Job satisfaction mixed as workload increases

Since the recession ended six years ago, clinical research professionals have become more optimistic about the economic outlook of their companies. Yet job satisfaction levels are mixed—the workforce has seen its workload and responsibilities rise dramatically, while mean salary levels have increased only slightly when adjusted for inflation. According to a new survey from CenterWatch and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), a high percentage of employees also are worried about job security, have considered switching jobs within the next year and don’t see much opportunity
for career advancement within their organizations.

Gamification moving from early science to patient use

Video games that can affect the brain have been in existence for some time, but only in the last several years has the concept of measuring those effects or using those problem-solving skills been applied to the drug development process. This concept, known as gamification, has permeated the life sciences industry over the last few years, starting as a way to entice online gamers to become “citizen scientists,” helping to solve complex scientific problems such as protein folding or creating a virtual map of the eye, while playing a video game online.

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