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Field scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Becky A. Ball,

Dr. Pascale Biron Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical field scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for field scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 33.7% of field scientist resumes contained field testing as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a field scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 field scientist skills for your resume and career

1. Field Testing

Here's how field scientists use field testing:

Performed site clean-up, remediation and field testing of soil and water.
Perform field testing of suspected impacted soils using a P.I.D.

2. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how field scientists use data collection:

Managed field crew data collection efforts and inspections of sanitary and storm wet weather infrastructure.
Perform stream flow and turbidity data collection during storm events.

3. Geotechnical

Here's how field scientists use geotechnical:

Key Contributions Contamination Assessments Geophysical Surveys Geotechnical Field Investigations Risk assessments
Conducted geotechnical testing of dredged sediment to characterize for waste disposal.

4. Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is resistant to heat, fire, water, and chemicals. It's mostly used as an insulator in buildings and used mostly as a roofing sheet due to its strong heat and fire-resistant properties. It's made up of heat -resistant fibers which gives it its unique properties. Asbestos is common in the roofing industry more than in any other sector.

Here's how field scientists use asbestos:

Completed oversight and air monitoring during mold and asbestos abatement projects.
Collected asbestos samples from industrial infrastructure.

5. Storm Water

Here's how field scientists use storm water:

Storm Water plan drawings, reports, and site visits.
Developed training materials for environmental and storm water compliance and delivered training presentations to company workers.

6. EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a US-based organization established to sustain and improve the environmental and human health standards across the United States. EPA was established by US President Richard Nixon by executive order in December 1970. The EPA formulates laws and releases guidelines to promote the health of individuals and the ecosystem.

Here's how field scientists use epa:

Certified NPDES Inspector contributing inspections on Granular Activated Carbon Systems to insure they are in compliance with DEQ and EPA regulations.
Involved with developing new industry standards and test methods for the EPA Supervisor's Name: Jeff Hogan

7. Laboratory Analysis

Here's how field scientists use laboratory analysis:

Determined laboratory analysis parameters for characterization and evaluated data reports.
Monitored drilling activities for environmental contamination, measured groundwater levels, and collected groundwater samples for laboratory analysis.

8. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how field scientists use gps:

Performed wetland delineations with GPS unit.
Ensured precision of log book pages in congruency with photographs and GPS collected data on a daily basis.

9. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how field scientists use gis:

Translated GIS networks into the InfoNet asset database to better characterize hydraulic system for the PWSA.
Utilize dGPS and GIS to map and monitor dune migration and beach erosion on Oak Island, NC

10. Sample Collection

Sample Collection is a process where a doctor or phlebotomist collects a sample from the patient to run a variety of medical tests. Samples may include blood, urine, tissue, muscle, spinal fluid, and other biological fluids. Once a sample is collected, physicians perform an analysis to answer a number of questions, such as whether the patient is diabetic, pregnant, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Here's how field scientists use sample collection:

Phase I/II, Soil Water Sample Collection, Laboratory Chain of Custody.
Performed field analysis, field sample collection and proper record-keeping.

11. Air Samples

Air sampling is a method used to find out what airborne contaminants are present in your environment. Air is obtained by using different methods and then, field scientists and other specialists use it to test the presence and intensity of hazardous substances and microorganisms.

Here's how field scientists use air samples:

Collected, validated, reported, and tagged air samples for Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR).
Collected air samples from appropriate emission points using equipment and procedures proposed in the specific facilities permit.

12. Air Quality

Air quality is the science branch that deals with providing solutions to environmental contamination issues by exploring the universe. It involves ecological risk assessment, detecting climate change, and controlling waste disposal to ensure ecological sustainability.

Here's how field scientists use air quality:

Monitored air quality and surveyed landfill waste Maintained air monitors and supply air systems
Engaged impacted communities to guide air quality projects focused on pollution mitigation, participatory research, and policy recommendations.

13. Water Quality

Here's how field scientists use water quality:

Water quality monitoring on Klamath lake.
Conduct field analysis of various water quality parameters and maintain field notebook of daily activities.

14. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how field scientists use r:

Designed R-statistical algorithms and wrote R codes to develop numerical regression.
Analyze and process large (>20TB) human health data sets using R and Python.

15. 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 field scientists use technical reports:

Proofread and QA/QC d proposals, health and safety plans, technical reports and data tables.
Create detailed technical reports that include recommendations for impact reduction and alternative construction methods and techniques for minor and major facilities.

What skills help Field Scientists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on field scientist resumes?

Dr. Becky A. Ball

Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University

The environmental field is very broad, so the skills that stand out best depend on the career field, but in general, the skills I see most frequently listed on job ads are skills in geographic spatial analysis (GIS), statistical analyses and data handling, hands-on experience with field techniques for working with plants and wildlife, and experience with NEPA and other related environmental regulations. (That's why we have built all of these skills directly into our Environmental Science degree coursework!)

What soft skills should all field scientists possess?

Dr. Pascale Biron Ph.D.

Professor, Concordia University

Critical thinking skills to:
- understand the underlying processes relevant to environmental and sustainability sciences
- acquire and interpret analytical data
- understand physical processes of our planet and interpret data related to climate change and sustainable environmental management
- assess the situation within a given ecosystem in an integrated fashion

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

Dr. Pascale Biron Ph.D.

Professor, Concordia University

- Geographical Information Systems, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis
- Statistics
- Computer programming

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

Joel Burken Ph.D.

Curators’ Distinguished Professor & Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology

We have recommended to advance their technical and professional training. We have a new BS+MS degree option for high performing students that make our MS engineering degrees very achievable in a few years, in Civil, Civil-Architectural and emphasis, or Environmental. We also have certificates in a variety of areas, including collaborative with Engineering Management to get more project management focus in their background, and also a certificate as a specific credential.

What type of skills will young field scientists need?

Eric Brevik

Professor of Geology & Soils, Dickinson State University

For our environmental science students, the following skills are very important: 1) understanding the science behind their jobs, 2) communication skills (both oral and written), and 3) quantitative skills. The first skill set is probably pretty obvious. Most people would think an environmental scientist should have a good science background. Many people overlook the second set, though. When I worked as an environmental consultant, I spent more time communicating than doing science. Working for a consulting company, we wrote proposals for jobs we wanted to get, wrote reports for jobs we had completed, and presented information orally to our clients. So communication skills are critical. And finally, good quantitative skills are important, particularly statistics, so you can tell your clients whether or not the levels of potential contamination you may have found at their site are actually a problem.

Do you want to know more?

List of field scientist skills to add to your resume

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

Field Testing
Data Collection
Geotechnical
Asbestos
Storm Water
EPA
Laboratory Analysis
GPS
GIS
Sample Collection
Air Samples
Air Quality

Water Quality
R
Technical Reports
Compliance Audits
Sops
Hazardous Materials
GLP
Groundwater Samples
Autocad
Surface Water
Contractor Oversight
Hazardous Waste

NPDES
Environmental Site Assessments
USACE
UST
Data Analysis
DNA
ESAs
ASTM
SPCC
Storage Tanks
PowerPoint

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

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