Medical research assistants conduct experiments and clinical trials in laboratories for hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. They prepare samples, conduct experiments, and document findings. A bachelor’s degree in biology or biochemistry is required, and certification exams may be necessary. Training programs can take up to six months.
A medical research assistant helps conduct investigative and original studies in a clinical laboratory. Many assistants work in hospital and university laboratories, researching disease pathology and injury physiology. Others are employed by pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies and private research labs to develop new drugs and help with clinical trials. In either scenario, a medical research assistant performs a wide range of tasks in setting up, running, and documenting experiments.
Research assistants who assist with drug discovery and disease investigation studies spend most of their time in sophisticated scientific laboratories. They are responsible for sample preparation and testing equipment, including test tubes, chemical dyes, microscopes, and centrifuges. Under the guidance of lead researchers, they conduct experiments and record findings. At the end of each day of experimentation, the assistant stores samples in the appropriate locations and cleans the laboratory.
Clinical trials usually involve testing the effectiveness and potential problems of new drugs in human volunteer participants. A medical research assistant who helps with clinical trials is usually responsible for assessing participants, placing them in appropriate groups, administering medications and placebos, and documenting daily findings in electronic spreadsheets. At study completion, the wizard helps principal investigators compile raw data into meaningful reports, tables, and graphs.
To ensure quality results in laboratory experiments and clinical trials, it is important for a medical research assistant to be highly organized and thorough. Laboratory specimens must be handled and labeled with care, and research notes must be orderly, consistent, and accurate. The medical research assistant’s rigorous attention to detail enables leading scientists to produce reports with complete confidence that the findings are true.
A person who wants to become a medical research assistant will usually need to possess at least a bachelor’s degree in biology, biochemistry or another subject related to human health. Many undergraduate and doctoral students apply for research assistant jobs to help them prepare for their eventual careers as clinical scientists or physicians. Some employers require prospective employees to pass certification exams to ensure they understand ethics, legal concerns and standard procedures.
With the appropriate credentials, an individual can enter a formal training program that can take anywhere from two weeks to six months, depending on the scope and difficulty of the job’s tasks. An intern works alongside experienced scientists and assistants, learning firsthand how to keep records, organize studies, and set up trials and experiments. Over time, a new worker may be given more responsibilities and allowed to perform important tasks under minimal supervision.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
