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IMA Group
Chicago, Illinois

Principal Investigator (Psychiatrist) – Clinical Research - Chicago, IL

Psychiatry 8.7 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsNo nightsPart-Time

Listed compensation

$175-$200/hr

The week · per this postingWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.

Posted 9m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Principal Investigator (Psychiatrist) – Clinical Research | Part-Time | Chicago, IL

IMA Clinical Research is seeking a Board-Certified Psychiatrist (MD/DO) to join our team in Chicago, IL as a Principal Investigator. This part-time opportunity is ideal for psychiatrists interested in advancing innovative mental health treatments through clinical research in a collaborative, patient-focused environment.

Schedule: 2–3 days per week, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM

Compensation: $175–$200 per hour

What You'll Do

Serve as Principal Investigator for psychiatry-focused clinical trials (Phase II–IV; we do not conduct Phase I studies)

  • Ensure compliance with study protocols, FDA regulations, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
  • Evaluate and determine participant eligibility
  • Monitor participant safety and oversee adverse event reporting
  • Maintain accurate study documentation
  • Collaborate with sponsors and research staff to ensure successful trial execution

What You'll Bring

MD or DO with an active, unrestricted Illinois medical license (or ability to obtain)

Board Certification in Psychiatry

  • Previous clinical research or Principal Investigator experience preferred (Phase II–IV trial experience a plus)
  • Excellent communication, clinical judgment, and organizational skills

Why Join IMA Clinical Research?

  • Flexible part-time schedule (2–3 days per week)
  • No nights, weekends, or on-call responsibilities
  • Competitive hourly compensation
  • Opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking psychiatric research
  • Collaborative, mission-driven research team dedicated to improving patient care
  • The IMA Group is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Our Government Services Division supports local, state, and federal agencies and delivers professional and objective medical and psychological examinations as well as ancillary services.

Our Payer Services Division meets the evaluation and screening needs of Carriers, TPAs, Public Entities and Employers and includes behavioral health and physical medicine specialty services, working with a wide range of organizations within the workers' compensation, disability, liability, and auto markets.

Our Clinical Research Division performs all types of Phase II-IV clinical trials in multiple therapeutic areas through a flexible nationwide network of site locations and virtual capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

The Principal Investigator will oversee psychiatry-focused clinical trials, ensuring compliance with FDA regulations and Good Clinical Practice. They are responsible for evaluating participant eligibility, monitoring safety, and maintaining accurate study documentation.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an MD or DO degree with an active, unrestricted Illinois medical license and Board Certification in Psychiatry. Previous experience in clinical research or as a Principal Investigator for Phase II-IV trials is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Protocol complianceSafety monitoringCommunication skills

Psychiatry — Physician Career Context

Of the 40 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 80% are remote, 75% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$390k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $390k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Psychiatry jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score8.7 / 10 · top 10% in psychiatryranked against 1,909 Psychiatry listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$390k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Psychiatry listings in Illinois121 active1,919 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 80% remote · 75% no call · 80% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIllinois Physician listings: 25% state a sign-on bonus (median $100k) · 25% offer loan repayment1,004 active listings, Oct 2026
Psychiatry pay trend+12.2% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
IMA Groupsilver tier, 76/100Top Employers work-life index161 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,909 Psychiatry listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Principal Investigator (Psychiatrist) – Clinical Research - Chicago, IL at IMA Group a 8.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 10% in Psychiatry — ranked against 1,909 active Psychiatry listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Top Psychiatrist Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

36 jobs · 11 employers
10
<$420k
11
$420k-450k
9
$450k-480k
4
$500k
2
$510k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs · 11 employers
401k / retirement match
85%
Sign-on bonus
82%
CME allowance
32%
Visa sponsorship
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Child Psychiatrist | Independent ContractorContract

Stars Behavioral Health Group · San Jose, California

$200-$240/hr
#2

Remote Psychiatrist (MD/DO) | Part Time - West Virginia License or IMLC Required

Iris Telehealth for Providers · Princeton, West Virginia

$175/hr
#3

Child Adolescent Psychiatrist - Casual Outpatient

$174 per hour
#4

Psychiatrist

$104 per hour
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 8.7
Among the best 10% of Psychiatry listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,909 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends
  • No nights

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$2,311/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.