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Research volunteer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.,

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical research volunteer skills. We ranked the top skills for research volunteers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.0% of research volunteer resumes contained lab procedures as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a research volunteer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 research volunteer skills for your resume and career

1. Lab Procedures

Here's how research volunteers use lab procedures:

Greeted families, explained lab procedures & conducted eye tracking studies with children ages 3 months - 2 years.
Engaged with fellow research coordinators on proper lab procedures and handling of biological specimens.

2. Cell Culture

Here's how research volunteers use cell culture:

Assist in preparation of cell cultures involved in experiment
Participated two mammalian cell research projects that used cell culture and molecular techniques to test protein expression in animal cells.

3. Laboratory Techniques

Here's how research volunteers use laboratory techniques:

Attended laboratory meetings and performed literature research on EBV, Nm23-H1 and laboratory techniques.
Exposed to basic laboratory techniques while assisting with ongoing projects in the laboratory.

4. 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 volunteers use data collection:

Aided in data collection of cancer educational workshops throughout the community.
Designed and implemented field and data collection protocols.

5. 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 volunteers use r:

Organized and analyzed large data sets to be used for statistical analysis in R and Excel for determining relevant data.
Developed R scripts to accelerate data processing of DNA strings by flagging data that must be manually checked.

6. RT-PCR

Here's how research volunteers use rt-pcr:

Identified molecular mechanisms of drug-synergy & drug-resistance using RT-PCR and Western blotting.
Developed method and testing procedure for the implementation of RT-PCR for the company's entire insect control gene screening program.

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7. Research Projects

Here's how research volunteers use research projects:

Conducted literature review and analysis for several ongoing genetics research projects.
Participated and co-investigated various research projects.

8. Research Study

Resaerch studies are conducted to learn something new about a subject or confirm an hypothesis one believe to be correct. They occur in both business and academia and normally involve some kind of survey of data, or observation of someone or something.

Here's how research volunteers use research study:

Read, summarized, critically analyzed and discussed articles relevant to research study.
Entered data measures pertinent to the LAMS research study into SPSS.

9. Data Analysis

Here's how research volunteers use data analysis:

Performed literature review, administered experiments, collected data, and performed data analysis using SPSS and SAS statistical software.
Facilitated the identification of reef organisms and data analysis of thousands of data points.

10. GEL Electrophoresis

Here's how research volunteers use gel electrophoresis:

Identified mice strains by clipping tails, performing DNA extraction and running PCR and gel electrophoresis.
Employed basic lab techniques including buffer preparation, growth media prep, gel electrophoresis, etc.

11. 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 volunteers use dna:

Prepared media, Handled human cell lines, performed RT PCR, RNA Extraction and quantification, DNA sequencing of samples.
Performed laboratory tests, including Western blots, DNA Isolation & Digestion, and Chick Cultures within a cardiovascular laboratory.

12. Tissue Culture

Here's how research volunteers use tissue culture:

Produce and run gels, including Western Blot and PCR analysis, and assist with tissue culture and microscopic photography.
Well trained in sterile techniques in both bench top and tissue culture settings.

13. Electrophoresis

Here's how research volunteers use electrophoresis:

Analyzed cell lysates and purified proteins by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis.
Established new assay protocols, including an Electrophoresis Mobility Shift Assay, through independent research and review of peer-reviewed scientific journals.

14. RNA

A Ribonucleic acid (RNA) has a vital role in determining the biological macromolecule commonly found in all bodily cells. It is the synthesis of protein, carriers message instruction from the Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. RNA is a kind of single-stranded cell that has different forms. It allows the molecule to go back and forth to its original condition.

Here's how research volunteers use rna:

Conducted RNA purification for sequencing and examined different plant biomass substrate development to determine the best plants for growth.
Assisted in cloning and expression for RNA research.

15. Literature Reviews

Here's how research volunteers use literature reviews:

Researched newly published research articles and assisting in writing literature reviews.
Conducted literature reviews of relevant air quality subject matter.

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What skills help Research Volunteers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on research volunteer resumes?

Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Spanish, North Central College

Currently, multilingual skills shine bright in resumes. Finally, the pandemic reality will validate the global currency of languages.

What soft skills should all research volunteers possess?

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.

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

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.

What research volunteer 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 volunteers need?

Bart Elmore

Associate Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University

There really is no profession that does not lean on history. Politicians speak of what the "Founding Fathers" believed in trying and getting legislation passed. Business leaders have to look back at old annual reports and financial records to understand economic trends and predict problems that might arise in the future. Even doctors have to learn how to examine health data compiled decades ago to understand how best to treat their patients. I'm not sure people think of history this way, but the truth is, knowing how to digest historical data and translate it into useful information that can help guide decisions in the present is what historians do. I cannot think of a more powerful discipline when it comes to learning skills that will help young graduates live better lives once they leave the university.

What technical skills for a research volunteer 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 volunteer skills to add to your resume

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

Lab Procedures
Cell Culture
Laboratory Techniques
Data Collection
R
RT-PCR
Research Projects
Research Study
Data Analysis
GEL Electrophoresis
DNA
Tissue Culture
Electrophoresis
RNA
Literature Reviews
Molecular Biology
C++

Clinical Research
GPS
SPSS
Statistical Analysis
Synthesis
Research Data
Analyze Data
Cell Lines
Western Blotting
PI
Python
Informed Consent
IRB
Clinical Trials
RAN
Water Quality
Elisa

Research Lab
Biomedical
Flow Cytometry
Public Health
Market Research
PowerPoint
Experimental Data
SDS-PAGE
Alzheimer
Rna Extraction
HIV
Stem Cells
NMR
Nanoparticles
HPLC
Genotyping

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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