How To Become A Research Assistant, Chemistry Department: What It Is and Career Path

What is a research assistant, chemistry department and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Betsy Smith

Research assistants in the chemistry department perform various tasks to support scientists and senior researchers in conducting research on various chemistry-related topics. They are usually master's or Ph.D. students that are also studying while working as research assistants and may become fully-fledged researchers themselves after they graduate.

If you are passionate about chemistry and want to apply what you've learned in the classroom in a more practical way, becoming a research assistant may be the right path for you. With this job, you will be able to learn more about your field by performing tasks like conducting experiments, analyzing data, creating presentations, and collaborating with senior staff about your findings.

Before you can become a research assistant in the chemistry department, you would need to have a degree in a chemistry-related field. Whether you need a bachelor's or a postgraduate degree will depend on the researcher or scientist you're working for, but in general, most employers prefer candidates that have studied or are studying for a degree in chemistry.

What general advice would you give to a research assistant, chemistry department?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreResearch Assistant, Chemistry DepartmentUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $64,402

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.40%

Asian 18.95%

Black or African American 10.21%

Hispanic or Latino 12.78%

Unknown 6.09%

White 49.57%

Gender

female 44.64%

male 55.36%

Age - 37

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 - 37

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a research assistant, chemistry department

Explore research assistant, chemistry department education requirements

Most common research assistant, chemistry department degrees

Bachelor's

79.2 %

Master's

10.1 %

Doctorate

5.4 %

Start to develop specific research assistant, chemistry department skills

Skills	Percentages
NMR	13.41%
SEM	9.24%
Laboratory Equipment	8.17%
DR	6.85%
Nmr Spectroscopy	5.57%

Complete relevant research assistant, chemistry department training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research assistants, chemistry department 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 assistant, chemistry department based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research assistant, chemistry department resumes.

Research research assistant, chemistry department duties and responsibilities

Manage participant records according to IRB guidelines to ensure confidentiality.
Work with familiarization level proficiency in the use of spectroscopy, electrophoresis and other quantitative analytical techniques.
Synthesize a single strand DNA sensor.
Research relate to gas absorption with hydrogen fuel cell applications.

Prepare your research assistant, chemistry department resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research assistant, chemistry department 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 assistant, chemistry department 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 assistant, chemistry department resume templates

Build a professional research assistant, chemistry department 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 assistant, chemistry department resume.

Apply for research assistant, chemistry department jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research assistant, chemistry department 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