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Postdoctoral research associate skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

William K. Kroen Ph.D.,

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Postdoctoral research associate example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical postdoctoral research associate skills. We ranked the top skills for postdoctoral research associates based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 6.2% of postdoctoral research associate resumes contained python as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a postdoctoral research associate needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 postdoctoral research associate skills for your resume and career

1. Python

Python is a widely-known programming language. It is an object-oriented and all-purpose, coding language that can be used for software development as well as web development.

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use python:

Implemented a family of python scripts to ensure stability and reliability of particle accelerator data.
Developed data analysis and visualization software using Python for doctors' use.

2. Research Projects

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use research projects:

Train graduate students, clinical research fellows and technicians to conduct biological research projects, including experimental and conceptual instruction.
Coordinated independent and collaborative research projects aimed at identifying virulence mechanisms of bacterial pathogens using molecular genetic approaches.

3. 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 postdoctoral research associates use chemistry:

Supervised and trained Bio-Medical Engineering and Chemistry graduate students in chemical methods, framework implementation for effective research and data analysis.
Performed independent research in the areas of theoretical and computational chemistry under the guidance of Professor Todd Martinez.

4. Data Analysis

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use data analysis:

Train and supervise undergraduate students in study design, assay development and validation, experiments, and data analysis and interpretation.
Manage projects for data collection, data analysis, statistical analysis, data visualization, data extraction and transformation.

5. Post-Doctoral

A postdoc is a transitory position that permits a PhD student to continue their training as a researcher and obtain skills and experience for their academic career. Primarily they are researchers who work under the guidance of a mentor as part of a group. Although there are some postdocs positions at non-profits and in government, the majority of positions are in industry or at universities.

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use post-doctoral:

Awarded Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Post-doctoral Research Fellowship.
Work towards training visiting graduate students and post-doctoral scholarsin satellite image processing methods, flux data processing and micrometeorological methods.

6. Cell Culture

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use cell culture:

Supervised medical students, graduate students and undergraduate students to learn techniques in cell culture, molecular biology and biochemistry.
Project involved designing and cloning chimeric viruses, and developing a cell culture system to propagate the viruses.

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7. Cell Biology

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use cell biology:

Used molecular biology, cell biology, tissue culture, histology, flow cytometry and imaging techniques extensively.
Well trained in cancer biology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology and bioinformatics.

8. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use c++:

Developed C++ programs for simulating superconducting tunnel junctions and extracting physical parameters from its tunneling spectrum.
Designed corresponding software using Microsoft Visual C++.

9. Patients

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use patients:

Employed neuronal primary cells to study a novel mutation (KIAA1549:BRAF) in patients with sporadic brain tumors.
Identified therapeutic opportunities to target stem-like phenotype in a relevant cohort of cancer patients (published in Cancer Research)

10. NIH

NIH stands for the National Institutes of Health. This organization oversees a series of research institutions, each focused on a different area of study involving anatomical systems or diseases. As the organization is affiliated with the government, a great deal of the funding institutions receive come from Congress.

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use nih:

Assess manuscripts on behalf of peer-reviewed journals and NIH RFA research proposals for scientific merit (data quality and interpretation).
Participated in NIH funded study combining electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and mammography images to improve breast cancer detection.

11. 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 postdoctoral research associates use data collection:

Led and managed laboratory activities* Designed experiments, performed data collection, and analysis.
Collected aerosol samples/data collection in field campaigns, performing instrument troubleshooting and repair.

12. CRISPR

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use crispr:

Cloned guiding RNAs in CRISPR lentiviral vectors.
Established working protocols for targeted genome editing using CRISPR technology.

13. PI

PI is the execution of all research's components such as preparation, conduction, and administration.

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use pi:

Support PI in formulation of research plan, budget, organization of application, and submission of grants to multiple institutions !
Assisted PI in new synthetic lab set-up, and contributed in writing research papers, proposals and grants for external funding.

14. Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry (FC) is a procedure used to recognize and gauge the physical and compound attributes of a populace of cells or particles. In this cycle, an example containing cells or particles is suspended in a liquid and infused into the stream cytometer instrument. Stream cytometry is a research center technique used to recognize, distinguish, and check explicit cells. This technique can likewise distinguish specific parts inside cells. This data depends on actual attributes and additionally markers called antigens on the phone surface or inside cells that are special to that phone type.

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use flow cytometry:

Investigated various data transformations for flow cytometry data.
Tracked DNA synthesis and cell cycle checkpoints, leveraging FLOW cytometry techniques.

15. Research Findings

Here's how postdoctoral research associates use research findings:

Prepared manuscripts based on research findings for presentation at professional conferences and publication in professional journals.
Communicate research findings and lab projects at departmental meetings and interdepartmental super-groups.

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What skills help Postdoctoral Research Associates find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on postdoctoral research associate resumes?

William K. Kroen Ph.D.

Professor of Biology, Wesley College

Internships and "real world" research experiences always stand out for employers and graduate schools; that's one of the major reasons that Delaware has a vibrant summer research network. Unfortunately, many of these experiences were closed last summer due to the pandemic. Who knows about June 2021.

What soft skills should all postdoctoral research associates possess?

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.

What hard/technical skills are most important for postdoctoral research associates?

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.

What postdoctoral research associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Scott Johnson

Professor and Director, University of Maine

This would depend on the student's goals. If interested in working in the environmental industry: HAZWOPER training, obtaining a Professional Geologist certification, developing programming skills. The PG can be obtained through self-study to pass the exam; then, the experience is needed to receive official accreditation. HAZWOPER training can be obtained through short courses. Programming skills in many popular languages can be learned online and with freely available material on the internet. I'd also advocate for people getting work experience, if possible. On a general note, computer programming skills, math/physics knowledge, GIS/remote sensing, and UAV training are valuable ways to use a gap year. Students can do these things effectively from anywhere, as long as they have a computer. There are many online options and even apps to improve knowledge in these fields and are needed for what we do.

What type of skills will young postdoctoral research associates need?

Joe Harrison

Animal Scientist and Extension Specialist, Washington State University

Critical thinking and the ability to make the best decisions, realizing that they will make better decisions as one gets more experience. A second skill is the ability to navigate conflict in the workplace.

What technical skills for a postdoctoral research associate stand out to employers?

Dr. Bobby Burkes

Interim Department Head/Professor, Grambling State University

Technical skills in addition to having a full and thorough understanding of your area of expertise will be the ability to communicate interactively via computational systems and other communication platforms. The ability to communicate (convey and express ideas) in a direct and remote setting is becoming an essential asset. The ability interact with and possibly develop simulations of experimental design and process flow paths are also technical skills that are in demand in most industries.

Do you want to know more?

List of postdoctoral research associate skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate resume and required skills for a postdoctoral research associate to have include:

Python
Research Projects
Chemistry
Data Analysis
Post-Doctoral
Cell Culture
Cell Biology
C++
Patients
NIH
Data Collection
CRISPR
PI
Flow Cytometry
Research Findings
Next-Generation Sequencing
Molecular Biology Techniques

DOE
NSF
DNA
Gene Expression
Statistical Analysis
Animal Handling
Research Results
Protein Expression
Visualization
Experimental Design
Stem Cells
Molecular Mechanisms
Scientific Journals
RNA-seq
Adaptive
Rna Sequencing
Elisa

Extraction
Confocal Microscopy
Western Blotting
Renewable Energy
NMR
RT-PCR
R
Biomarkers
Mass Spectrometry
International Conferences
Remote Sensing
Research Proposals
Immunofluorescence
Fluorescence Microscopy
Protein Purification
LC-MS

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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Postdoctoral Research Associate Skills

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