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Research technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Rainer Glaser,

Lea Theodore Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical research technician skills. We ranked the top skills for research technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.0% of research technician resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a research technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 research technician skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how research technicians use patients:

Administer experimental cell-based therapy to feline and canine cancer patients in collaboration with staff and physicians at a veterinary oncology clinic.
Collected specimens for corneal transplants, communicated with medical professionals and patients, reviewed medical charts and developed educational resources.

2. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how research technicians use data collection:

Managed survey administration component including data collection procedures for a randomized control trial focused on a teen health program.
Supported the logistics engineers with data collection, entering logistics and provisioning data into the Logistics Management Information database.

3. Cell Culture

Here's how research technicians use cell culture:

Supervised laboratory personnel involved in the cell culture aspect of colon carcinoma research while improving experimental design.
Maintained all laboratory cell lines and was responsible for all laboratory tissue/cell culture.

4. Laboratory Equipment

Here's how research technicians use laboratory equipment:

Executed and coordinated scheduled verification and calibration on laboratory equipment
Supervised proper maintenance of laboratory and laboratory equipment, including the proper handling and disposal of chemicals and other hazardous materials.

5. Research Projects

Here's how research technicians use research projects:

Participated in collaborating research projects including design and implementation of experiments, data analysis using statistical techniques and preparation of manuscripts.
Assist with field sample collection and laboratory analysis and experimentation for research projects including the investigation of renewable energy generation.

6. Lab Equipment

Here's how research technicians use lab equipment:

Managed the laboratory including ordering supplies, maintained lab equipment and instruments, maintained environmental safety compliance.
Moved sensitive lab equipment and oversaw moving of equipment from University of Pennsylvania to University of Kentucky.

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7. 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 technicians use data entry:

Screened for potential participants, administered cognitive verbal and written tests to geriatric participants; performed data entry.
Designed database for results and coordinated data entry files from approximately 12 principal investigators at different institutions.

8. Tissue Culture

Here's how research technicians use tissue culture:

Conducted laboratory management duties, including tissue culture maintenance and ordering laboratory supplies and equipment.
Developed & carried out tissue culture experiments on PBMC's from blood donors who have been exposed to influenza.

9. Data Analysis

Here's how research technicians use data analysis:

Invented three new analysis methods and improved research capabilities by designing new experiments and developing new systematic approaches for data analysis.
Contributed to experimental design, data acquisition, data analysis, and presented in weekly internal meetings.

10. Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of chemical substances, composition, and processes that occur in living things (plants, animals, and microorganisms) and their changes during development and life. It is a laboratory-based science that unites biology and chemistry and plays a very important role in the development of new scientific approaches. A biochemist studies the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity, as well as bacteria, viruses, and other organisms to better understand the chemical basis of life.

Here's how research technicians use biochemistry:

Prepared laboratory courses in inorganic and organic chemistry and biochemistry for medicine, dentistry, and biochemistry students.
Conducted various laboratory procedures in a protein biochemistry research lab.

11. Analyze Data

Analyze data or data analysis refers to the practice of studying, organizing, and transforming data to make it more useful. It also includes the cleansing of non-useful information which helps in better decision making regarding any particular matter. Analyze data is a practice that is used widely in the field of business, social sciences, and science.

Here's how research technicians use analyze data:

Collect and analyze data for accuracy and consistency from operations.
Analyze data statistically for pertinent results.

12. PI

PI is the execution of all research's components such as preparation, conduction, and administration.

Here's how research technicians use pi:

Coordinate with vendors and PI on operational, administrative and technical responsibilities.
Meet with the Principal Investigator (PI) and Clinical Research Coordinator to review patient status on as needed basis.

13. Laboratory Techniques

Here's how research technicians use laboratory techniques:

Provided troubleshooting and problem solving for immunologic assays, performed experiments, developed laboratory techniques, evaluated and analyzed experiments.
Teach associated laboratory techniques to successive peers and discuss and review data with researchers and improve on laboratory methods.

14. Animal Handling

Here's how research technicians use animal handling:

Developed significant animal handling skills, brain isolation techniques and sterile culture technique.
Perform small animal handling and surgical procedures

15. Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry (FC) is a procedure used to recognize and gauge the physical and compound attributes of a populace of cells or particles. In this cycle, an example containing cells or particles is suspended in a liquid and infused into the stream cytometer instrument. Stream cytometry is a research center technique used to recognize, distinguish, and check explicit cells. This technique can likewise distinguish specific parts inside cells. This data depends on actual attributes and additionally markers called antigens on the phone surface or inside cells that are special to that phone type.

Here's how research technicians use flow cytometry:

Collaborated with vendors on the troubleshooting and design of experimental methodologies in flow cytometry.
Performed flow cytometry while optimizing isolation procedures of embryonic particulate in human plasma.

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What skills help Research Technicians find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on research technician resumes?

Dr. Rainer Glaser

Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Chemistry competence is key, of course. As a close second, chemists need to demonstrate effective team player competence. Communication skills are essential, in conversation and in writing. Effective collaboration requires highly developed skills to work with team members, peers, and leadership.

What soft skills should all research technicians possess?

Lea Theodore Ph.D.

Director, School Psychology, Adelphi University

The ability to have respectful communication with people in all roles: directors, supervisors, research participants, peers, and project staff. A 360-degree evaluation would show that everyone agrees that the candidate can be a good fit.

What hard/technical skills are most important for research technicians?

Lea Theodore Ph.D.

Director, School Psychology, Adelphi University

Statistical knowledge, assessment skills, knowledge of statistical software (SPSS)

What research technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.

Chair, Associate Professor, Christian Brothers University

The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.

What type of skills will young research technicians need?

Dr. Noelle Cutter

Associate Professor, Molloy College

Skills for upcoming graduates...I am a big believer in graduates having a firm foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Employers are looking for employees who can advance in the profession, not just entry-level work. That will be the future of the workforce. The liberal arts and sciences provide a solid foundation for long term employment and career success. It is an approach to college learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change.

This approach emphasizes broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g., science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth achievement in a specific field of interest. In terms of skills, they are lifelong learning skills that are non-subject specific. These skills include the capacity to think critically, communicate clearly (both written and oral), and solve complex problems. I mean, think about the current pandemic....understanding and communicating the science of the virus is absolutely critical. The need for rigorous, critical, engaged thinking to understand the challenge and be informed citizens. It is absolutely critical.

What technical skills for a research technician stand out to employers?

Sya Kedzior Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Towson University

The ability to understand technical or complex scientific processes and communicate that information with the public is one of the most attractive skills for an entry-level worker to possess. Many employers may not have staff skilled in the latest GIS technologies or social media trends. While the ability to use last year's software or network via Instagram might not seem particularly novel to recent graduates, these are skills less likely to be found in the workforce of even 10 years ago. Geographers are particularly well prepared for today's workforce because they've often had coursework across the "hard" and social sciences, along with training in technical skills (usually GIS or quantitative analysis) and written and oral communication skills. Another skill in high demand today is data collection and analysis. I often talk with potential employers who want to hire people who can develop and administer a public survey, and then analyze and write up the results. That requires understanding human behavior, public communication, and different forms of data analysis. But, these are skills that can be developed in perhaps only a few classes as part of a major or minor in Geography and other cognate fields.

Do you want to know more?

List of research technician skills to add to your resume

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

Patients
Data Collection
Cell Culture
Laboratory Equipment
Research Projects
Lab Equipment
Data Entry
Tissue Culture
Data Analysis
Biochemistry
Analyze Data
PI
Laboratory Techniques
Animal Handling
Flow Cytometry
Western Blotting
Research Data

Research Studies
Genotyping
Immunology
CRISPR
Sample Collection
Molecular Biology Techniques
Extraction
Animal Husbandry
FDA
Cell Lines
Excellent Interpersonal
Elisa
GLP
Experimental Data
Clinical Trials
Next-Generation Sequencing
RT-PCR

Surgical Procedures
PowerPoint
HIV
Clinical Observations
Immunization
Laboratory Experiments
Technical Support
Experimental Results
Aseptic Technique
Electrophoresis
Laboratory Animals
Sectioning
Statistical Analysis
Tissue Samples
GEL Electrophoresis

Updated January 8, 2025

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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Research Technician Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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