WHAT DOES A RESEARCH ASSISTANT DO?

Published: Dec 15, 2025 - The Research Assistant coordinates, develops, and revises study-related documents such as protocols, SOPs, monitoring plans, analysis plans, and reports. This role involves conducting data quality reviews, maintaining central files for IRB submissions, and supporting administrative tasks, including purchasing, meeting logistics, and training material preparation. The assistant also communicates with site staff to provide updates and ensure the achievement of study objectives.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Research Assistant

1. Research Assistant Duties

  • Microscopy Techniques: Perform microscopic and gross tissue dissection, preservation, processing, and sectioning.
  • Molecular Biology: Purify DNA, perform genotyping, conduct MaxiPreps, and run PCR reactions.
  • Experimental Analysis: Prepare and interpret experiments.
  • Data Presentation: Prepare data for presentation.
  • Protein Analysis: Perform immunohistochemical staining methods and Western blotting.
  • Cell Culture: Responsible for culturing primary cells.
  • Data Management: Maintain Excel-type databases.
  • Laboratory Inventory: Responsible for ordering and organizing lab stocks.

2. Research Assistant Duties and Roles

  • Data Research: Responsible for researching, collecting, and entering data.
  • Database Management: Responsible for maintaining and managing databases.
  • Document Proofreading: Proofread reports and memos.
  • Citation Review: Responsible for checking citations.
  • Report Formatting: Prepare and format clear exhibits and tables that are meaningful and support analysis.
  • Document Production: Print, copy, and bind documents.
  • Project Coordination: Assist directors and consulting staff with project management tasks and coordination.
  • Team Collaboration: Participate in team meetings and conference calls.

3. Research Assistant Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Research Enhancement: Provide high-level contributions to the research team as a whole, including continual improvement of research methods and services.
  • Qualitative Research Support: Administrate support of qualitative research projects.
  • Logistics Coordination: Provide logistics support to the research team, including booking venues and arranging travel.
  • Data Management: Be in charge of data entry and checking.
  • Document Preparation: Assist in the preparation of final documents and presentations.
  • Event Coordination: Responsible for event support (internal and external events).
  • Client Liaison: Accountable for liaising with clients.
  • Office Administration: Perform general reception and office duties.

4. Research Assistant Essential Functions

  • Requirements Analysis: Analyze the needs of the user.
  • Software Development: Design, test, and develop the software to meet users’ needs.
  • Modular Programming: Develop separate elements of a software program that work well in the program.
  • System Modeling: Create various diagrams, flowcharts, and models that illustrate the type of code needed for programmers.
  • Software Maintenance: Ensure the continued functionality of a program during maintenance and testing of software.
  • Bug Resolution: Revisit the development process to fix bugs or address client or consumer concerns.
  • Technical Documentation: Document the network by recording the configuration diagram and programming.
  • Server Monitoring: Monitor servers and escalate emergency technical issues beyond scope to maintain optimum uptime.

5. Research Assistant Roles

  • User Research: Conduct independent research on multiple aspects of how users engage with novel products and experiences.
  • Quantitative Analysis: Collect and analyze user behavior via quantitative methods, benchmark studies, lab studies, and surveys.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with designers, product managers, engineers, and research managers to prioritize research opportunities in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
  • Requirements Integration: Understand and incorporate complex technical and business requirements into research.
  • Research Communication: Evangelize research findings to diverse audiences through written reports and oral presentations.

6. Research Assistant Functions

  • Data Reporting: Compile analytical reports and identify relevant insights.
  • Data Mining: Implement and execute data mining projects, utilizing investigative, organizational, and analytical skills.
  • Data Extraction: Organize, manipulate, and extract data in response to management requests.
  • Financial Analysis: Analyze corporate reports in order to create financial reports.
  • Decision Support: Supply key decision-making data for market assessments, forecasting, and further investigation.

7. Research Assistant Roles and Responsibilities

  • Data Analysis: Responsible for data collection, management, assembly, and analysis, potentially including the use of spatial data.
  • Literature Review: Identify, review, and synthesize academic and policy literature.
  • Quantitative Modeling: Support quantitative and conceptual modeling.
  • Research Assistance: Perform other miscellaneous tasks as assigned by researchers.
  • Climate Assessment: Evaluate potential roles for forest and land use in addressing climate change.

8. Research Assistant Overview

  • Study Coordination: Coordinate, develop, review, track, and revise assigned study-related documents, including protocols, SOPs, monitoring plans, analysis plans, reports, and publications.
  • Data Quality Review: Conduct data reviews to ensure quality and compliance standards.
  • Administrative Support: Perform administrative duties of purchasing supplies, assisting with meetings and travel arrangements, training materials, and preparing minutes and presentations.
  • Regulatory Documentation: Develop and maintain central files and dossiers for IRB reviews, and set up conference calls and virtual meetings.
  • Site Communication: Communicate with site staff to ensure updates and the successful completion of study goals.

9. Research Assistant Responsibilities

  • Research Planning: Develop a research plan and set of specific aims or work with the primary investigator on an established research plan.
  • Statistical Analysis: Conduct an independent statistical analysis.
  • Advanced Analytics: Responsible for network analysis, longitudinal analysis, and/or geospatial analysis, as well as traditional epidemiologic and biostatistical methods.
  • Literature Review: Conduct a literature review.
  • Scientific Writing: Fulfill the roles of a lead or contributing author in writing a scientific manuscript for publication.

10. Research Assistant Details

  • Research Leadership: Lead Research Assistant (RA) for WVU RNI wearable study, medical student burnout.
  • Wearable Research: Research for a wearable study on Pain, Aging, and OUD.
  • Psychophysiology Research: Research for psychophysiological experiments.
  • Suicide Prevention: Perform suicide prevention work with the Behavioral Wellness program.
  • Primary Research: Conduct primary source research.
  • Archival Research: Perform archival research.
  • Research Planning: Plan and schedule research activities.
  • Data Collection: Gather demographic and clinical data on study participants.
  • Results Reporting: Prepare and report results of research activities.
  • Source Synthesis: Collect, organize, and synthesize source material.
Relevant Information
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