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Research and development specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted experts
Ryan Barker,
Elisha Blankson
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical research and development specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for research and development specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.9% of research and development specialist resumes contained data analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a research and development specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 research and development specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Data Analysis

Here's how research and development specialists use data analysis:
  • Conduct quantitative data analysis/statistical sampling and analysis and qualitative/emergent theme analysis for multiple research projects.
  • Conducted post exam data analysis and satisfaction surveys.

2. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how research and development specialists use r:
  • Develop statistical analysis solutions using Bayes Statistics and R for quality control and marketing
  • Develop and streamline R code for data evaluation and statistical analyses performed on data collected from experiments and from outside sources.

3. Elisa

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA is an examination or test to measure and detect a person's specific antigen, antibodies, and protein. This type of test will identify if the sample component is infected with a relative disease or condition such as HIV infection, anemia, Zika Virus, and Lyme disease with just a single experiment.

Here's how research and development specialists use elisa:
  • Evaluated Quantitative ELISA protocol by Plackett-Burman Analysis.
  • Developed four Elisa tests for evaluating antibody function.

4. 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 research and development specialists use pcr:
  • Project Management for Assay Development and Qualification of Real-Time PCR assays for relative gene expression level determination in cross-pollinated plants.
  • Mentored other departments in design and implementation of PCR and high resolution melting analysis research studies and collaborations.

5. 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 research and development specialists use troubleshoot:
  • Provide support in validation process into of troubleshoot systemic validation issues.
  • Designed and carried out laboratory experiments to troubleshoot product related issues.

6. Harvest

Here's how research and development specialists use harvest:
  • Conduct celery and radish trials, from planting to harvest.

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7. PowerPoint

Here's how research and development specialists use powerpoint:
  • Generated fundraising reports, prospect lists, briefings and PowerPoint presentations for various funding initiatives, meetings and regional travel visits.
  • Created PowerPoint presentations for business development, as well as internally for management and development meetings.

8. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how research and development specialists use data entry:
  • Advise customers on the proper way to present data to eliminate incorrect data entry and reporting.
  • Supported Big Bet projects (capturing data, evaluating samples, maintaining data entry).

9. 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 research and development specialists use dna:
  • Isolated, cloned, sequenced, and analyzed microbial DNA to discover target genes of interest.
  • Prepared high-quality clone and DNA templates in support of core DNA sequencing lab.

10. Lab Equipment

Here's how research and development specialists use lab equipment:
  • Utilize SAP to purchase lab equipment, capital expenditures spending and tracking Manage and track all departmental spending on Capital Expenditures.
  • Order supplies, inventory and maintain lab equipment, initiate carry out varied aspect of research.

11. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how research and development specialists use product development:
  • Monitor regulatory, market and research trends to determine impact on product innovation, product development and business strategy.
  • Managed product development of liquid and powder beverage concentrates while continuously improving current items throughout product life cycle.

12. QC

Quality control is a set of instructions or procedures to ensure a manufactured product or a service is up to the highest quality standards. This set of quality control criteria are either defined by the clients or the company itself.

Here's how research and development specialists use qc:
  • Train QC and Production staff on newly implemented SOPs; training included comprehensive details on testing and instructions.
  • Provided immunological support for Manufacturing QC Microbiology laboratory.

13. UV

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted by the sun and other human-made sources such as tanning beds. UV radiation falls under three primary categories: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC).

Here's how research and development specialists use uv:
  • Conducted stability testing including, UV, freeze/thaw, and biological.
  • Conducted physical testing including tensil, tear, and UV stability

14. Extraction

Here's how research and development specialists use extraction:
  • Designed a robust watermark extraction system which can be used for video or audio watermarking.
  • Performed protein extraction for analysis in ELISA under cGLPs Developed and updated Standard Operating Procedures are necessary.

15. Food Safety

Here's how research and development specialists use food safety:
  • Designed, conducted, and monitored food safety and shelf life studies to demonstrate effectiveness of application in perishable products.
  • Provide HACCP, Food Safety and GMP training for Warehouse and Shipping Department personnel.
top-skills

What skills help Research And Development Specialists find jobs?

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

What research and development specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ryan Barker

Visiting Instructor, State University of New York at Oswego

Gap years are great for experience, do your best to find a job on the ground in your local area but keep mastering things like Zoom or Webex and other telecommunication services. Take the time to set up a designated site in your apartment or home and be prepared to use it because foriegn firms want American talent to strength their presence in the American and global market.

What type of skills will young research and development specialists need?

Elisha BlanksonElisha Blankson LinkedIn profile

Program Director NCCU, Assistant Professor, North Carolina Central University

Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.

What technical skills for a research and development specialist stand out to employers?

John Nielsen Ph.D.John Nielsen Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Mediterranean World, Bradley University

History majors are problem-oriented and have the ability to work collaboratively. They are able to pull together disparate data, analyze it effectively, and present clear interpretations or solutions. These are skills that are transferable to multiple fields and industries and will always be valued by employers

What soft skills should all research and development specialists possess?

Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor, History Department, Humboldt State University

In terms of soft skills, those probably won't change much, they will simply be practiced differently. Being flexible is important since jobs may switch between home and office and since one may be dealing with someone else working from home and the challenges that can present-what cat owner hasn't had their cat walk in front of the camera or step on the wrong computer key? The ability to work in groups will continue to have importance as well as the ability to manage your own time and meet deadlines. At the same time, the nature of computer camera interaction means that people will have to learn to "read" others differently than they would in an in-person environment. Many recent articles have talked about how it is harder to read facial cues or detect emotional responses on the computer. Again, those presently taking synchronous classes have the opportunity to practice these skills--providing students turn on their cameras rather than relying only on audio. If the past year has demonstrated anything, it is that people need to be more culturally aware and sensitive and also be able to work with people of diverse backgrounds. History classes are a great way for students to better understand what others have gone through and how that might impact interaction today. Additionally, history classes-as well as college in general-should provide students with the skills to help create the kind of changes in institutions and companies that need to be made to make them more inclusive. Perhaps the greatest skill college students have is the ability to learn. I never intended to teach online, yet here I am doing just that. It required learning new ways to approach teaching, reconsideration of the ways students learned in the new environment, and figuring out new online programs to make all this happen. I was forced to do this as a result of the pandemic but most students will find that this sort of adjustment-whether foreseen or not-will be a regular part of their career path. The ability to learn these new skills, to apply new methods and to approach issues in new and innovative ways will help them stand out when it comes to looking for a job.
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List of research and development specialist skills to add to your resume

Research and development specialist skills

The most important skills for a research and development specialist resume and required skills for a research and development specialist to have include:

  • Data Analysis
  • R
  • Elisa
  • PCR
  • Troubleshoot
  • Harvest
  • PowerPoint
  • Data Entry
  • DNA
  • Lab Equipment
  • Product Development
  • QC
  • UV
  • Extraction
  • Food Safety
  • FDA
  • Analytical Methods
  • Lims
  • GMP
  • Technical Support
  • Data Collection
  • Test Procedures
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Product Quality
  • Database Management
  • Technical Reports
  • GLP
  • Synthesis
  • QA
  • ISO
  • Business Development
  • CAPA
  • Test Methods
  • Intellectual Property
  • PLC
  • MSDS
  • Biographies
  • FTIR
  • Trade Shows
  • Plant Trials
  • Extrusion
  • Product Specifications
  • Cost Savings
  • Autocad

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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