Research Assistant Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

3 min read. Updated on June 03, 2024

Marsha Hebert (TR)

When you want to land a Research Assistant job, the job description is your best friend.

In order to ensure your professional resume will support your goals, use this Research Assistant job description to inform what you should highlight on your resume.

By reviewing job description roles and duties, you'll be able to identify what technical and soft skills, credentials, and work experience matter most to an employer in your target field.

Research Assistant Job Description

Participate in the design, administration, and monitoring of clinical trials. Analyze and evaluate clinical data gathered during research. Ensure compliance with protocol and overall clinical objectives.

May require a BS, RN, or BSN degree or equivalent and 0-3 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements is required. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Rely on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Work under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

Responsibilities:

Conduct literature reviews
Collect and analyze data
Prepare materials for submission to granting agencies and foundations
Prepare interview questions
Recruit and/or interview subjects
Maintain accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects as necessary
Summarize interviews
Provide ready access to all experimental data for the faculty researcher and/or supervisor
Request or acquire equipment or supplies necessary for the project
Manage and respond to project-related email
Prepare, maintain, and update website materials
Supervise undergraduate students working on the research project (maintaining records on assignment completion, acting as liaison/mediator between the undergraduate students and the faculty researcher)
Attend project meetings
Attend area seminars and other meetings as necessary
Summarize project results
Prepare progress reports
Prepare other articles, reports, and presentations
Monitor the project budget
Travel to field sites to collect and record data and/or samples as appropriate to the specific objectives of the study
As appropriate to the specified position, code and verify data in accordance with specified research protocol and coding procedures and enter data into a computer database and/or spreadsheet application for subsequent analysis
Develop or assist in the development of interview schedules; contact potential subjects to introduce and explain study objectives and protocol and to arrange interviews, either in person or by telephone
Identify and compile lists of potential research subjects in accordance with study objectives and parameters, as appropriate to the individual position
Conduct and record face-to-face and/or telephone interviews with subjects, in accordance with predetermined interview protocol, data collection procedures and documentation standards
Review and edit data to ensure completeness and accuracy of information; follow up with subjects to resolve problems or clarify data collected
May set up, calibrate and maintain laboratory and/or field research equipment, as specified by the requirements of the study
May lead or guide the work of student employees
Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned

Prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management
Write and contribute to publications
Develop research protocols
Track progress over time
Assist with preparation of all educational and training workshops and evaluation strategies
Engage clinical and community partners in research
Market training and technical assistance resources to clinical partners and academic investigators
Develop assessment and evaluation tools
Compile data for progress reports

Requirements:

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis
High school diploma or equivalent; college degree preferred

Tailor your resume

As you read through the Research Assistant job description, you likely noticed there are things the employer wants that you absolutely know how to do. You should make a list of the skills you have so they align with the duties you'll need to perform in your new job.

As an example, the first responsibility listed in this Research Assistant job description is the ability to “conduct literature reviews.” You will want that exact verbiage in your resume. Tailoring your Research Assistant resume with the language you find in the job description will help your resume get past the applicant tracking system.

The applicant tracking system – ATS

Make no mistake: almost every job you apply to will push your resume through the ATS before it gets into the hands of a hiring manager. It will scan your resume for everything from experience level and education to keywords.

Let's take a look at some of the skills you should consider including in your Research Assistant resume.

Research Assistant top skills & proficiencies

By using the exact wording from the Research Assistant job description, you'll be speaking directly to the bot through relevant keywords. Use those skill-related keywords and make sure you have a good balance of hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are things you know how to do because of education, on-the-job training, and experience. In other words, they're what you've learned over the course of your career. It's pretty easy to distinguish them because they are quantifiable. Meaning you can put a number with them.

For example, if you're using “data collection” as one of your hard skills, you can quantify it by saying that you “collect data from 3 disparate sources or data lakes to compile actionable reports for senior leaders.”

Soft skills are not often quantifiable. These types of skills are the interpersonal abilities you possess that allow you to get along with others and solve problems.

Communication
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Planning and scheduling
Interviewing
Data collection
Conflict resolution

The Research Assistant job description is the key to job search success

At the end of the day, the goal of applying for any job is to win an interview. By using the Research Assistant job description, you'll get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.

If you want to be certain that you've got the right skills and keywords in your resume from the Research Assistant job description, TopResume will perform a free resume review for you.