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Development scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.,
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical development scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for development scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.5% of development scientist resumes contained chemistry as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a development scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 development scientist skills for your resume and career

1. Chemistry

Chemistry is the branch of science that tells us about the composition, properties, and structure of elements and compounds. The processes these elements undergo and how they undergo change all come under the branch of chemistry.

Here's how development scientists use chemistry:
  • Developed chemistry protocols, evaluated chemistry and instrument performance, and assessment of biochemical applications.
  • Synthesized and characterized impurities, supporting medicinal chemistry research and development activities.

2. Data Analysis

Here's how development scientists use data analysis:
  • Review notebooks and data analysis for testing approval.
  • Performed nucleic acid isolation, quantification, testing, data analysis, recording and reporting results under the auspices of CLIA.

3. GMP

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a system that ensures that all products like food, beverages, and medicinal drugs that are produced comply with the quality standards. It helps in minimizing the risks and hazards that cannot be eliminated after the testing of final products.

Here's how development scientists use gmp:
  • Created new protocols and laboratory procedures for design transfer into Manufacturing following GLP and GMP guidelines.
  • Prepared Method Transfer documents for GMP Manufacturing.

4. HPLC

Here's how development scientists use hplc:
  • Developed and validated custom calculations for automated HPLC reporting.
  • Worked extensively on HPLC instrument maintenance & troubleshooting.

5. QC

Quality control is a set of instructions or procedures to ensure a manufactured product or a service is up to the highest quality standards. This set of quality control criteria are either defined by the clients or the company itself.

Here's how development scientists use qc:
  • Developed and qualified new manufacturing processes that reduced product variability and QC failure rate.
  • Designed and implemented experiments to construct and characterize synthetic chromosomes for QC analyses.

6. FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the production and sale of food, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and other consumer goods, as well as veterinary medicine. The FDA is now in charge of overseeing the manufacture of products like vaccines, allergy treatments, and beauty products.

Here's how development scientists use fda:
  • Collaborated with compliance team for FDA submission documentation.
  • Contribute to audit readiness for quality audits with FDA, other Regulatory Agencies, and customers, as needed.

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7. Technical Reports

Technical reports are a type of document that is used to indicate either the progress, result, or process of scientific research or the state of problems occurring within such research. A technical report may also showcase the report's overall conclusion and may also include recommendations. This kind of report does not require a peer review and isn't published officially but distributed within the organizations where it was formed.

Here's how development scientists use technical reports:
  • Authored technical reports on technology and assay development batch records and.
  • Perform Verification & Validation studies per protocols and provide technical reports.

8. Clinical Trials

Here's how development scientists use clinical trials:
  • Served as primary contact for ensuring quality and availability of materials for clinical trials.
  • Review Clinical Trial Protocols for clinical validation and clinical utility research studies.

9. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how development scientists use product development:
  • Managed clinical IVD product development teams from conception to commercialization through Design Control process.
  • Facilitated successful transfer of new reagent products from product development to manufacturing.

10. Elisa

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA is an examination or test to measure and detect a person's specific antigen, antibodies, and protein. This type of test will identify if the sample component is infected with a relative disease or condition such as HIV infection, anemia, Zika Virus, and Lyme disease with just a single experiment.

Here's how development scientists use elisa:
  • Developed and established a novel ELISA method for measuring the relative potency of an Antibody therapeutic product.
  • Develop and optimize ELISA assays to determine residual Host cell protein for in-process samples.

11. PCR

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction, a tool to make millions of copies of a target part of DNA. Polymerase chain reaction involves the process of heating and cooling. The process takes place using a machine, which helps in heating and cooling off the substances. The purpose of heating exists to separate the DNA into two single strands.

Here's how development scientists use pcr:
  • Collaborated with Product Management, Quality and other R&D groups to develop new kits and reagents for PCR product.
  • Assay optimization for PCR speed and yield using Design of Experiments (DOE), and optimization for sequencing quality.

12. Cell-Based Assays

Here's how development scientists use cell-based assays:
  • Conducted small-scale lab automation and robotics of biochemical and cell-based assays for profiling compounds and characterizing potential drug targets.
  • Purified antibodies and antigens for antibody affinity screens, biochemical and cell-based assays, immunizations, and GLP toxicology studies.

13. Assay Development

Assay development is a process in molecular biology to test or measure the activity of a drug or biochemical substance in an organic sample or organism and to screen putative compounds to determine the interaction and/or modification of the target. The aim is to standardize the assay and to be able to use it repeatedly and reproducibly.

Here's how development scientists use assay development:
  • Authored, reviewed and approved method development reports and managed outsourced assay development activities.
  • Experienced in identifying, and evaluating new technologies/ platforms for assay development.

14. GLP

GLP stands for "good laboratory practice." This refers to the integrity and quality measures that non-clinical laboratories have in place to ensure accurate research and market testing. GLP is most often used in pharmaceutical companies where new drugs must be tested before being approved for sale, but the practice can also be used in food packaging and preparation test centers.

Here's how development scientists use glp:
  • Conducted raw materials and excipients release testing (UPS/NF, EP, JP) under strict cGMP and GLP environments.
  • Required working knowledge of cGMP and GLP practices,coordination of research with contract labs and supervisory responsibilities.

15. Test Methods

Test methods are the steps in which thorough testing is conducted in a laboratory setting.

Here's how development scientists use test methods:
  • Developed test methods based off of NIOSH 7500.
  • Developed and validated analytical test methods for small chemical entity drug substances and generation of certificate of analysis.
top-skills

What skills help Development Scientists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on development scientist resumes?

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree Engineering, Meredith College

When I help students revise their resumes, I have them focus on transferable skills that they gained through their experiences. It may not necessarily be what students do that is important to companies, but their learned experience that students can take and apply in their new job. Students need to add a metric to their descriptions and how they have made an impact on a project, a job position, an organization, etc.

What soft skills should all development scientists possess?

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree Engineering, Meredith College

From what I've heard (from employers), companies look for employees that they can work with. I know that sounds silly, but companies want employees that are team players and work well with other individuals and in groups. These employees also need to work independently when asked to work on a project. They need to be organized, reliable, and trustworthy. Employees also need to be able to communicate well by writing and speaking. They must be able to follow directions.

What hard/technical skills are most important for development scientists?

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree Engineering, Meredith College

This one is tough because it depends on the position! I think what is valuable for a chemist is being knowledgeable of working with instrumentation such as chromatography and mass spectrometry. Employees that are likely more attractive for a job position than another person have had the independent experience of working with instruments and can troubleshoot problems. Employees need to be able to explain the data that they obtained from an experiment and describe what the data mean. (Data is a plural term!) Problem-solving and critical thinking is very important for scientists.

What development scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Scott Johnson

Professor and Director, University of Maine

This would depend on the student's goals. If interested in working in the environmental industry: HAZWOPER training, obtaining a Professional Geologist certification, developing programming skills. The PG can be obtained through self-study to pass the exam; then, the experience is needed to receive official accreditation. HAZWOPER training can be obtained through short courses. Programming skills in many popular languages can be learned online and with freely available material on the internet. I'd also advocate for people getting work experience, if possible. On a general note, computer programming skills, math/physics knowledge, GIS/remote sensing, and UAV training are valuable ways to use a gap year. Students can do these things effectively from anywhere, as long as they have a computer. There are many online options and even apps to improve knowledge in these fields and are needed for what we do.

What type of skills will young development scientists need?

Alice DeckertAlice Deckert LinkedIn profile

Professor, Allegheny College

You might be better off asking employers this question. From what I have read, they are looking for people with good problem-solving skills, good teamwork skills, and good communication skills. These are all skills that we emphasize in all of our course work (not just Chemistry) at Allegheny College.

What technical skills for a development scientist stand out to employers?

Dr. Joey Neilsen

Assistant Professor, Villanova University

I think programming skills and data analysis/statistics are especially valuable right now, while data science is so big. Our students take a year of Computational Physics in Python, and we integrate Python into some of our upper-level courses and labs as well. Our recent graduates, both in academia and the private sector, report using those skills on a regular basis. Two other skills that US Physics graduates report using regularly are technical problem solving and technical writing. This makes lots of sense from an employer perspective: you want to hire people who can identify and solve problems and then clearly explain the solution to your team. This is a great reason to let those lab reports shine!
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about development scientist

List of development scientist skills to add to your resume

Development scientist skills

The most important skills for a development scientist resume and required skills for a development scientist to have include:

  • Chemistry
  • Data Analysis
  • GMP
  • HPLC
  • QC
  • FDA
  • Technical Reports
  • Clinical Trials
  • Product Development
  • Elisa
  • PCR
  • Cell-Based Assays
  • Assay Development
  • GLP
  • Test Methods
  • CMC
  • Laboratory Equipment
  • PowerPoint
  • ICH
  • IND
  • Experimental Data
  • Stability Studies
  • Drug Substance
  • Cell Lines
  • GC
  • Cros
  • Next-Generation Sequencing
  • API
  • Statistical Analysis
  • LC-MS
  • Immunoassay
  • DSC
  • Technical Support
  • Clinical Studies
  • Method Validation
  • Harvest
  • Dosage Forms
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Lims
  • Test Results
  • DOE
  • Drug Products
  • Biomarkers
  • Analytical Method Development
  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Electrophoresis
  • R
  • USP
  • JMP

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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