, but I'm considering returning to the science/healthcare industry.
Recently chanced upon a couple of Research Coordinator positions at a couple of local healthcare institutions, hence I have a few questions that I hope the wise community here can help me with:
1) What is the average pay range like for such positions? What about AWS and other bonuses?
2) How much "research" do they conduct? I may be wrong, but I hear that they are mainly the "admin" person in a research team, with most of the research done by the Research Assistants (RAs) and Post-Docs/PhD holders.
3) How is the day-to-day work of a Research Coordinator like? Is it a routine-based job or more dynamic in nature?
4) How are the working cultures at the local healthcare institutions, such as SingHealth, etc
5) Is there a difference between the normal "Research Coordinator" vs "Clinical Research Coordinators"?
6) How is the career progression like for Research Coordinators?
Appreciate the input from everyone! And I hope this thread will benefit people who are looking for similar jobs as well!
Thanks! |
1) Average pay would depends on this few things:
- Local Grad without relevant work exp (Fresh Grad): 3.1-3.6k (Gross)(Without Allowance)
- Local Grad with min 2 years of clinical (Hospital or clinic) exp: 3.2-3.8k (Gross)
- Overseas or Private Grad w/o work exp (Fresh Grad): 2.9-3.6k
- Overseas or Private Grad w/ min 2 years of clinical (Hosp or clinic) exp: 3.2-3.8k
My personal opinion: TBH, employers don't really gauge which uni you are from, infact being from local uni means you are "expected" to be more expensive to employ, so some of them might prefer to employ overseas or private degree holders since they are cheaper but can deliver the same amount of work and expectations required.
Public sector (Govt): Have mid year per bonus and AWS (Govt got alot of research grant money = Job security)
Private (Nowadays really bad): AWS only if your contract renews by yearly basis (No Job security) since your pay is determined by the sponsor's grant (Research grant)
2) s://.jliedu.com/blog/clinical-research-coordinator-a-better-career-choice-for-nurses/
Some of the few roles: Lab work - Centrifugation and sample aliquoting
Phlebotomy (Draw Blood), IVC/IVM (Intravascular cannulation) for clinicals, the rest are pretty much admin - Useful skills
3) 8-5 Job but very dynamic according to the schedules of your work colleagues: CRA/patients/Doctors/Auditors/Yourself
4) Depends: If you are lucky, minimal work politics (Research sector in singapore is small so you cannot afford to offend anybody anyway, once you are blacklisted, be prepared to do something else outside of research)
5) There is no normal or clinical. They are basically the same thing with different name, sometimes we are called Study Coordinator, Clinical Research Coordinator or even Research Assistant, usually I'll go by the title of RA since it's easier for non-research staff to remember by.
6) Please refer and read
.scri.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PT-Slides-v2.pdf
However CRC in Singapore is not established yet, so at the moment I would advise for people to stay as a stepping stone to get research certified with a few years of working experience before pursuing for continuing academic studies if you are looking at purely research.
In the end research is about publications and showing off your findings to the public, you would require adequate qualifications and knowledge (Relevant academic skillsets) to do so anyway. Degree is the bridge of the iceberg, you cannot do anything with it in if you're looking for specialised role like being a researcher, scientist and epidemiologist etc
I hope that answer your question, disclaimer: If you want to be rich, don't come into the research field, you need real passion and interest.