Research technician jobs vary depending on the industry in which they work. Professionals in this field may work in fields such as biology, chemistry, or geology. They could also be clinical research technicians, which means they work in a particular area of clinical medicine. Other fields where research technicians are needed include agriculture, nuclear physics, and forensic anthropology. Depending on the level of experience and ability of the research technician, he or she may assist the primary researcher or research team at various levels.
In general, those who assist researchers working in science or medicine are referred to as research technicians. Jobs as a science research technician are as varied as science itself, though some branches come to mind more readily than others. A chemist’s assistant, for example, might be in charge of monitoring laboratory equipment, measuring substances in test tubes and beakers, and participating in chemical experiments.
Research technician jobs are also available in other fields of science. An oceanographic technician might be in charge of taking and analyzing ocean water samples, whereas a pedology research assistant might be in charge of taking and analyzing soil samples. An agronomist’s research assistant would assist the scientist in evaluating the effects of soil, water, and light conditions on specific plants in order to study the use of plants for food. A forensic anthropology research technician might measure and weigh bones. Climate, fossils, and sediment, as well as plants and animals and volcanoes, can all benefit from research technicians.
Clinical fields account for a large portion of research technician jobs. Pharmacology, the study of medicines and treatments; immunology, the study of the human immune system; and pathology, the study of disease, are all examples of this. It could also include research into specific organs, medical conditions, or drugs.
The actual functions of a research technician are determined the research’s nature and the technician’s level of expertise. Junior technicians may be primarily responsible for the lab’s upkeep and cleaning, while more senior technicians may be involved in actual experiments. Senior technicians are also more likely to work in the field.
While the term “research technician” is commonly associated with scientific or medical fields, it can be applied to any field that conducts research. Statistics, English literature, and linguistics are examples of such subjects. The terms research assistant or research associate are most commonly used in these fields, but the assistant may still be referred to as a technician.