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How to Become a Research Assistant

Last Updated: June 21, 2024 Approved

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The role of a research assistant is to help a professional obtain knowledge, organize information or maintain records for a project. There are many types of research assistants. Research assistants find work in laboratories, law offices, courthouses, publishing companies and academic environments like colleges and universities. Pursuing a research assistant position is similar in many ways to looking for any other kind of job, with a few additional specifications.

Determining the Type of Research Assistant You Want to Be

Step 1 Choose a field or industry to focus on.

STEM fields almost always need research assistants. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Psychology, anthropology and even history are other great fields that you may find work as a research assistant in.

Step 2 Identify the skills and traits needed.

Most research assistants are expected to be relatively computer savvy, with experience in common office applications as well as data entry or other field specific software suites.
You will need to be self-motivated, as research assistants are often expected to work independently and with limited supervision.

Step 3 Choose an academic research position.

Academic research assistants are often graduate students that have already earned bachelor's degree in the field they are studying and are now pursuing a subsequent degree.
Academic research can help you start a career in education. Working as a research assistant can lead to becoming a research fellow which is often a step toward becoming an associate professor, and ultimately a professor.
Being an academic research assistant involves assisting senior educators in their work, which may include preparing for classes or helping to advance their extra-curricular academic pursuits.
High school students may be eligible for some research assistant positions at local colleges or universities. These positions can help you get into a good college and are great ways to develop skills that will help in your education and future professional life.

Step 4 Consider a professional research assistant position.

Professional research assistants must meet the minimum requirements for the position, but are usually not required to be pursuing further education.
Being a research assistant in a professional setting means working in a for-profit environment that may be more result driven and competitive than academic research.
Professional research assistant's career paths can lead to overseeing your own projects and can help you shift into an operations or managerial position in the research field.

Step 5 Determine if you meet the necessary qualifications.

Professional research assistants are expected to be adept at using common office software suites like Microsoft Office or Apache Open Office. You will also be expected to understand and follow common safety procedures for your field.
Graduate students may work as research assistants doing different work as they pursue a master's degree or PhD.
Make sure your degree qualifies you to work in the field of your interest. It will need to be directly related to the position you are applying to.
Working as a research assistant in school can serve as an excellent qualification to get a job as a professional research assistant.

Looking for Research Assistant Positions

Step 1 Speak to your professors or school administrators.

Schools often have job placement offices that can help you locate a research assistant position in either academia or the private sector.
The professors you study under will often be aware of research assistant needs within their departments.

Step 2 Contact other schools in your area.

Research assistant positions can sometimes count as internships if your degree program requires one.
Speak to your school advisor about opportunities to get transfer credits by working as a research assistant at a nearby school.
Contact the department of your interest at other local colleges and universities to inquire about any research assistant openings.

Step 3 Use job boards to search for research assistant job openings.

Looking for research assistant positions in the private sector is no different than looking for any other job online.
Use search terms that are specific to the field you want to work in as well as the phrase “research assistant” for the best results.

Step 4 Utilize social media to expand your search.

Start by creating a LinkedIn Account.
Search for open positions and reach out to others in the field you are interested in to help you identify open research assistant positions.

Professional research assistants will be expected to be able to maintain spreadsheets and have strong written and verbal communications skills.
It is important that you are able to quickly determine the level of credibility of a source while researching. Make sure that you are comfortable evaluating the credibility of academic sources.

Applying for a Research Assistant Position

You will need to put together a professional looking résumé.
It may help to adjust your résumé slightly to better suit the requirements laid out in the opening you want to apply for.

Step 2 Identify your school's application procedures.

Speak to your professor about what you need to do in order to apply for a research assistant position in accordance with the school's guidelines.
Adjust your résumé to match the requirements laid out by your school, then submit it with your application in the way they dictate.

Step 3 Speak to the professor you would work for.

Meet with the professor to make sure they are someone that you can work with and that it's an environment you will be comfortable in.
The professor can give you a better idea of what to expect while working as a research assistant.

Make sure that you are dressed appropriately for a job interview.
Remember that your first impression is important at job interviews, so try hard to make a good one.
Brush up on how have a great interview before you go to get yourself in the right mindset.

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About this article

To become a research assistant, work to develop the skills you'll need, like good reading skills and the ability to work independently without much supervision. You'll also want to understand the subject-specific skills and knowledge you need to have for your area of interest, such as science or psychology. If you're a graduate student, look for research assistant positions in your department, including by speaking to professors or administrators. For positions in a professional setting, try using job sites to find potential employers. For tips on how to apply for a research assistant post and how to approach a job interview, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No