What does a graduate student assistant do?
Graduate student assistants are graduate students who are employed as support personnel in universities. They assist professors as teaching assistants, research assistants, or aides, depending on their assigned instructions. Their duties include assisting professors in administrative tasks, organizing undergraduate events, and conducting research as well as analyzing data. During the assistantship period, instead of wages, they are given a stipend as compensation to the service provided. This graduate assistantship gives graduate students relevant experience and more employment options in the future.
Graduate student assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real graduate student assistant resumes:
- Lead the in-vitro biophysical and biochemical characterization of homologous recombination and investigate structure-function effects of mutant enzymes.
- Cloned genes by lambda phage library screening and RT-PCR.
- Used differential display RT-PCR to identify candidate mRNA's.
- Develop test suite to automatically test this system using python.
- Develop assays for kinetic analyses of DNA strand-displacement reactions on fix cells.
- Used OWASP ESAPI to validate input and to counter SQL and XSS injection.
- Develop research design, analyze data using SPSS, and assess program outcomes.
- Provide case management for current undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.0 and lower.
- Develop SQL queries to perform analysis on data and optimize queries for various operations.
- Study of novel molecules involve in the signaling pathways of NLR, TLR and DNA sensors.
- Create a multivariate linear regression model to estimate the gross vehicle weight of trucks using SAS.
- Create a method in python to incorporate homologous protein sequences into a program that predicts novel protein-tRNA interactions.
- Study uptake kinetics of penicillin in rabbit and human small intestinal models using radio labele antibiotics and HPLC.
- Utilize SPSS to gauge the impact of participation on the development of student leadership skills and teamwork skills.
- Characterize purified rLN5 by SDS-PAGE, western blotting, ELISA, cell adhesion assay, and cell migration assay.
Graduate student assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Graduate Student Assistants are proficient in Cell Culture, R, and Chemistry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Graduate Student Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cell Culture, 9%
Maintained cell cultures of lymphocytes and a transformed neuronal line for cerebral-malaria related research.
- R, 8%
Managed large scale databases and designed statistical models using SAS and R for epidemic prediction and determination of relationships.
- Chemistry, 5%
Used Gaussian computational chemistry program to perform ground and excited state calculations to aid in spectral analyses of experimental data.
- Molecular Biology, 5%
Defined protocols for newly introduced tests in laboratory, allowing for the regulatory compliance of novel research in molecular biology.
- Research Projects, 4%
Performed GIS Analysis: natural features, disaster-potential analysis, development potential analysis & urban open-space analysis on various academic research projects
- GPA, 4%
Monitor credits earned and GPA requirements specific to athletics and eligibility.
Most graduate student assistants use their skills in "cell culture," "r," and "chemistry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential graduate student assistant responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a graduate student assistant to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions." Graduate student assistants often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "major research involved in using protein-rna binding assay to analyze recognition residues by mass spectrometry. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform graduate student assistant duties is detail oriented. Graduate student assistants responsibilities require that "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." Graduate student assistants also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "implemented various employee details and retrieved by using unique id windows applications development using java, javascript, json, mysql. "
Communication skills. graduate student assistants are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to graduate student assistant responsibilities, because "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients." A graduate student assistant resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "facilitate communication between registered student organizations, the center, and auxiliary support offices. "
The three companies that hire the most graduate student assistants are:
- Maverick Transportation
35 graduate student assistants jobs
- Liberty University
10 graduate student assistants jobs
- Stevens Institute of Technology5 graduate student assistants jobs
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Compare different graduate student assistants
Graduate student assistant vs. Researcher
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between graduate student assistants and researcher. For instance, graduate student assistant responsibilities require skills such as "research projects," "gpa," "coursework," and "event planning." Whereas a researcher is skilled in "lab equipment," "research findings," "conduct research," and "sociology anthropology." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Researchers tend to reach lower levels of education than graduate student assistants. In fact, researchers are 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Graduate student assistant vs. Laboratory researcher
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, graduate student assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "research projects," "gpa," "coursework," and "event planning." Meanwhile, a laboratory researcher has duties that require skills in areas such as "lab procedures," "pcr," "laboratory research," and "protein expression." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Laboratory researchers may earn a lower salary than graduate student assistants, but laboratory researchers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $30,412. On the other hand, graduate student assistants receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,080.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Laboratory researchers tend to reach lower levels of education than graduate student assistants. In fact, they're 10.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graduate student assistant vs. Research internship
A research intern is responsible for assisting the research team with conducting an investigation, compiling information, and analyzing results for an organized research study. Research interns' duties also include understanding the work processes and operation procedures, sharing strategies and recommendations on research methods, reaching out to appropriate research correspondents, managing clients' inquiries and concerns, keeping important client records for reference, studying current market trends, and maintaining the eagerness to learn. A research intern must have strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills to perform on daily research tasks.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, graduate student assistants are more likely to have skills like "chemistry," "molecular biology," "research projects," and "gpa." But a research internship is more likely to have skills like "research intern," "java," "tensorflow," and "blockchain."
Research interns make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $52,879. On the other hand, graduate student assistants are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $40,080.research interns typically earn lower educational levels compared to graduate student assistants. Specifically, they're 6.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graduate student assistant vs. Assistant research scientist
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Types of graduate student assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
