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Scientific technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
John Dubé Ph.D.,
Dr. Scott Lankford Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical scientific technician skills. We ranked the top skills for scientific technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.3% of scientific technician resumes contained data collection as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a scientific technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 scientific technician skills for your resume and career

1. 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 scientific technicians use data collection:
  • Performed meticulous data collection (wildlife, plants and water quality data) and data management for QA/QC and reporting.
  • Supported the carry out performance testing for the development of the LH760/780, troubleshooting the instrument during the data collection.

2. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how scientific technicians use gps:
  • Plotted on a GPS the dart tags (model FT-1-94) and recovery location to estimate distance of drift.
  • Use of Hydro-Lab, GPS, Plankton tow.

3. Harvest

Here's how scientific technicians use harvest:
  • Performed habitat surveys in non-fish bearing streams located in remote timber harvest sites, also participated in vegetation surveys.
  • Conducted aerial surveys of region 4 beaches for estimation of recreational harvest.

4. 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 scientific 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.

5. Lab Equipment

Here's how scientific technicians use lab equipment:
  • Maintained inventory of chemicals and other items for labs, and performed routine maintenance of lab equipment and instruments.
  • Maintained lab equipment, and warehouse inventory.

6. Boats

Here's how scientific technicians use boats:
  • Worked closely with the boat pilots, commercial fishing vessel crews, biologists and fishery managers in the Fish Management unit.
  • Operated and maintained power boats, drift boats, and rafts for field surveys.

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7. 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 scientific technicians use dna:
  • Conducted angler interviews, including DNA samples, scale samples, CWT retrieval, lengths, and species type.
  • Gathered viral DNA sequence data from known and disputed cases of transmission, analyzed sequences and performed necessary calculations.

8. CWT

Here's how scientific technicians use cwt:
  • Read CWT numbers for aging purposes and hatchery origin.
  • Extracted and read Coded Wire Tags (CWT).

9. Data Management

The administrative process that involves collecting and keeping the data safely and cost-effectively is called data management. Data management is a growing field as companies rely on it to store their intangible assets securely to create value. Efficient data management helps a company use the data to make better business decisions.

Here's how scientific technicians use data management:
  • Performed necessary data management to organize, analyze and generate summary results.
  • Organized and uploaded data to online data management system.

10. Biological Samples

Here's how scientific technicians use biological samples:
  • Collected, maintained, and documented accurate field data records, biological samples, and spatial information.
  • Collected information and biological samples from trapped fish.

11. Research Studies

Here's how scientific technicians use research studies:
  • Conducted significant developmental in-vitro research studies that awarded approval from the F.D.A to perform feasibility studies for human clinical trails.
  • Procured outside machining services to facilitate precision sectional dismantling of pipe used for research studies.

12. Creel

Here's how scientific technicians use creel:
  • Participated in creel and marine pot surveys to estimate crustacean abundance for the purpose of in season management.
  • Conducted creel surveys: interviewed sport anglers about their fishing effort and sampled their catch.

13. Tissue Samples

Here's how scientific technicians use tissue samples:
  • Collected scale, otolith and tissue samples while in the field and in a hatchery setting.
  • Performed transmission electron microscopical functions on nervous system and muscular system tissue samples for clinical biopsy and related research.

14. Research Projects

Here's how scientific 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.

15. Ground Surveys

Here's how scientific technicians use ground surveys:
  • Stream and spawning ground surveys and identifying redds for various fish species in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Worked as a team conducting coho salmon spawner ground surveys.
top-skills

What skills help Scientific Technicians find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on scientific technician resumes?

John Dubé Ph.D.John Dubé Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Biology, Director, Honors Program, Director, MA Biomedical Studies, Chatham University

In terms of resumes, students need to demonstrate the soft skills. How did they use networking skills in school or at a job? How do they communicate effective, verbally and in writing? In what ways did their coursework or job help with critical thinking? Teamwork, a positive attitude, and leadership skills are also critically important. I also think that employers will want them to have the technical skill necessary to transition into a position (e.g., Zoom, Teams, word processing, spreadsheet management, and others specific to the particular field).

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

Dr. Scott Lankford Ph.D.Dr. Scott Lankford Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

School Chair, University of Central Missouri

A student can achieve many co-curricular experiences in a gap year that would add tremendous value to their degree. In the sciences, these include getting a job related to your area of interest to build critical experiences that can inform your future career direction, enrolling in small certificate programs to obtain credentials verifying specialized skills relevant to your desired career, and taking advantage of internship or research experiences that are still available. Unfortunately, those opportunities have been impacted by the pandemic, but they are still out there.

What type of skills will young scientific technicians need?

Dr. Noelle CutterDr. Noelle Cutter LinkedIn profile

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.

List of scientific technician skills to add to your resume

Scientific technician skills

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

  • Data Collection
  • GPS
  • Harvest
  • Data Entry
  • Lab Equipment
  • Boats
  • DNA
  • CWT
  • Data Management
  • Biological Samples
  • Research Studies
  • Creel
  • Tissue Samples
  • Research Projects
  • Ground Surveys
  • GIS
  • Coho
  • Fisheries
  • RNA
  • PCR
  • Scale Samples
  • Adult Fish
  • Seines
  • Immunoassay
  • Sops
  • Stream Surveys
  • Research Vessels
  • Survey Data
  • Access Database
  • Cell Culture
  • Genotyping
  • Habitat Surveys
  • Analyze Data
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Elisa
  • USP

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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