Research Technician
Research technicians assist research scientists by performing hands-on, technical work in laboratories. In agriculture, this could require work outside the lab, potentially traveling to fields or farms where technicians collect samples and run tests. The scope and type of the research they conduct will be highly dependent on the place they work.
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Operate and maintain lab equipment
- Ensure lab is properly stocked with materials
- Monitor lab experiments and document any observations
- Record data from experiments and input data into computer software
- Complete documents that track project progress
- Assist in the cleaning and sanitation of the lab
- Monitor lab expenses
- Assist in the seeding and harvesting of crops
- Identify pests or diseases that may be present in a crop or animal
- Assist and help train new lab members
- Provide treatment for disease or infestation through medication, herbicides and pesticides
- Receive, sort and send out samples
- Participate in research planning sessions to better understand work being done
- Assist in the creation of presentations for meetings, conferences or other events
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- statistics
- mathematics
- focus on sciences such as animal science, chemistry and biology
Education/Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in laboratory technology or the focus area of the research lab, such as agronomy, horticulture, animal science, poultry science or aquaculture, is required.
