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Volunteer Research Assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted Experts
Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.,
Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical volunteer research assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for volunteer research assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.4% of volunteer research assistant resumes contained lab equipment as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a volunteer research assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 volunteer research assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Lab Equipment

Here's how volunteer research assistants use lab equipment:
  • Acquired knowledge of lab equipment and procedures while working as a research lab assistant.
  • Assist students use lab equipment such as digital multimeters, power supplies, and oscilloscopes.

2. DR

DR is an academic title used as a designation for a person(s) who already has obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in a particular field of discipline. In medicine, DR is used by medical practitioners whose job is to tend to the sick and diseased regardless of whether or not they hold a doctoral-level degree.

Here's how volunteer research assistants use dr:
  • Worked under the guidance of Dr. Jacquelyn W. White on research about sexual aggression.
  • Worked with Dr. Jessica Robbins and Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

3. Literature Reviews

Here's how volunteer research assistants use literature reviews:
  • Conducted literature reviews about gambling addictions and the efficacy of group therapy servicing Asian Americans with gambling problems.
  • Mentored undergraduates and fellow researchers on conducting literature reviews, data analysis, and publications/grant writing.

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 volunteer research assistants use data collection:
  • Developed new data collection methods utilizing digital capture technology, and then traveled to Tanzania to implement these new methods.
  • Worked on analysis of gene-gene interaction network, including cluster analysis, data collection, and visualization

5. Cell Culture

Here's how volunteer research assistants use cell culture:
  • Learned cell culture, how to maintain a cell line and cast colonies of cell into a mold.
  • Involved in revival of old cell cultures, maintenance of the same throughout.

6. Research Projects

Here's how volunteer research assistants use research projects:
  • Exemplified keen attention to detail in ensuring adherence to written and oral protocols and providing oral presentations about research projects.
  • Collaborated with a professor on collecting and organizing information for specific research projects.

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7. SPSS

Here's how volunteer research assistants use spss:
  • Recorded and updated data in proprietary SPSS databases for laboratory.
  • Compiled subject questionnaires using SPSS data analysis software.

8. Data Analysis

Here's how volunteer research assistants use data analysis:
  • Completed training in ethical human subjects research and in qualitative data analysis and coding.
  • Enter data into master database for participant recruitment and preparation for data analysis.

9. PCR

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction, a tool to make millions of copies of a target part of DNA. Polymerase chain reaction involves the process of heating and cooling. The process takes place using a machine, which helps in heating and cooling off the substances. The purpose of heating exists to separate the DNA into two single strands.

Here's how volunteer research assistants use pcr:
  • Leaned basic laboratory techniques such as PCR transformations, mini-prep analysis, SDS-PAGE gels, restriction enzyme digest, and Western Blots
  • Aided in PCR amplification, molecular hybridization, in vitro assays, and recorded experimental results.

10. 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 volunteer research assistants use research study:
  • Recruit participants for study and translate research study material for Arabic speaking participants.
  • Administer research study questionnaires to eligible patients.

11. 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 volunteer research assistants use r:
  • Conducted antibody screening via ELISA to test efficacy of a developing vaccine prototype and implemented database management platforms R and MATLAB
  • Performed environmental data analysis in Excel and R, with additional experience in EPA government database management and processing.

12. Research Assistants

Here's how volunteer research assistants use research assistants:
  • Helped run clinical psychology studies with other graduate and undergraduate research assistants.
  • Attend weekly in-person meetings with fellow research assistants and research professor.

13. 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 volunteer research assistants use dna:
  • Identified Vertebrate Host DNA through molecular techniques to track West Nile Virus.
  • Trained four undergraduate students to carry out experiments in DNA cloning.

14. GEL Electrophoresis

Here's how volunteer research assistants use gel electrophoresis:
  • Gel Electrophoresis for cloning experiments.
  • Attained extensive knowledge of molecular biology and protein techniques which included cloning, protein gel electrophoresis, and Western blotting.

15. Blot

Here's how volunteer research assistants use blot:
  • Observed and analyzed Western Blot procedures and protocol.
  • Analyzed fibril formation by western blot and detection by chemiluminescence.
top-skills

What skills help Volunteer Research Assistants find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on Volunteer Research Assistant resumes?

Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

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 Volunteer Research Assistants possess?

Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology, Interim Department Head, New Mexico State University

These days in the job market, the abilities, as mentioned previously, to understand human behavior, contextualize events, and frame what is occurring. The problems that STEM students have now are designing products for humans but do not have that training. Our students are trained to understand humans at the state, institutional, organizational, group, and individual levels in sociology. This allows our students to find jobs if they desire to gain employment in STEM fields and data analytics in general.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Volunteer Research Assistants?

Dr. David LoConto Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology, Interim Department Head, New Mexico State University

Increasingly, we see that the hard skills, due to technology changing so fast, become antiquated quickly. Employees must be retrained yearly or every other year. Therefore, the hard skills have lost some value. We provide our students the opportunity to learn not only statistical packages like SPSS and R, but they have the opportunity to do computational research, textual analysis, and data visualization. This provides our students the opportunity to learn skills they can apply to STEM fields, but our students have the bonus of understanding human behavior. Something that in the workforce is rarely taught.

What Volunteer Research Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Slavko KomarnytskySlavko Komarnytsky LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, North Carolina State University

I don't believe in gap years unless they are driven by economic reasons. If you need a paycheck to support you and your future educational goals, by all means do it. If not, use the pandemic as an opportunity to stand out. We are currently experiencing a major shift in how educational, networking, and collaborative relationships are formed and sustained, and when the dust settles (let's say we have the effective vaccines in place), we are not going back to the old ways - so complaining about studying and networking online or taking a gap year to avoid it - is useless.

Instead, take initiative, and show your value. Look up and reach out to professors in your department who work in your area of interest with a single question, "Would it be possible for me to develop a review manuscript on (topic) with you as my mentor?" If accepted, you immediately gain access to your professor's professional network, in-depth knowledge in your area of research, writing skills, teamwork, and visibility once the manuscript is submitted and published. Hey, email me, and I will work with you to make it happen. Also, pay attention to local clubs and student organizations that are active in the areas of your interest - by participating in their activities, you gain access to the group of the brightest and most active students in your program. You will be surprised how much you can accomplish with Zoom meetings, proper distancing, and masks. Check NCSU Student Food Science Club led by David Mohebpour or UNC Chapel Hill Student Alternative Proteins Project led by Sophia Retchin as examples.

What type of skills will young Volunteer Research Assistants need?

Flor E. Acevedo Ph.D.Flor E. Acevedo Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor, The Pennsylvania State University

Flexibility, teamwork, resilience. They need to be good at what they do.

What technical skills for a Volunteer Research Assistant 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.

List of volunteer research assistant skills to add to your resume

Volunteer Research Assistant Skills

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

  • Lab Equipment
  • DR
  • Literature Reviews
  • Data Collection
  • Cell Culture
  • Research Projects
  • SPSS
  • Data Analysis
  • PCR
  • Research Study
  • R
  • Research Assistants
  • DNA
  • GEL Electrophoresis
  • Blot
  • Research Data
  • IRB
  • Electrophoresis
  • Statistical Analysis
  • PI
  • Literature Searches
  • Molecular Biology
  • Analyze Data
  • MRI
  • PowerPoint
  • RNA
  • EEG
  • Vital Signs
  • Western Blotting
  • Neuroscience
  • Blood Pressure
  • GPS
  • Clinical Research
  • Blood Samples
  • Public Health
  • Informed Consent
  • Elisa
  • Research Findings
  • Tissue Samples
  • SDS-PAGE
  • Patient Data
  • Cell Lines
  • Experimental Data
  • Alzheimer
  • SAS
  • Research Paper
  • HIV
  • Genotyping
  • NIH

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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