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Junior research technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a junior research technician. Junior research technicians usually study biology, physics, or psychology. 95% of junior research technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 5% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 23 real junior research technician resumes to see exactly what junior research technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for junior research technicians are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.

There are also many online junior research technician courses to help get the education required to be a junior research technician.

What education do you need to become a junior research technician?

What degree do you need to be a junior research technician?

  • Bachelor's, 95%
  • High School Diploma, 5%

What should I major in to become a junior research technician?

You should major in biology to become a junior research technician. 37% of junior research technicians major in biology. Other common majors for a junior research technician include physics and psychology.

Most common colleges for junior research technicians

Junior research technicians often get their degrees at Michigan State University, University of Dallas, and Villanova University. Here are the most common colleges for junior research technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Junior research technician common collegePercentages
Michigan State University10.00%
University of Dallas10.00%
Villanova University5.00%
West Chester University of Pennsylvania5.00%
University of Chicago5.00%

Best majors for junior research technicians

Best colleges for junior research technicians

The best colleges for junior research technicians are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Duke University.

A junior research technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for junior research technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become junior research technicians.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for junior research technicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Foundations of Health Equity Research

coursera

Introduces students to the core principles of health equity research. Covers topics such as defining health equity, engaging community and policy stakeholders, patient-centeredness, cultural competence, and dissemination of research findings. Content will recognize different geographic, cultural, and social contexts where health inequities occur...

2. Understanding Research Methods

coursera

This MOOC is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. It places the student experience at the centre of our endeavours by engaging learners in a range of robust and challenging discussions and exercises befitting SOAS, University of London's status as a research-intensive university and its rich research heritage. The course will appeal to those of you who require an...

3. Research Methodology: Complete Research Project Blueprint

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4.6
(857)

Research Methodology From A-Z. A Step-by-Step Guide Through Research Design, Data Collection, Analysis, & Interpretation...

4. Research Methodology

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4.5
(621)

Academic Research Business Research Thesis & Dissertation Report Research Paper / Journal...

5. Operational Research for Humanitarians

coursera

Evidence is central to good decision-making both in the humanitarian sector and beyond. Every day, a vast amount of evidence is generated that is relevant to humanitarian actors, much of it through research by academics and practitioners. This evidence can be incredibly valuable. It can help us better understand a situation and make humanitarian action more effective and accountable. The difficulty comes with understanding what evidence is relevant to our circumstances, where to find it, and...

6. Market Research

coursera

The Market Research Specialisation focuses on the essentials of research and the research process. This Specialisation will teach you how to use qualitative and quantitative research methods, how to develop and manage a questionnaire development strategy, how to develop measurements, how to collect data and how to analyze and present them.\n\nOnce you have completed this Specialisation, you will have a good understanding of market research including:\n\nEssentials of market research Components...

7. Market Research: Dekker's Complete Marketing Research Course

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4.4
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Competitor Analysis, Market Research Analysis, Marketing Analytics, Consumer Analytics, Conversion Rate Optimization...

8. Marketing Research: support your marketing decisions

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4.5
(1,910)

Discover the extra advantage of any Business. A practical step by step guide to Marketing Information and Research...

9. How to Visualize Research Data in Tableau

coursera

Publishing research often requires the preparation of visual elements like charts, tables, and graphs to better explain the text in a research report. Creating these elements can be done easily and effectively in Tableau. Using Tableau, large and small data sets can be visualized with precision, creativity, interactivity, and options in Tableau. After taking this course learners will know how to create a table, a geovisualization, and a pie chart. Three of the most common research...

10. Being a researcher (in Information Science and Technology)

coursera

The course provides a broad view of how to become and progress as a researcher. It spans over a wide range of topics, from the historical development of scientific thought to research methodology, to the pragmatics of publication, research funding, evaluation, and promotion in a researcher’s career. It also stresses the ethical aspects of research. Although the course speaks about scientific research in general, it especially focuses on the field on Information and Communication Science and...

11. Global Marketing Research and Analytics

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4.3
(375)

Understand and conduct market research on a global scale...

12. Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

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4
(449)

Learn the basics of conducting qualitative research. Learn to design interviews, conduct observations, and analyze data...

13. Market Research

coursera

"Finding the Story in the Data” is the most important emerging capability for market researchers according to GRIT (Greenbook Research Industry Trends) Report 2016. This specialization, designed for learners with no previous Marketing Research experience teaches a comprehensive marketing research approach that will help learners find and communicate the story in the data.\n\nStudents will learn how to initiate a research project for targeted business needs, conduct research through multiple...

14. Qualitative Research

coursera

In this course, the second in the Market Research Specialization, you will go in-depth with qualitative market research methods, from design to implementation to analysis. Week 1: Define qualitative research and how it differs from quantitative research. Explore the various qualitative research methods and evaluate when and how to use them for your research project. Week 2: Design the qualitative instruments necessary for your interviews or focus groups, and plan your recruitment efforts. Write...

15. Research Methods For Business Students

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4.5
(881)

A-Z guide to writing a rockstar Research Paper with a bulletproof Research Methodology!...

16. The Beginners Course for Clinical Research

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4.5
(650)

The Essentials of Clinical Trials - Clinical Research for Beginners...

17. Uncertainty and Research

coursera

This course teaches the fundamentals of scientific research. We approach the research process as a means of systematically reducing uncertainty and demonstrate how conducting a scientific investigation can be posed as an exercise in Bayesian uncertainty quantification. We begin by exploring the scientific landscape to understand the different types of research, where they are conducted, how they are supported, and why each of these types of research is important. We then formalize scientific...

18. An Introduction to Online Quantitative Market Research

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4.7
(827)

Learn how to effectively conceptualise, design, execute and apply quantitative online research like a PRO!...

19. Market Research: A-Z Fundamentals with Case Studies

udemy
4.5
(379)

Learn Market Sizing & Forecasting, Survey Design, Customer & Competitor Analysis to become a PRO Market Research Analyst...

20. Research Methods and Statistics: An Introduction (2023 Ed.)

udemy
4.2
(815)

A Primer in Research Methodology and Statistics in the Social Sciences (2023 Edition)...

Top 10 most affordable universities for junior research technicians

The most affordable schools for junior research technicians are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for junior research technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for junior research technicians.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for junior research technicians

The hardest universities for junior research technicians to get into are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Duke University.

Some great schools for junior research technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for junior research technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for junior research technicians

The easiest schools for junior research technicians to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a junior research technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for junior research technicians.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

8. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

9. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

10. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

Average junior research technician salary by education level

Junior research technicians with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $60,709 annually. With a Associate degree, junior research technicians earn a median annual income of $53,928 compared to $52,696 for junior research technicians with an High School Diploma degree.
Junior research technician education levelJunior research technician salary
High School Diploma or Less$52,696
Bachelor's Degree$60,709
Some College/ Associate Degree$53,928

Junior research technician education FAQs

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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.

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