A research centre: graduate brought on board by an American resident (8)
I believe the answer is:
alabaman
'american resident' is the definition.
(a resident of Alabama)
'a research centre graduate brought on board by an' is the wordplay.
'research centre' becomes 'lab' (laboratory).
'graduate' becomes 'MA' (abbreviation for Master of Arts).
'brought on board by' indicates putting letters inside.
'ma' placed into 'an' is 'aman'.
'a'+'lab'+'aman'='ALABAMAN'
(Other definitions for alabaman that I've seen before include "for whom Montgomery might provide accommodation" , "in an American state" , "Native of one southern US?state" .)