How To Write a Medical Research Assistant Resume

A medical research assistant is a professional who provides support duties to a medical researcher, such as collecting samples and compiling data. They may also conduct certain tests and communicate with study participants. Learning how to write a resume for a medical research assistant position can help you highlight your qualifications effectively and appeal to hiring managers.

In this article, we list what to include in a medical research assistant resume, explain how to write one and share a template and an example you can use as inspiration when writing your own.

What to include in a medical research assistant resume

Here are some elements to include in a medical research assistant resume:

• Header: A resume header includes your name and contact details.

• Professional summary: A professional summary outlines your primary qualifications for the role.

• Work experience: The work experience section includes your relevant employment experience.

• Skills: The skills section lists the soft and technical skills you have that pertain to the job.

• Education: The education section includes information about your formal diplomas or degrees.

• Certifications: The certifications section is an optional element that includes details about your relevant professional certificates and licenses.

Related: How To Get a Clinical Lab Certification in 4 Steps

How to write a medical research assistant resume

Here are the steps you can take to write a medical research assistant resume:

1. Start with a resume header

At the top of your resume, add your first and last name. Next, include your phone number, email address, the city and state where you live and a link to your professional social media page or website if you have one. Providing this information in your header allows hiring managers to identify you when reviewing your resume. It also allows them to find your contact information easily if they want to schedule an interview with you.

Read more: How To Create an Effective Resume Header

2. Write a professional summary

Next, write a one- to three-sentence summary of the credentials you have that make you a suitable candidate for the role. You may find it helpful to review the job description before you add this section so you can identify the skills, experience, certifications and other qualifications the employee requires. Then, include the qualifications most relevant to you and the role to encourage the hiring manager to continue reading your resume.

Related: How To Write a Summary of Qualifications for Your Resume (With Examples)

3. Add your work experience

After you write your professional summary, add your relevant employment experience. Start by listing your most recent position and your dates of employment. Next, include the name and location of the employer and a bullet list of the primary duties you had in the role. Consider starting each list item with a strong action verb that emphasizes the extent of your experience.

Related: How To Find Your Complete Work History

4. List your relevant skills

In the next section, list some skills you have that can help you perform well in the role. You can include both soft skills and technical skills. Soft skills are transferable proficiencies that can benefit you in any career field, and technical skills relate specifically to the role you want. Examples of skills you can include in a medical research assistant resume include:

• Communication

• Critical thinking

• Laboratory equipment

• Data evaluation

Related: Soft Skills in the Workplace

5. Share your educational credentials

In this section, include details about your formal education. If you've earned a college degree, include the name of the degree, the educational institution you attended and your graduation year if you graduated within the past five years. Otherwise, include your high school diploma or GED.

Read more: How To List Your Education on a Resume

6. Include your professional certifications

If you have professional certifications relevant to a medical research assistant role, you can list them in the last section of your resume. Include the name of each certification, the host organization and the year you received it or the year it expires. Adding professional certifications can help you differentiate yourself from other candidates who apply for the job.

Related: What Are Certifications? Definitions, Benefits, Types of Certifications and Examples

Medical research assistant resume template

You can use this medical research assistant resume template to help you write your own:

[Full Name]
[Phone number] | [Professional email address] | [City, State] | [Professional website]

Professional Summary

[Brief summary that mentions your core competencies, work experience and career achievements]

Work Experience

[Job Title], [Start date–End date]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

[Job Title], [Start date–End date]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

[Job Title], [Start date–End date]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

Skills

[Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill]

Education

[Degree earned]
[Institution name], [Graduation year if you graduated within the past three years]

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Host organization] - [Year completed or expiration date]

• [Certification Name], [Host organization] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Related: Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes

Medical research assistant resume example

Here's an example of a medical research assistant resume example you can use as a reference:

Olive Thiel 907-555-0928 | olivethiel@email.com | Anchorage, AK

Professional Summary

Motivated medical research assistant with five years of experience in a pharmaceutical research setting seeking a role with a major health care company. Demonstrated success in providing extensive support to senior researchers conducting clinical trials, including trial preparation, data organization and effective reporting.

Work Experience

Medical Research Assistant, May 2019–Current
KCM Pharmaceutical Innovations, Whittier, AK

• Assist in planning timelines for medical research projects

• Prepare 20+ patients for clinical research trials once weekly

• Follow strict health and safety protocol in administering trial drugs

• Monitor patient health throughout the trial process

• Create extensive documentation for use by three senior researchers

Laboratory Technician, January 2017–May 2019
Smith & McDonald Pharmaceuticals, Anchorage, AK

• Collected, labeled and stored 25+ lab samples per day

• Cleaned and maintained laboratory equipment daily

• Collaborated with researchers to assist with their tasks

Skills

Communication | Analysis | Data collection | Laboratory safety and hygiene

Education

Bachelor of Science in health sciences
Central Alaska University, 2019

Certifications

• Medical Laboratory Technician, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) - 2017