A research specialist conducts research in a specific field, conducts experiments and case studies, and then documents the results. He or she also assists with other lab maintenance tasks and has knowledge of various research methodologies. Research specialists work in a variety of industries, including hospitals, laboratories, corporations, marketing firms, and universities, and typically study the sciences, social sciences, marketing, or medicine. Your specific requirements for becoming a research specialist will be determined by the field you wish to study. A bachelor’s or master’s degree, excellent research skills, computer skills, and strong communication skills are typically required.
Although some research jobs require a communications or journalism degree, the degree required to become a research specialist is usually related to the subject you want to investigate. Those who want to work in a hospital or laboratory can get a biology, chemistry, psychology, or medical degree, while market researchers can get a marketing or business administration degree. Many master’s degree programs include a class on research methodology that provides skills you may find useful as a research specialist. Those who want to work in a university may need a master’s degree or a doctorate to perform research, and many master’s degree programs include a class on research methodology that provides skills you may find useful as a research specialist. In most fields, taking a statistics or data modeling class is also beneficial.
Laboratory or research experience is important, and you’ll want to get as much of it as possible while in college so you’ll be ready to work as a research specialist after graduation. Most science degrees include laboratory classes, but if your degree does not include a research component, you may need to conduct research outside of school, especially if you are pursuing a business or communications degree. If your college does not offer any laboratory experience, you can look for an internship or volunteer at a local business. Before deciding on an internship, check with your college to see if you can earn class credit for the experience.
Despite the fact that many research specialists work independently, they must have excellent written and oral communication skills in order to share their findings with others. Ability to conduct research using a computer, knowledge of productivity software, excellent writing and editing skills, and the ability to think critically and analyze information are all additional requirements for becoming a research specialist. Research specialists must be highly organized and comfortable working with large amounts of data in order to keep track of all information gained from their studies and sort it correctly.