Higher Education / University Glossary

Research Assistant

What does the academic term Research Assistant mean in higher education?

Research Assistant


Research Assistant definition

Short Definition

Research Assistant is a student or staff member who supports the research efforts of a faculty member or research team.


In-depth Overview

Research Assistant

Long definition: A research assistant is an individual, often a student or early-career researcher, employed by a higher education institution or research organization to assist in conducting research activities. Their role involves supporting and collaborating with principal investigators or senior researchers in various aspects of the research process, including data collection, analysis, literature reviews and experiment setup. Research assistants play a crucial role in advancing academic and scientific research by contributing their skills and expertise to research projects.

Etymology: The term research assistant combines "research", which originates from the Middle French word "recherche", meaning "to seek or search", and "assistant", derived from the Latin word "assistens", which means "to assist". Together, it signifies an individual who aids in seeking knowledge or information through research.

Synonyms or related academic terms:

  • Research Associate
  • Research Aide
  • Research Fellow

Examples of Use:

  • The research assistant conducted surveys and collected data for the epidemiology study.
  • Dr. Smith is currently supervising two research associates in her laboratory to investigate the effects of climate change on plant biodiversity.
  • As a research fellow at the university, Mark is responsible for assisting in the development of new algorithms for artificial intelligence research.

Translations:
Spanish: Asistente de Investigación
French: Assistant de Recherche
German: Forschungsassistent
Italian: Assistente di Ricerca
Portuguese: Assistente de Pesquisa
Japanese: 研究助手 (Kenkyū Josho)
Chinese (Simplified): 研究助手 (Yánjiū Zhùshǒu)
Hindi: अनुसंधान सहायक (Anusandhan Sahayak)

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Wikipedia Article

Research Assistant


unirank Glossary Classification

Miscellaneous higher education terms > University roles and job titles



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