Company Overview
North York Research Inc. is the high-volume Clinical Research Division of North York Dermatology Clinic.
We conduct Phase II–IV clinical trials across multiple dermatologic conditions, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, chronic hand eczema, acne vulgaris, prurigo nodularis, lichen simplex chronicus, urticaria, discoid lupus erythematosus, and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Our site operates in a fast-paced, multi-study environment, supporting leading pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs.
Location: On-site
Employment Type: Full-time
Role Overview
This is an entry-level, lab-focused Clinical Research Assistant role within an active dermatology clinical research site. The successful candidate will support regulated human subject clinical trials, with a primary focus on laboratory workflows, sample handling, lab kit preparation, specimen processing, shipment coordination, chain of custody, and temperature documentation.
The successful candidate will also assist Clinical Research Coordinators with administrative, documentation, patient-visit, and study-related activities.
This is not an observational, shadowing, exploratory, or primarily administrative research position. We are looking for someone who is sharp, highly organized, detail-oriented, comfortable learning technical procedures, and able to follow study protocols and instructions precisely.
Previous exposure to clinical research, healthcare, laboratory work, or patient care is preferred. However, candidates with strong relevant education and a demonstrated ability to learn detailed procedures will also be considered.
This position provides an opportunity to develop toward a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) role based on demonstrated performance, reliability, accuracy, competence, and ability to take on increasing clinical research responsibilities.
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, on-site position.
Core clinic hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Reliable attendance and the ability to consistently start work at 8:00 AM are required.
Occasional flexibility within clinic hours may be required based on study visits, patient scheduling, laboratory processing windows, courier pick-ups, or clinic operations.
Key Responsibilities
The Clinical Research Assistant will support both laboratory workflows and clinical research operations, with the primary emphasis on laboratory support.
Laboratory and Sample Processing Responsibilities
- Prepare study-specific lab kits and laboratory materials prior to patient visits
- Confirm lab manual requirements before processing, storing, or shipping samples
- Label, verify, process, and organize biological samples according to protocol requirements
- Perform or assist with centrifugation, aliquoting, freezing, packaging, and shipment of samples
- Maintain accurate chain of custody documentation
- Complete temperature logs, handling logs, shipment records, and other lab-related documentation
- Coordinate courier pick-ups and sample shipments according to study timelines
- Track laboratory supplies, kits, expiry dates, and pending shipments
- Identify and escalate missing supplies, unclear instructions, temperature deviations, shipment issues, or documentation discrepancies
- Maintain cleanliness, organization, and inspection-readiness of laboratory areas and supplies
- Follow protocol-specific lab manuals, sponsor requirements, GCP expectations, and site procedures
Clinical Research Operations Responsibilities
- Assist with preparation and conduct of on-site dermatology clinical trial visits
- Support source documentation, regulatory filing, and maintenance of study binders
- Assist with subject-facing workflows in accordance with REB-approved procedures
- Support informed consent workflows as delegated and permitted by site procedures
- Enter and review study data in Electronic Data Capture systems
- Support study tracking and site operations using CTMS or internal tracking systems
- Assist with general study coordination tasks as needed
- Work closely with Clinical Research Coordinators and the Clinical Research Supervisor to ensure study tasks are completed accurately and on time
- Take on additional clinical research responsibilities as training and demonstrated competence progress
Required Qualifications
Applicants must demonstrate the following:
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow step-by-step instructions carefully
- Ability to learn and retain detailed procedures and instructions
- Ability to identify errors, discrepancies, missing information, or unclear instructions and escalate appropriately rather than guess or improvise
- Comfort working with biological samples and laboratory procedures
- Comfort performing repetitive but accuracy-sensitive tasks
- Ability to maintain accurate logs, checklists, trackers, and documentation
- Ability to work in a structured, protocol-driven environment
- Good organizational and time-management skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-study environment
- Ability to work full-time on-site and reliably start at 8:00 AM
Previous experience in clinical research, healthcare, a laboratory, or another regulated clinical environment is preferred, but extensive clinical research experience is not required for this entry-level position.
Strongly Preferred Qualifications
- Previous exposure to biological sample handling or laboratory workflows
- Experience with centrifugation, aliquoting, lab kit preparation, sample storage, or sample shipment
- Experience maintaining temperature logs, chain of custody records, or sample-handling documentation
- Exposure to clinical trials, GCP, REB processes, informed consent workflows, EDC, or CTMS platforms
- Prior healthcare or patient-facing experience
- Prior dermatology clinical or research experience
- Phlebotomy or venipuncture experience
- Relevant education in health sciences, life sciences, clinical research, nursing, laboratory sciences, or a related field
- Demonstrated interest in progressing toward Clinical Research Coordinator responsibilities
Candidate Fit
This role is best suited for someone who:
- Learns quickly and retains new information
- Enjoys hands-on laboratory and operational work
- Is comfortable with repetitive but high-accuracy tasks
- Takes documentation and accuracy seriously
- Can follow protocols exactly without taking shortcuts
- Uses checklists, logs, trackers, and structured systems to stay organized
- Recognizes when something does not look right and asks before proceeding
- Escalates issues early rather than guessing or improvising
- Accepts responsibility for completing assigned tasks accurately and on time
- Wants to build a long-term career in clinical research and progress toward greater responsibility
This role is not suitable for candidates who are primarily seeking:
- A remote or flexible work arrangement
- A short-term placement
- A purely observational research experience
- A mostly administrative role
- A role with minimal lab or sample-handling responsibilities
- General exposure before deciding whether clinical research is a long-term interest
Role Structure
Reports to: Clinical Research Supervisor and Research Director
Autonomy: Semi-independent execution with structured oversight
Primary focus: Laboratory workflows and clinical research operational support
Pace: Moderate, structured, accuracy-driven
Growth: Increased responsibility based on demonstrated competence, reliability, accuracy, and accountability, with potential progression toward a Clinical Research Coordinator role
Application Instructions
Please apply with your resume only.
Applications should highlight any relevant laboratory, healthcare, clinical research, patient-care, science, or regulated-work experience.
Candidates at an early stage of their clinical research career are encouraged to apply if they have a strong relevant background, excellent attention to detail, the ability to learn quickly, and a genuine interest in developing a long-term career in clinical research.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $19.00 per hour
Ability to commute/relocate:
- North York, ON M2N 3A6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Q1. How much experience do you have in a clinical research, healthcare, laboratory, or regulated clinical environment?
☐ None
☐ Under 6 months
☐ 6–12 months
☐ 1–2 years
☐ More than 2 years
- Q2. Which of the following have you personally performed? Select all that apply.
☐ Handling or labeling biological samples
☐ Centrifugation
☐ Aliquoting
☐ Freezing/storing biological samples
☐ Preparing laboratory or study kits
☐ Packaging samples for shipment
☐ Maintaining temperature or laboratory logs
☐ Phlebotomy/venipuncture
☐ Clinical research or patient documentation
☐ None of the above
- Q3. Which statement best describes your previous hands-on experience?
☐ I have personally performed clinical research or laboratory procedures involving patients or biological samples
☐ I have performed laboratory or healthcare procedures, but not as part of a clinical trial
☐ I have supported research or laboratory activities under supervision
☐ My experience is primarily academic/theoretical
☐ I have no relevant experience
- Q4. If a sample label, laboratory requisition, or shipment instruction did not match the study lab manual, what would you do?
☐ Stop and clarify/escalate the discrepancy before proceeding
☐ Use my best judgment and continue
☐ Ask a coworker and proceed if they think it is acceptable
☐ Proceed if the sample is time-sensitive
☐ I am not sure
- Q5. This position requires repetitive, detail-sensitive work including preparing lab kits, checking labels, recording exact processing times, maintaining logs, processing samples and coordinating shipments. Are you comfortable performing these tasks accurately every day?
☐ Yes
☐ No
- Q6. This is a full-time, on-site position in North York, Monday–Friday, and you must be able to reliably start work at 8:00 AM. Can you commit to this schedule on an ongoing basis?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Work Location: In person
