What does a research and development technician do?

Research and development technicians use their data analysis skills to document detailed test results to help keep a record of all new advances. They need to know how to interpret results and whether they meet the expectations set out by more senior researchers.

Other duties that research and development technicians typically do include keeping the lab clean and organized. They may help organize equipment, set up the lab, and sanitize the surfaces and equipment, both before and after use.

Other common duties and responsibilities of research and development technicians include the following:

• Compute formulas, percentages, or production-specific factors using chemical and mathematical procedures

• Assist with scale-up processes of prototype products into full production

• Support commercialization of products by working with the Marketing Sales and within the framework of the stage-gate process

• Perform wet chemistry analysis (pH, salt, Aw, moisture, fat, protein, and Ash) on the finished product

• Assist with microbiological testing of environmental swabs, raw materials, and finished products

• Contribute to product development and the establishment and implementation of processing activities, including safety, in the areas of aeration, depositing, and freeze-drying