How To Become A Faculty Research Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a faculty research assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.,

Daniel Patten Ph.D.

Faculty research assistants are responsible for conducting research for the benefit of the students and the community as a whole. They work to preserve and protect sensitive and confidential data while dealing with a lot of paperwork and digital information every day. They must be involved in the research process with wholehearted dedication, and they must ensure that the duties they perform are fulfilled on time to avoid any delay in their projects.

Faculty research assistants earn an average sum of $54,000 annually or $26 per hour. They perform a wide variety of duties, which include preparing interviews, summarizing results, and supervising undergraduate students who are involved in research projects. They also perform literature reviews, respond to emails relating to research, and check the work progress of undergraduate students.

Faculty research assistants often hold a bachelor's or master's degree in a field related to their area of research. Although experience is not always a prerequisite, some institutes may ask for it. Research assistants are expected to gain the ability to communicate effectively across different channels of the organization and develop and maintain professional relationships with the departmental staff and external agencies.

What general advice would you give to a faculty research assistant?

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.

Dean, La Sierra University

A degree in theological and ministerial studies (or more generally in Religious Studies) does not necessarily have to lead into pastoral ministry. There are many opportunities where a Religion degree is a good foundation: Chaplaincy (e.g., Hospital, Army, Jail, etc.), Politics & Society, Journalism, Health Sciences, Arts, etc.

General advice: Let your heart speak first, not possible career chances or salary perspectives, etc. (I understand that this is important, too).

ScoreFaculty Research AssistantUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $59,697

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.5

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 16.49%

Black or African American 8.49%

Hispanic or Latino 15.15%

Unknown 6.00%

White 52.84%

Gender

female 52.66%

male 47.34%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a faculty research assistant

Explore faculty research assistant education requirements

Most common faculty research assistant degrees

Bachelor's

62.3 %

Master's

19.6 %

Doctorate

13.5 %

Start to develop specific faculty research assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Research Faculty	13.71%
C++	10.39%
Biomedical	6.84%
Research Projects	6.58%
Research Findings	5.08%

Complete relevant faculty research assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New faculty research assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a faculty research assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real faculty research assistant resumes.

Research faculty research assistant duties and responsibilities

Accomplish the optimized synthesis of a carbohydrate antigen globo-H.
Manage all aspects of HPLC method development and analysis through interpretation of data ensuring accuracy of results.
Conduct chemistry research with Dr. Willis Weigand.
Prepare and submit research grant and IRB applications.

Prepare your faculty research assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your faculty research assistant resume.

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