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What does a research geologist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Research geologist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real research geologist resumes:

  • Foster cross laboratory collaboration between physics labs and between engineering, biology, and chemistry departments to accomplish share goals.
  • Synthesize and characterize colloidal room-temperature ferromagnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles.
  • Conduct research by administering quantitative and qualitative surveys to low income fathers and entering and analyzing the data using SPSS

Research geologist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 40% of Research Geologists are proficient in GIS, Geological Survey, and R. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Outdoor skills, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Research Geologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • GIS, 40%

    Performed forensic analysis of chemical contaminants in fish tissues using multivariate statistical methods and GIS to discern primary regional contaminant sources.

  • Geological Survey, 18%

    United States Geological Survey (Reston, VA), Open-File Report 83-658, 1983.

  • R, 15%

    Conducted high dimensional data visualization and multivariate statistical analysis using R and SAS.

  • Geological Data, 12%

    Gathered, analyze, and interpreted geological data to formulate development and exploration projects and typically handle several projects simultaneously.

  • Research Projects, 8%

    Developed ideas for both individual and collaborative research projects; authored and submitted corresponding grant applications to provide funding for research.

  • Sedimentology, 8%

    Developed and/or led short courses and seminars on eolian sedimentology, the characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs and reservoir management.

Common skills that a research geologist uses to do their job include "gis," "geological survey," and "r." You can find details on the most important research geologist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research geologist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "geoscientists must be able to present their research findings clearly to a variety of audiences, including both scientists and those who do not have a background in geoscience." Research geologists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "programmed labview interface to enable communication between equipment for data acquisition adapted an induction furnace to fabricate cu covetic bulk samples"

Outdoor skills. Many research geologist duties rely on outdoor skills. "geoscientists may spend significant time outdoors performing fieldwork," so a research geologist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways research geologist responsibilities rely on outdoor skills: "coded bash and python scripts to execute programs in devices for conducting tests in indoor and outdoor environment. "

Physical stamina. research geologists are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to research geologist responsibilities, because "geoscientists need to be physically fit because they may need to hike, sometimes to remote locations, while carrying equipment for fieldwork." A research geologist resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "restored samples under the usgs national geological and geophysical data preservation procreant grant. "

Problem-solving skills. For certain research geologist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a research geologist rely on this skill, as "geoscientists must be able to analyze statistical data and other information in order to address problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what research geologists do: "modify the fourier transform infrared spectrometer (ftir) to measure a high resolution photocurrent spectrum from a device. "

See the full list of research geologist skills

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Compare different research geologists

Research geologist vs. Geology internship

In a geology internship, an intern has the opportunity to gain insights and practical experience while performing various support tasks under the directives and supervision of a geologist or manager. Their duties typically include working on different projects, conducting research, doing fieldwork, gathering and analyzing samples, collecting photographs or videos as evidence, completing surveys and assessments, and producing reports, submitting them according to protocols and standards. Additionally, they also have clerical duties, such as handling calls and other forms of correspondence, preparing and processing paperwork, and running errands when necessary.

If we compare the average research geologist annual salary with that of a geology internship, we find that geology interns typically earn a $7,151 lower salary than research geologists make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between research geologists and geology interns are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like gis, geological survey, and geological data.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a research geologist are more likely to require skills like "r," "research projects," "x ray diffraction," and "technical reports." On the other hand, a job as a geology internship requires skills like "database management," "gps," "arcgis," and "geotechnical." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, geology interns reach lower levels of education than research geologists. Geology interns are 13.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 8.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Research geologist vs. Geophysicist

A Geophysicist studies the Earth's physical properties. They also examine the effects of the atmosphere on radio and satellite communications.

A career as a geophysicist brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a research geologist. In fact, geophysicists salary is $11,324 lower than the salary of research geologists per year.A few skills overlap for research geologists and geophysicists. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "gis," "r," and "reservoir characterization. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real research geologist resumes. While research geologist responsibilities can utilize skills like "geological survey," "geological data," "research projects," and "sedimentology," geophysicists use skills like "data collection," "geophysical data," "c++," and "matlab."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Geophysicists tend to reach similar levels of education than research geologists. In fact, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 8.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Research geologist vs. Geoscientist

A geoscientist specializes in studying geosciences and performing research and analysis. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around crafting research plans, conducting field mapping and studies to examine geological structures, gathering samples, obtaining photographic evidence, and conducting different experiments and scientific studies. As a geoscientist, it is essential to maintain an extensive record of data, summarize results in reports and presentations, and collaborate with different scientists. They may publish their studies in various publications, utilize them for other projects and programs, or raise public awareness.

On average scale, geoscientists bring in lower salaries than research geologists. In fact, they earn a $5,762 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on research geologists and geoscientists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "gis," "sedimentology," and "x ray diffraction.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a research geologist is likely to be skilled in "geological survey," "r," "geological data," and "research projects," while a typical geoscientist is skilled in "seismic data," "oil gas," "data collection," and "petrel."

When it comes to education, geoscientists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to research geologists. In fact, they're 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Research geologist vs. Postdoctoral research associate

A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.

Postdoctoral research associates average a lower salary than the annual salary of research geologists. The difference is about $63,606 per year.According to resumes from research geologists and postdoctoral research associates, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "r," "research projects," and "sem. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "gis," "geological survey," "geological data," and "sedimentology" are skills that commonly show up on research geologist resumes. On the other hand, postdoctoral research associates use skills like python, chemistry, data analysis, and post-doctoral on their resumes.In general, postdoctoral research associates hold lower degree levels compared to research geologists. Postdoctoral research associates are 8.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 38.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of research geologist

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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