What is a Research Scientist?

A research scientist is a professional who gathers information by performing both theoretical and experimental research in a specific scientific field. A research scientist can work in many different areas, such as medicine, natural science, computer science, and social science.

Research scientists collect data, interpret the results of experiments, and form hypotheses in an attempt to answer questions about the natural world or the man-made world, depending on their field. They can be found working in government agencies, as well as private companies.

Some research scientists also work at universities where they not only conduct experiments but also teach the student population about a particular branch of science. No matter who they work for, research scientists spend many of their working hours in laboratories, and other related facilities, to perform experiments and further study their field of science.

Common skills of a research scientist include strong analytical and research skills, critical thinking, and organizational and communications skills. They also usually have a number of hard skills, involving specific kinds of computer software, and devices used for experiments and data collection.

To become a research scientist, you must obtain at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field of science, such as biology, chemistry, or computer science. Many research scientists also have master's degrees in their specialized area of science, and those that teach tend to have PhDs in their field.