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What is a professional research assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Slavko Komarnytsky
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The Professional Research Assistant, much as the name implies, is an individual who has mastered the skill of researching, analyzing, and studying any or most topics. They are often hired by educational or research institutions, such as universities, to investigate academic or private topics. They act as personal aids for professors, head researchers, investigators, or other figures and are generally hired only temporarily and must report to one or more people.

Typically, employers looking for a Professional Research Assistant will require that a potential candidate has some degree - an Associate's, a Bachelor's, though this varies between jobs. Some employers may even ask for a Master's in an appropriate field of study.

What general advice would you give to a Professional Research Assistant?

Slavko KomarnytskySlavko Komarnytsky LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, North Carolina State University

Stay current on research developments and industry trends. Strongly consider a relevant master's degree or at least a certificate program in the area of your interest to stand out and gain in-depth knowledge, networks, and technical skills. Seek writing and speaking opportunities to establish visibility and credibility to your name. For many recent graduates, it takes six months in the current economic climate to secure a career opportunity, so plan for it accordingly. Hire a headhunter even if it costs you a few months of your future salary, as the first job placement is often the most difficult one. Apply early to graduate Ph.D. programs if you intend to continue your career in academia, but do not view a Ph.D. program as a placeholder to overwinter the pandemic and economic meltdown. The Ph.D. is a lot of original independent work that will make you overqualified to many technical jobs, especially in the recession.
ScoreProfessional Research AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $58,202

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.5

Growth Rate 19%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 10.45%

Black or African American 9.49%

Hispanic or Latino 16.79%

Unknown 5.96%

White 56.26%

Gender

female 63.91%

male 36.09%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress Level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Professional Research Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a professional research assistant

  1. Explore professional research assistant education requirements

    Most common professional research assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.3 %

    Master's

    14.3 %

    Associate

    11.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific professional research assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Research Projects9.80%
    Data Collection6.17%
    Patients4.89%
    Cell Culture4.16%
    Professional Research3.95%
  3. Complete relevant professional research assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New professional research assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a professional research assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real professional research assistant resumes.
  4. Research professional research assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage database of consent patients encompassing patient demographics and samples collect ensuring HIPAA standards are adhere to.
    • Perform extraction of rodent RNA and hybridization onto gene expression arrays.
    • Analyze RNA and protein samples.
    • Experience working with CRISPR technology.
  5. Prepare your professional research assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your professional research assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a professional research assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Professional Research Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Professional Research Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Professional Research Assistant resume.
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
    Professional Research Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for professional research assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a professional research assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Professional Research Assistant Job

Zippi

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Average professional research assistant salary

The average Professional Research Assistant salary in the United States is $58,202 per year or $28 per hour. Professional research assistant salaries range between $38,000 and $88,000 per year.

Average Professional Research Assistant Salary
$58,202 Yearly
$27.98 hourly

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Professional Research Assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
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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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