From Mapping Your Pathway to Traversing a Career
Summary
Clinical research has grown into a rapidly expanding profession, yet entry into the field has often been unplanned, with many professionals discovering it by chance rather than through a clearly defined pathway. Building on earlier career-mapping work, a new “Airport Concourse Model” reframes clinical research careers as a connected network of pathways spanning academic research sites, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, CROs, commercial IRBs and technology solution vendors. Rather than presenting careers as linear ladders, the model emphasizes intentional movement, flexibility and transferable skills shaped by education, experience, mentoring and individual interests. Dr. Jessica Fritter from The Ohio State University, builds on earlier career-mapping work with a new “Airport Concourse Model” that reframes how we think about careers in clinical research.
Article
Clinical research professionals are members of a profession that has grown exponentially and evolved rapidly. Clinical research as a distinct profession has followed the path of many other groups of expert workers, with training moving from informal education (e.g., “see one, do one”) to formal certification along with recognition by academic, industry, and government entities.
While recognized as an established and respected profession by academic medical centers (AMCs), pharmaceutical sponsors, and contract research organizations (CROs), we think the public is unaware of the profession and believe there are even those in the profession who have little to no knowledge about the breadth of career possibilities in the industry. We are raising greater awareness by actively peeling back the layers on myriad lucrative career pathways available in clinical research.
Read More: https://acrpnet.org/2026/04/14/from-mapping-your-pathway-to-traversing-a-career
https://acrpnet.org/2026/04/14/from-mapping-your-pathway-to-traversing-a-career
