Research associate with five years in biotech discovery labs specializing in cell-based assays and flow cytometry. Built a multiplexed T-cell activation assay that now screens every candidate in the company's immuno-oncology pipeline. Brings rigorous assay development, automation experience and clear communication with project teams.
Experience
Research Associate II, Immunology, Corvane Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA)
May 2023 – Present
Developed a 12-color flow cytometry panel for T-cell activation, now the primary screen for 40+ bispecific candidates a year
Moved the assay onto a Hamilton STAR, raising throughput from 2 to 8 plates per day with under 10% CV
Analyzed data in FlowJo and Spotfire and presented results at weekly project meetings for three programs
Wrote assay SOPs and trained 3 associates, enabling a smooth handoff to the translational group
Research Associate I, Meridian Cell Sciences (Waltham, MA)
Jun 2021 – Apr 2023
Maintained 25 primary and immortalized cell lines with zero mycoplasma-positive events over two years
Ran ELISA and MSD cytokine assays supporting 2 IND-enabling studies
Research Co-op, Cell Biology, Quillon Biosciences (Boston, MA)
Jul 2019 – Dec 2019
Ran 200+ cell viability assays supporting a lead optimization campaign
Education
B.S. Biology, concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology, Northeastern University (Sep 2016 – May 2021)
Automation and data: Hamilton STAR, FlowJo, TIBCO Spotfire, GraphPad Prism
How to write a Research Associate resume
A strong Research Associate resume shows the questions you investigated, the methods and instruments you mastered, and the data, publications or products your work produced. Put Education near the top and use projects, internships and coursework to show what you can already do.
Sections, in order
Summary
Education
Experience
Projects
Skills
Certifications
Length: One page. Recruiters expect a single page for early-career candidates.
Summary: Keep the summary to two lines: the role you want, your strongest skills, and one result from a project or internship.
Skills to feature
Experimental design
Laboratory techniques and instrumentation
Statistical analysis (R, Python, GraphPad Prism)
Data integrity (ALCOA+)
GLP and GMP compliance
Method development and validation
Scientific writing and publishing
Grant writing
Literature review
Cross-functional collaboration
Example bullet points
Developed an LC-MS/MS method for 14 metabolites with under 6% CV, replacing two legacy assays and cutting run time by 40%
Co-authored 5 peer-reviewed papers, including a first-author study in Journal of Biological Chemistry cited 60+ times
Wrote the preliminary-data section of an NIH R01 renewal that secured $2.4M over five years
Tips from recruiters
Name the techniques, instruments and software you used hands-on (qPCR, HPLC, flow cytometry, ImageJ) because hiring managers screen for exact methods.
List publications, posters and patents in a short selected list and link to ORCID or Google Scholar rather than pasting a full CV.
For industry roles, translate research into outcomes such as programs advanced, methods transferred or batches released, not only papers.
Recommended templates
Academic (ATS-friendly): Scholarly CV with small-caps headings and rules
Classic (ATS-friendly): Jake's-style LaTeX classic: small caps and hairline rules
Ivy (ATS-friendly): Harvard-style Times layout with centered headings
Research Associate resume FAQ
What should a Research Associate resume include?
A Research Associate resume should show the questions you investigated, the methods and instruments you mastered, and the data, publications or products your work produced. Use these sections in this order: Summary, Education, Experience, Projects, Skills and Certifications. Put Education near the top and use projects, internships and coursework to show what you can already do.
What is the best resume template for a Research Associate?
Academic, Classic and Ivy work well for Research Associate roles. They are single-column with standard headings, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse them reliably.
How long should a Research Associate resume be?
One page. Recruiters expect a single page for early-career candidates.
Which skills should a Research Associate put on a resume?
Prioritize the skills named in the job posting. Common ones for Research Associate roles are Experimental design, Laboratory techniques and instrumentation, Statistical analysis (R, Python, GraphPad Prism), Data integrity (ALCOA+), GLP and GMP compliance and Method development and validation.
How do I write strong Research Associate resume bullet points?
Start with an action verb, say what you did, and end with a measurable result such as assay throughput, method precision (CV%) and turnaround time. For example: "Developed an LC-MS/MS method for 14 metabolites with under 6% CV, replacing two legacy assays and cutting run time by 40%."