North Carolina is a powerhouse for clinical research jobs, often dubbed the “Silicon Valley of Biotech.” It is home to Research Triangle Park (RTP), which hosts hundreds of pharma, biotech, and CRO companies. Major employers in NC for clinical research roles include:
- Contract Research Organizations (CROs): IQVIA, Parexel, Syneos Health, PPD (Thermo Fisher), ICON, and Labcorp’s clinical research division (Fortrea) all have a large presence and continuously hire entry-level staff. These companies run clinical trials for sponsors worldwide, and RTP is a global hub for CRO headquarters. For example, IQVIA (headquartered in Durham) and Syneos (Morrisville, NC) each employ thousands – from CTAs to CRAs – and actively recruit local graduates.
- Pharma/Biotech Companies: NC hosts big names like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, and many smaller biotech startups. These companies often hire clinical research coordinators, data coordinators, and regulatory coordinators for their in-house trials. Over 500 biotech/pharma companies operate in NC, so opportunities span from large firms to emerging startups (which can be exciting for broad hands-on experience).
- Academic Medical Centers: Leading research hospitals like Duke University Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Wake Forest Baptist, and East Carolina University all conduct clinical trials. They hire CRCs and research assistants for their departments (oncology, cardiology, etc.). For instance, Duke’s clinical research unit is large and often has open CRC positions (Duke even partners with training programs to fill them). Charlotte, NC, is another growing area – hospitals like Atrium Health run trials and need coordinators. Top NC cities for hiring are Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Virginia’s clinical research scene is also expanding:
- Health Systems and Universities: VCU Health (Virginia Commonwealth) in Richmond and UVA Health in Charlottesville are major research institutions, each running extensive clinical trials across multiple disciplines. They regularly hire CRCs, regulatory specialists, and research assistants. Sentara Healthcare, a large network in Virginia (based in Norfolk), also conducts trials (especially in oncology) – they recruit coordinators and research nurses. These institutions anchor Virginia’s top hiring cities: Richmond, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Fairfax/Northern VA, and Charlottesville.
- CROs and Biotech in VA: Northern Virginia (e.g., Fairfax area) has a growing biotech corridor; companies like Parexel and ICON have offices or trial sites in VA and often list jobs for CRAs, project assistants, etc. Proximity to Washington D.C. also means some federal clinical research (NIH studies, federal contractors) – e.g., the NIH and Walter Reed Army Medical Center occasionally have junior research roles that locals can fill. Virginia Bio reports ~100 biotech employers in the state, so while smaller than NC, there’s a substantial industry footprint.
- Notably, IQVIA – though based in NC – appears as a top employer in both states. IQVIA has operations and network sites across VA too. This illustrates that many large research companies operate region-wide.
In sum, if you’re in NC or VA, you are in one of the best places in the country to start a clinical research career. The concentration of CROs in NC is unmatched (they are some of the most aggressive entry-level hirers), and VA’s mix of academic and private research ensures a diversity of opportunities. Many students find jobs with the well-known names above, but don’t overlook smaller CROs, emerging biotechs in RTP or Richmond, and even government-linked research units – collectively, they form a robust ecosystem hungry for new talent.