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Staff research scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Katina Lillios,

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical staff research scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for staff research scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.7% of staff research scientist resumes contained qc as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a staff research scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 staff research scientist skills for your resume and career

1. QC

Quality control is a set of instructions or procedures to ensure a manufactured product or a service is up to the highest quality standards. This set of quality control criteria are either defined by the clients or the company itself.

Here's how staff research scientists use qc:

Provided immunological support for Manufacturing QC Microbiology laboratory.
Adhere to laboratory quality control policies, document all QC activities, instrument and procedural calibration and instrument maintenance.

2. HPLC

Here's how staff research scientists use hplc:

Suggested modifications to the procedures that would help them to solve their HPLC instrument or method related issues.
Established critical metrics for HPLC and GC analysis of raw materials, intermediates and process products.

3. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how staff research scientists use product development:

Generated accurate, timely and critical analytical data for customers - propelling product development and research programs forward toward commercialization.
Directed product development at a subsidary cardiovascular instrument company.

4. Cell Biology

Here's how staff research scientists use cell biology:

Composed slide decks and presented findings at multiple departmental seminars and American Society for Cell Biology annual meetings.

5. CRISPR

Here's how staff research scientists use crispr:

Created ion channel protein knockout T cell line by using CRISPR technology.
Use CRISPR technology to create target knockout cell line.

6. LCMS

Here's how staff research scientists use lcms:

Identified impurities in final drug by LCMS and rejected impurities with ethanol/water swish.

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7. C

Here's how staff research scientists use c:

Developed sophisticated data acquisition and analysis system using C and X-windows.

8. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how staff research scientists use c++:

Implemented C++ capabilities to simulate the effective mechanical behavior of rubber-metal composites within an in-house Finite Element software.
Performed extensive waveform analysis using C++ to characterize light sensor performance that led to defining detector design requirements.

9. Next-Generation Sequencing

Here's how staff research scientists use next-generation sequencing:

Led execution of research evaluation study to prepare Small-RNA sequencing libraries from clinical samples for Next-Generation sequencing.
Analyzed various types of complex data including Next-generation sequencing data.

10. Software Development

Software development is the mechanism by which programmers create computer programs. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework for developing applications that follow technological needs and consumer requirements. It consists of many stages. The SDLC establishes an international standard that software developers can use to enhance and create their programs. It provides a well-defined framework for software developers to pursue in the production, maintenance, and design of premium quality software. The aim of the software development process is to create high-quality software on time and within budget.

Here's how staff research scientists use software development:

Utilized expertise in software development C/C++ using the Standard Template Library, Boost and the Microsoft Foundation Class.
Project leader for software development and integration of $500K of hardware.

11. Experimental Results

Here's how staff research scientists use experimental results:

Identified an airborne chemical contaminant that affected experimental results laboratory-wide.
Performed Film Stress study using both FEA, and experimental results to develop a predictive tool.

12. Prototyping

Here's how staff research scientists use prototyping:

Established a mezzo-fabrication laboratory, providing the institute with new technical and prototyping capabilities.
Proposed novel technical solutions and demonstrated applications through agile prototyping and customer interaction.

13. 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 staff research scientists use rna:

Developed a binding experiment utilizing fluorescence polarization to screen discovery compounds for interaction with various RNA constructs.
Characterized the therapeutic RNA product, for tumor-source and process-related impurities.

14. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how staff research scientists use technical support:

Analyzed data and provided technical support for clinical chemistry products.
Provided technical support and consultation to assist others in the development to reach research goal.

15. Extraction

Here's how staff research scientists use extraction:

Optimized sample prep/clean-up by precipitation, SPE, liquid-liquid extractions.
Developed extraction processes for naturally-occurring cholesterol-lowering compounds.

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What skills help Staff Research Scientists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on staff research scientist resumes?

Katina Lillios

Professor, Department Chair, The University of Iowa

While the precise skills that are desired depend on the job, there are some that all graduates from an Anthropology program should work on developing. These include experience contributing to group projects, collaborating with diverse communities, strong communication and writing skills, versatility, and mastery of a specialized skill, such as GIS, a foreign language, statistics, and other digital technologies.

What soft skills should all staff research scientists possess?

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree Engineering, Meredith College

From what I've heard (from employers), companies look for employees that they can work with. I know that sounds silly, but companies want employees that are team players and work well with other individuals and in groups. These employees also need to work independently when asked to work on a project. They need to be organized, reliable, and trustworthy. Employees also need to be able to communicate well by writing and speaking. They must be able to follow directions.

What hard/technical skills are most important for staff research scientists?

Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree Engineering, Meredith College

This one is tough because it depends on the position! I think what is valuable for a chemist is being knowledgeable of working with instrumentation such as chromatography and mass spectrometry. Employees that are likely more attractive for a job position than another person have had the independent experience of working with instruments and can troubleshoot problems. Employees need to be able to explain the data that they obtained from an experiment and describe what the data mean. (Data is a plural term!) Problem-solving and critical thinking is very important for scientists.

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

Michelle McEliece Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Gwynedd Mercy University

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a gap year; sometimes, a gap year happens by chance, and sometimes it happens by choice. Graduates need to balance necessity (needing to find a job) with something that will interest them. It isn't always possible to immediately see that perfect job, but that first job helps build a student's resume with skills and experience. It also allows graduates to determine if that is the particular path for them if they aren't entirely sure. If a graduate is looking to go to graduate school but isn't sure what they want to study, then a gap year is a great idea.

The best thing to do is to try to gain skills working in a lab. There are lots of options for this. They could look to the industry or look to academic labs that might be looking for someone for a year. If a student needs to enhance their resume for acceptance into a program, the gap year can be used to take a graduate course or two to demonstrate they can handle that level of study. Students interested in a professional program where they are either required or recommended to have patient contact (PA programs, medical school) can look for those opportunities during a gap year, as well. The most important thing about a gap year is to do SOMETHING and have that something contribute to aiming for a future goal.

What type of skills will young staff research scientists need?

Dr. Douglas Capone Ph.D.

Professor, University of Southern California

In addition to the essential skill set of an oceanographic discipline (biological, chemical, physical or geological fields) - being adaptable, having a breadth of knowledge and ability to cross disciplinary boundaries and communication skills e.g., the ability to talk to regulators, policymakers, and the general public will all help.

What technical skills for a staff research scientist stand out to employers?

Dr. Bobby Burkes

Interim Department Head/Professor, Grambling State University

Technical skills in addition to having a full and thorough understanding of your area of expertise will be the ability to communicate interactively via computational systems and other communication platforms. The ability to communicate (convey and express ideas) in a direct and remote setting is becoming an essential asset. The ability interact with and possibly develop simulations of experimental design and process flow paths are also technical skills that are in demand in most industries.

Do you want to know more?

List of staff research scientist skills to add to your resume

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

QC
HPLC
Product Development
Cell Biology
CRISPR
LCMS
C
C++
Next-Generation Sequencing
Software Development
Experimental Results
Prototyping
RNA
Technical Support

Extraction
LC-MS
NIH
Liquid Chromatography
Sops
HIV
SQL
NMR
UV
DNA
OEM
Linux
PCR
Leukemia

DOE
Stem Cells
Immunoassay
Elisa
Western Blotting
Analytical Support
R
NGS
Technical Reports
Assay Development
GLP
Cell Lines
Peptides
Molecular Biology Techniques

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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Updated January 8, 2025

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