He or she may also write reports, summaries, and protocols regarding experiments. A laboratory assistant also performs limited troubleshooting and calibration of instruments. An entry-level laboratory assistant position requires at minimum an associate degree in a science and 0 to 2 years' laboratory experience. Research Associate A research associate is responsible for research and development in collaboration with others on projects. He or she makes detailed observations, analyzes data, and interprets results.
Research associates prepare technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses.
An incumbent maintains familiarity with current scientific literature and contributes to the process of a project within his or her scientific discipline, as well as investigating, creating, and developing new ethods and technologies for project advancement. He or she may also be responsible for identifying patentable inventions and acting as principal investigator in conducting his or her own experiments. A research associate may also be asked to participate in scientific conferences and contribute to scientific journals. The job description for a research assistant is similar to that of a research associate. At the entry level, the job can require a bachelor of science or advanced degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent, with little or no related experience.