Research Assistant Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Ashley Jones
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main Street, Naperville, IL 65511
Profile
Research assistant with two years of experience in laboratory work. Specializes in statistical analysis and clinical research. Experience with collaborating in teams to conduct lab experiments and collect research data. Ability to work accurately in a fast-paced environment. Adept at following directions and maintaining industry standards.
Key Skills
- High level of analytical and organizational skills
- Familiar with lab equipment and materials
- Knowledge of best practices and lab standards
- Able to work well independently and in a team
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Experience with Python and C/C++
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biology
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Iowa City, IA, September 2016 – May 2019
Professional Experience
Research Assistant, ABC Labs, Chicago, IL
August 2019 – Present
- Assists with preparation for conducting experiments
- Manages detailed database and verifies the accuracy of data
- Implements quality control measures for research methodology
- Summarizes research data into tables, graphs, charts, and narratives
- Writes reports and gives oral presentations summarizing research activities
Student Research Assistant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
January 2019 – July 2019
- Assisted professor with setting up lab procedures
- Created research reports
- Assisted professor in drafting presentations on research findings
- Provided assistance with lab studies
- Assisted the professor and students as needed during laboratory class
Janice Jones
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Maple Street, Central, LA, 34567
Profile
Professional research assistant with 8+ years of experience providing support to research fellows in university and think tank settings. Skilled in data collection and recording, experimentation, literature reviews, and fact-checking, editing and proofreading. Exceptional communication, analytical and presentation skills that help to advance the overall objectives of the research team while excelling in individual duties.
Professional Experience
Senior Research Assistant, Bayou State University, Central, Louisiana
November 2015 – Present
- Assist research professors in the behavioral sciences department during psychological experiments
- Conduct cognitive, social, motivational, temperament and biobehavioral experiments and interviews
- Compose statistical-based reports based upon collected data
- Publish findings reports using AMA-style citations
Junior Research Assistant, ABC Think Tank, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
March 2012 – November 2015
- Adhered to clinical trial protocols in scientific, behavioral and psychological experiments
- Interviewed subject participants and gather project-specific informed consent forms
- Composed clinical development plans, case report forms and clinical trial forms for research fellow review
- Performed bi-annual reviews of study findings for accuracy and completeness
Education
Master of Science in Research Education
LOUISIANA INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH New Orleans, LA August 2008 to March 2012
Key Skills:
- Working knowledge of ABC Research Software
- Prepare professional-quality project-related reports in Adobe InDesign
- Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills
Clyde F. Burns
(561) 000-9999
[email protected]
4411 Strawberry Lane, #58, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Profile
Detail-oriented Research Assistant with 10+ years’ experience coordinating research efforts among study sponsors, medical staff, and participants. Self-motivated team player with a reputation for accuracy, forward-thinking, and strong organizational skills.
Professional Experience
Clinical Research Coordinator, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Vero Beach, FL
June 2012 – Present
- Oversee subject recruitment and enrollment goals for in vivo preclinical neurocognitive psychomotor testing
- Identify, screen, and schedule volunteers in clinical trials
- Prepare documents, supplies, and equipment for research visits
- Coordinate all components of data collection in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures
- Develop input for Adverse Event reports
Research Assistant I – Integrative Biology & Pharmacology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
August 2010 – April 2012
- Performed a broad range of laboratory tasks including data collection and analysis, maintaining records, animal experiments, cellular, and molecular assays
- Guided undergraduate students in research and presentations
- Collaborated on chronic muscle pain study published in 2002 edition of Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Education
Master’s in Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
August 2009 – May 2012
- Concentration in Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
August 2005 – May 2009
Key Skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- High familiarity with electronic data capture system, Internet and Intranet
- Deep knowledge of clinical research protocols and regulation compliance
- High Microsoft Office proficiency
Certifications
- ACRP, 2017
- SOCRA, 2017
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Research Assistant Resume
It’s common for companies to use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to collect and sort resumes for hiring managers. These systems highlight top job candidates for hiring managers by searching resumes for specific keywords and action verbs present on the job description.
Because resumes are processed initially by an ATS, it’s important to make sure your resume contains the relevant skills and qualifications, otherwise it may never reach the hiring manager. Below are some common key skills and action verbs for research assistant resumes.
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Analysis | Communication skills |
| Critical-thinking | Data analysis |
| Data collection | Data entry |
| Detail-oriented | HIPAA |
| ICH-GCP | IRB |
| Informed consent | Literature review |
| Manuscripts | Microsoft Office suite |
| Organizational skills | Protocol |
| Publications | Surveys |
| SPSS | STATA |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administer | Analyze |
| Assess | Collect |
| Coordinate | Conduct |
| Enroll | Examine |
| Execute | Interview |
| Monitor | Perform |
| Plan | Present |
| Process | Recruit |
| Research | Respond |
| Schedule | Test |
| Track | Write |
Tips for Writing a Better Research Assistant Resume
Showcase your research experience
Prior research experience isn’t always necessary for research assistant jobs, but for scientific and medical research, experience with qualitative or quantitative research is often required. This can include the ability to perform literature reviews, identify and recruit study participants, obtain informed consent, collect data during study visits, perform statistical analysis of data sets, maintain laboratory equipment and inventory, and prepare graphs and figures. When showcasing your research experience on your resume, be specific about your responsibilities.
Example #1:
Good
Recruited, screened, and obtained informed consent from 250 research subjects in compliance with IRB and regulatory agency requirements while maintaining accurate and complete documentation.
Bad
Assisted with enrolling participants in research studies.
Example #2:
Good
Performed data collection and data entry into case report forms and electronic data capture systems, including REDCap and Qualtrics, and responded to queries in a timely manner.
Bad
Assisted in data collection and data entry.
Highlight all technical skills and knowledge
A research assistant position typically requires specific research skills, including technical skills and certain knowledge of the research process. Depending on the type of role, it may also require familiarity with specific laboratory procedures, equipment and instruments, and software programs. You can highlight your technical skills and knowledge in your professional experience bullets or the skills section of your resume. When highlighting technical skills and expertise, include all skills that are listed in the job description that you possess.
Example #1:
Good
Conducted extensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan protocols on a 3T GE MRI scanner and processed MRI data, including structural, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting state and task-based functional data, using AFNI, SPM, FSL, and Fiasco programs.
Bad
Performed fMRI studies and processed fMRI data.
Example #2:
Good
Coordinated the conduct of NIH- and industry-sponsored clinical trials in neurology, from study start-up to close-out, following established SOPS, ICH-GCP, FDA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulatory requirements and guidelines.
Bad
Followed study protocols, regulations, and guidelines while performing research duties.
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
Hiring managers often look at hundreds of resumes to identify candidates who fit their needs. An effective way to stand out from the crowd and win the attention of a hiring manager is by mirroring the details found in the job description in your resume. The most important requirements for the position are often mentioned first or more than once throughout the job description.
After identifying the top keywords and phrases, go back through your resume and incorporate the specific skills and qualifications that are described in the job description without falsifying your actual experience. The example below shows you what this exercise looks like.
Example Research Assistant Job Description
The University of Chicago is seeking a Research Assistant to perform support duties related to the coordination of social-behavioral research under the supervision of a principal investigator. The Research Assistant is responsible for conducting literature searches, data collection and management, subject recruitment, informed consent, scheduling and conducting interviews of study participants, assisting with data analysis, and generating materials for reports. This position constitutes a variety of duties to support the operation of multiple ongoing research projects.
Responsibilities:
- Performing literature reviews for inclusion in grant proposals and scientific manuscripts
- Conducting data collection, including interviews with research participants
- Recruiting research participants and scheduling study visits
- Coordinating informed consent discussion and enrollment into research studies
- Conducting simple analyses using SPSS
- Performing data management, including entering, preparing, and cleaning data
- Creating charts, tables, and figures based on results
- Assisting with IRB applications
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing, psychology, sociology, social work, public health, or related field
- 1-2 years related experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research
- Familiarity with statistical software, such as SPSS, preferred
- Proficiency in MS Excel and other MS Office applications
- Experience with online survey software, such as Qualtrics
- Ability to work as a member of a diverse team
According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:
- Research skills
- Analysis
- Data collection
- Data management
- Interviews
- Informed consent
- Literature review
- Subject recruitment
- Statistical software
After you review what you highlighted in the job description, work those keywords and skills into the skills and professional experience sections of your resume. Below is an example of how to incorporate them into your resume:
Research Assistant Work Experience Example
Research Assistant, Rush University, Phoenix, AZ
May 2018–Present
- Coordinated the conduct of two federally-funded research studies on HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases in vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ, Black, and Latinx populations
- Assisted with subject recruitment and subject enrollment efforts
- Performed informed consent of participants into research studies per study protocols
- Conducted computer, phone-based, and in-person research interviews and assessments with subjects
- Ensured accurate, complete, and timely data entry and data analyses using SPSS software