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Laboratory helper skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Rainer Glaser,

Benjamin Ford

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical laboratory helper skills. We ranked the top skills for laboratory helpers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 26.8% of laboratory helper resumes contained laboratory equipment as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a laboratory helper needs to be successful in the workplace.

14 laboratory helper skills for your resume and career

1. Laboratory Equipment

Here's how laboratory helpers use laboratory equipment:

Set up and calibrate laboratory equipment prior to experiments.
Clean dirty glassware, laboratory equipment and general).

2. 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 laboratory helpers use chemistry:

Help Desk assistance to chemistry students at Vanderbilt University PRESENT
Assist students with organic chemistry lab questions Management of chemicals and lab equipment

3. Lab Equipment

Here's how laboratory helpers use lab equipment:

Prepared chemical solutions, set up lab equipment/materials for general chemistry labs, washed equipment, worked independently, followed instructions.
Opened/closed student photography lab - Maintained and cleaned photography printing equipment - Assisted students with lab equipment and project critique

4. Laboratory Maintenance

Here's how laboratory helpers use laboratory maintenance:

Synthesize and develop organic small molecules for RNA biology projects Assist with laboratory maintenance and run analytical tests on produced molecules

5. 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 laboratory helpers use pcr:

Performed PCR purification and ligation.
Developed PCR procedures for three different medical research laboratories.

6. Chemical Solutions

Here's how laboratory helpers use chemical solutions:

Assisted establishing an efficient reference system for chemical solutions and reagents.
Mixed chemical solutions for laboratory use.

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7. Pipettes

Here's how laboratory helpers use pipettes:

Clean glassware, pipettes, test tube racks, empty waste containers as required.
Wrapped and sterilized pipette tips via autoclaving.

8. Centrifuges

Here's how laboratory helpers use centrifuges:

Clean all centrifuges weekly following Universal precaution guidelines.
Operated various testing equipment such as centrifuges and semi and fully automated liquid transfer instruments.

9. Electrophoresis

Here's how laboratory helpers use electrophoresis:

Prepared different experiment techniques such as gel electrophoresis.
Read experimental protocols and perform experiments following directions (including tissue collection, molecular biology, gel electrophoresis, etc.)

10. DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or only DNA, which is considered the king of molecules, is a macromolecule that contains the main component of chromosomes. Shaped like a double helix, DNA is usually found in the nucleus of a cell. It is a type of material that transports characteristics in many forms, developed in nucleotides around one another.

Here's how laboratory helpers use dna:

Isolated plasmid DNA and purified such plasmids via Cesium Chloride gradients.
Performed basic molecular processes associated with laboratory tests including DNA extractions of prenatal samples being tested for chromosomal abnormalities.

11. Genotyping

Here's how laboratory helpers use genotyping:

Established a novel and economical genotyping methodology for a transgenic mouse strain
Assisted the Principal Investigator with animal husbandry, colony maintenance, genotyping, laboratory representation, facility upkeep and research assistance.

12. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how laboratory helpers use troubleshoot:

Use internally developed Laboratory Information System to document case status, troubleshoot and ensure prompt turnaround time of specimens.
Perform immunological, chemical, microbiological, and hematological tests, critically examine results for accuracy, troubleshoot discrepancies.

13. Laboratory Materials

Here's how laboratory helpers use laboratory materials:

Demonstrated the ability to clean and prepare laboratory materials such as glassware, pipet tips, and agar plates.

14. Lims

A LIMS - Laboratory Information Management System is a software solution to improve laboratory productivity and efficiency with modern support of laboratory operations to address the challenges of data and sample management, automation, and regulation of laboratories from around the world and thus maintaining workflows and standardized testing and reporting procedures.

Here's how laboratory helpers use lims:

Maintained a LIMS database of client and evidence information.
Recorded laboratory data into Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

What skills help Laboratory Helpers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on laboratory helper resumes?

Dr. Rainer Glaser

Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Chemistry competence is key, of course. As a close second, chemists need to demonstrate effective team player competence. Communication skills are essential, in conversation and in writing. Effective collaboration requires highly developed skills to work with team members, peers, and leadership.

What laboratory helper skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Benjamin Ford

Professor and Chair, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Students taking a gap year should think about where they want to end up, both geographically and in terms of a career, and position themselves accordingly. That might mean moving to where they eventually want to live, taking a job to pay the bills, and volunteering with an organization to build local contacts. They should also work to develop the skills that will make them necessary in their intended career. The world became much more digital in the last nine months. We will likely return to many of our pre-pandemic physical practices, but aspects of our remote-everything existence will likely stick with us. Developing skills to be successful in a digital environment will be important.

What type of skills will young laboratory helpers need?

John Wilbur Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Practice, University of Arizona

In the short-term, testing skills like PCR and ELISA seems essential, but I think the enduring skills or working with a team, writing, and other communication skills are most important.

Do you want to know more?

List of laboratory helper skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a laboratory helper resume and required skills for a laboratory helper to have include:

Laboratory Equipment
Chemistry
Lab Equipment
Laboratory Maintenance
PCR

Chemical Solutions
Pipettes
Centrifuges
Electrophoresis
DNA

Genotyping
Troubleshoot
Laboratory Materials
Lims

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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