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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Graduate Study and Supervision

Research assistant

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounCore term

In academic english & research, research assistant means: A person, often a graduate student, employed to help with a research project; in Turkey, also the title of early-career academic staff.

In Turkish: araştırma görevlisi, araştırma asistanı

How it is used

In the US and UK, a research assistant (RA) is often paid from a grant to collect data, run analyses or manage literature; a teaching assistant (TA) helps with courses. The Turkish title Araştırma Görevlisi (Arş. Gör.) is usually translated as Research Assistant in English CVs and affiliations.

Example sentences

  1. She works as a research assistant on a three-year project on coastal erosion.

  2. Two trained research assistants coded the interview data independently.

Common collocations

  • work as a research assistant
  • graduate research assistant
  • research assistantship
  • hire a research assistant
  • postgraduateRelating to study after a first university degree, such as a master's or PhD; as a noun, a student at this level.
  • grantA sum of money given by a government body, foundation or university to pay for a research project, often after a competitive application.
  • supervisorAn academic who guides a student's thesis or research project, giving feedback on plans, drafts and progress.
  • facultyIn American English, the teaching and research staff of a university; in British English, also a group of related departments, such as the Faculty of Arts.

More terms: Graduate Study and Supervision

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