Atlanta Center for Medical Research (ACMR), which conducts clinical trials to research the central nervous system disorders and other therapeutic areas, is among the Georgia companies expanding its workforce. ACMR, which was founded in 1980, is moving into a new $25 million facility with 150,000 square feet in southwest Atlanta this month.
The company has 115 employees, including hourly and salaried, and part-time and full-time workers, and expects to grow to a total of 300 employees in the next year. Positions range from research assistants to doctors, and human resources representative Katie Jones discussed the opportunities.
Q: What kind of workers does ACMR look for?
A: We are looking for people who have a real drive and interest in research and advancing medication to help people with—particularly at this time—mental disorders. As we expand, we will be able to do a lot more in other capacities such as expanding into other types of medical trials. We’re looking for a passion with these fields. Educational backgrounds vary with the type of position. We do have entry-level positions for which we hire people with bachelor’s degrees, and we do have positions that require only high school diplomas. We have a lot of opportunities for a variety of backgrounds.
Q: Does ACMR offer onsite training or education?
A: We do train our staff and we also offer employees financial support to obtain their Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, which is our professional certification in this field.
Q: Are there opportunities for growth within ACMR?
A: I think growth within the company is one of our strongest assets. We really encourage our employees to grow within the company. For example, I started out as a research assistant, which is a great way to learn about the company, to learn about how we operate and to learn about research in general. There are many avenues for those in an entry-level position to grow. We do like to promote from within.
Q: Why would someone want to work for ACMR?
A: ACMR is one of the leaders in our industry. We have definitely made progress and have helped advance the industry. We work for pharmaceutical companies and we currently primarily focus on central nervous system disorders. Our staff really enjoys the work that they do. They really enjoy making a difference at a larger scale.
