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What is a research and development specialist and how to become one
A Research Specialist collects, sorts, and analyzes data. This position also develops, executes, and interprets research projects and performs laboratory experiments for product development. A Research Specialist also oversees the daily laboratory tasks.
A Research and Development Specialist finds positions in healthcare, technology, business, and pharmaceuticals. Each company has different duties for a Research and Development Specialist, but the position is responsible for overseeing the entire development process of new programs and products.
You will need a bachelor's or master's degree, leadership and management skills, know how to budget, and have communication and presentation skills. You need to be creative and have diversity. The median salary for a Research Specialist is $98,000.
What general advice would you give to a research and development specialist?
John Lyden
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, University of Nebraska - Omaha
Avg. Salary $74,263
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 19%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.13%
Asian 14.08%
Black or African American 4.70%
Hispanic or Latino 11.17%
Unknown 4.88%
White 65.04%
Genderfemale 43.31%
male 56.69%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Research and development specialist career paths
Key steps to become a research and development specialist
Explore research and development specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific research and development specialist skills
Skills Percentages Data Analysis 12.91% R 10.09% Elisa 7.19% PCR 6.46% Troubleshoot 6.01% Complete relevant research and development specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research and development specialists 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 research and development specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research and development specialist resumes.Research research and development specialist duties and responsibilities
- General laboratory duties; coordinate maintenance of equipment, maintain ingredient and prototype inventory, manage shipping and receiving.
- Process scale-up under GLP conditions and assist technology transfer to GMP conditions.
- Assist with FDA submission drafting, assembly, and review.
- Organize engineering schematics using Orcad for a clean input to PCB layout.
Prepare your research and development specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research and development specialist 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 research and development specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable research and development specialist resume templates
Build a professional research and development specialist 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 research and development specialist resume.
Apply for research and development specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a research and development specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first research and development specialist job
Yashodha Nayanahara
Research And Development Specialist
academic foundation in Mechatronic Engineering, graduating with honors from General Sir John
Kotelawala Defence University. My early passion for technology and innovation was nurtured
through numerous extracurricular activities, including participation in robotic competitions and
engineering projects during my time at Royal College, Colombo – Sri Lanka. My professional
career began with an internship at MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd, where I worked in the Autonomation
department. This experience was instrumental in shaping my practical skills and provided me
with hands on exposure to real world engineering challenges.
In January 2020, I joined MAS Linea Aqua (Pvt) Ltd, a highly reputed clothing manufacturer and
the largest apparel tech company in South Asia, known for being a leading concept to delivery
solution provider in apparel and textile manufacturing. In this role, I was part of the Industrial
System Engineering department, where I contributed to the development and enhancement of
various mechanical and automated systems. My work primarily focused on improving existing
mechanical systems, developing new product concepts & prototypes and designing & testing
mechatronic systems. My dedication and innovative approach to Automation Developments
were recognized and I was promoted to Senior Research and Development Engineer in April
2024. In this senior role, I lead projects that involve developing original and practical solutions to
complex engineering problems within demanding timeframes. One of my notable projects
includes designing a robotic assistive tool for minimally invasive surgery during my final year at
university, which aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of endoscopic surgeries.
In addition to my technical responsibilities, I have actively participated in various improvement
initiatives at MAS Linea Aqua. I won the best Kaizen idea 1st place award for January 2024 and
was the top performer in my Lean Yellow Belt training batch in 2023. These achievements
reflect my commitment to continuous improvement and optimization of workplace processes.
Throughout my career, I have continuously sought to enhance my skills and knowledge. I have
completed various technical training programs, including certifications in Lean Six Sigma and
Motor Vehicle Technology and have been acti
Average research and development specialist salary
The average research and development specialist salary in the United States is $74,263 per year or $36 per hour. Research and development specialist salaries range between $47,000 and $115,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do research and development specialists rate their job?
Research and development specialist reviews
Ingenuity and the fast paced environment while critical thinking to solve the problems.
Lots of sitting.
Updated January 8, 2025
