According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professions in
the field of clinical research are predicted to grow faster than
the national average in the upcoming years. In fact, projected
increases range from 13 to 23 percent, depending on the
specific occupation.
When you’re looking to pursue a career in clinical research, it’s essential to
understand that, while rewarding, it isn’t a career for everyone because it
requires a unique skill set that may not come naturally to many scientists.
It’s a definite team sport that requires a combination of job specific abilities and soft skills
on any given day. So while your scientific mind is definitely an important instrument that
can help advance medicine, you’ll need to bring more abilities to the table to meet all of
the requirements of today’s pressure-filled, team-oriented, clinical research projects
Moreover, even if you have all of the required skills, you also need to use every resource
at your disposal to gain the right kind of experience and keep landing jobs that match
your career trajectory.
Today’s clinical talent needs to possess a combination
of personality traits, job specific abilities, and soft skills
that make them well-rounded in a manner that reaches
beyond science proficiencies alone.
Some of these qualities are inherent to the field of science, such as attention
to detail, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning.
However, many of these attributes—such as IT know-how, communication skills,
management and strategy abilities, knowledge of government procedures, and
conflict resolution skills—are just as important, yet not always intrinsic strengths
of a science professional.
Let’s take a closer look at the skills and personality traits required for the roles of
regulatory affairs professionals, clinical data managers, and clinical research associates.
Regulatory affairs professionals
In addition to having a good understanding of science, regulatory affairs professionals
should possess the ability to think critically, as well as have a pronounced love of detail
so they can manage even the tiniest nuances of detail in multi-gigabyte documents.
It’s crucial that they’re strategic thinkers who understand regulatory implications at every
stage of the product lifecycle.
They need to be well versed in government language and procedures, and they should
know how to apply their expertise to specific situations as they occur. Since these
professionals are required to integrate regulatory knowledge into business strategies and
decision making processes, they need a solid understanding of finance, marketing, and
policy—frequently even on a multinational scale.
They should be skilled at focusing on multiple areas at the same time, as well as utilizing
analytical thinking to handle the gray areas often encountered in regulations. They
need to be able to negotiate between parties when conflicts of interest arise. Finally,
they need to be effective communicators who can assist colleagues from other areas in
understanding regulatory implications.
Clinical data managers
Clinical data managers need to be proficient in a wide variety of software programs
such as analytical and classification software, database user interfaces, and presentation
software. They should possess a good understanding of business and management
principles, as well as the ability to think analytically and critically in order to effectively
solve complex problems.
These professionals are required to monitor themselves and others for improvement;
actively listen to gain insights into others’ contributions; and exercise good judgment
when evaluating potential courses of action. They must have the ability to order
information effectively and employ deductive reasoning to find the best answers
or solutions.
They should be sensitive to potential problems and able to act appropriately to avert
them. Moreover, they need to be adaptable in terms of handling change and variety in
the workplace.
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