Top 12 Lab Technologist Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting a standout resume as a Lab Technologist means showing your technical punch and the broader, nimble skillset that keeps a lab humming. The field shifts fast, methods evolve, and the bar keeps rising. The following 12 skills, sharpened and clearly presented, will lift your resume and help hiring managers see the range behind your results.
Lab Technologist Skills
- PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
- ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
- HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)
- Flow Cytometry
- Western Blotting
- Spectrophotometry
- Microscopy (Confocal, Electron)
- Cell Culture
- DNA Sequencing
- Bioinformatics
- CRISPR-Cas9
1. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
PCR amplifies specific DNA regions through cycles of denaturation, primer annealing, and extension. A workhorse for diagnostics, research, and genetic analysis, it turns trace DNA into a readable signal.
Why It's Important
PCR delivers rapid, specific amplification from minimal material, enabling pathogen detection, genotyping, and targeted analysis with precision and speed.
How to Improve PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Skills
Primer design that bites. Match melting temperatures, balance GC content, dodge hairpins and dimers. Run in-silico checks for specificity.
Dial in Mg2+ and salts. Small tweaks (often 1.5–2.5 mM MgCl2) make big differences in yield and specificity.
Annealing temperature. Use gradient PCR to find the sweet spot. Cut nonspecific binding at the root.
Template quality first. Clean, intact DNA elevates everything. Quantify by fluorometry when possible; watch purity ratios.
Hot-start enzymes. Reduce spurious amplification. Choose high-fidelity polymerases for cloning or sequencing.
Right cycle count. 25–35 cycles is typical. Too many cycles invite artifacts and plateau effects.
Help tough templates. DMSO or betaine can tame GC-rich regions. Titrate additives instead of guessing.
Contamination control. Physical separation of pre/post-PCR areas, UNG-dUTP systems, and vigilant negative controls.
Instrument care. Calibrate block temperatures and verify ramp accuracy.
Controls and documentation. NTCs, positive controls, and a living protocol that records each tweak.
How to Display PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Skills on Your Resume
2. ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
ELISA detects and quantifies proteins, antibodies, antigens, and hormones using antibody binding and enzyme-driven signal readouts. Plate-based. Sensitive. Dependable.
Why It's Important
It enables accurate measurement of biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring, and research, often with throughput and standardization that labs can trust.
How to Improve ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) Skills
Antibody rigor. High-affinity, validated pairs reduce noise and cross-reactivity.
Blocking that actually blocks. Test BSA, milk, or casein; choose what trims background without stealing signal.
Plate matters. Use plates intended for ELISA and ensure uniform coating.
Wash like you mean it. Consistent, thorough washes cut background. Standardize volumes and cycles.
Stay linear. Dilute samples to fit the dynamic range; build robust standard curves (4PL/5PL fit) and run replicates.
Incubation timing and temperature. Precision here pays dividends.
Mind matrix effects. Spike-and-recovery and dilution linearity tests tell the truth.
QC across lots. Bridge reagents and track control charts to tame variability.
How to Display ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) Skills on Your Resume
3. HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
HPLC separates, identifies, and quantifies components in complex mixtures by pumping samples through analytical columns under pressure. Tunable, powerful, and central to quality control and research.
Why It's Important
It delivers clean separation and quantitation for pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, food safety, and beyond—where reliability is non-negotiable.
How to Improve HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) Skills
Choose the right column. Stationary phase, particle size, and dimensions should match analyte chemistry; guard columns protect your investment.
Mobile phase mastery. Control pH, buffer strength, and organic composition; degas consistently to prevent bubble-induced chaos.
Gradient design. Adjust slopes and hold times; account for dwell volume so methods transfer cleanly across instruments.
Temperature control. Stable column temps sharpen peaks and improve reproducibility.
Flow rate and backpressure. Balance resolution versus speed; verify instrument limits, especially for UHPLC.
Sample prep. Filter, deproteinize, or SPE-clean samples to protect columns and reduce matrix effects.
Detector optimization. Match detection (UV/Vis, fluorescence, MS) to analyte properties; validate wavelength and response linearity.
Maintenance. Regularly flush lines, replace seals, and track pressure trends to preempt failures.
How to Display HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) Skills on Your Resume
4. GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)
GC-MS separates volatile compounds by gas chromatography and identifies them by mass spectra. High sensitivity. High specificity. Built for complex mixtures.
Why It's Important
It uncovers and quantifies chemicals in clinical, forensic, environmental, and industrial contexts where trace-level certainty matters.
How to Improve GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) Skills
Clean samples, clean data. SPE or liquid-liquid extraction reduces matrix interference; derivatize when volatility or stability demands it.
Column and inlet harmony. Match stationary phase to analyte polarity; select the right inlet liner and tune split/splitless conditions.
Carrier gas purity and flow. Use high-purity gas, verify leak-free plumbing, and optimize flow/pressure for peak shape and speed.
Temperature programs. Thoughtful ramps and holds drive resolution and throughput.
MS performance. Tune and calibrate regularly; keep ion sources, lenses, and quadrupoles clean to maintain sensitivity.
Internal standards and QC. Stable-isotope standards tighten quantitation; include blanks, spikes, and check standards routinely.
Data processing. Validate libraries, refine integration parameters, and lock in retention time windows for robust identification.
Method validation. Linearity, LOD/LOQ, accuracy, precision, carryover—document and monitor over time.
How to Display GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) Skills on Your Resume
5. Flow Cytometry
Flow cytometry measures physical and fluorescent characteristics of cells or particles in suspension at high speed. Powerful for immunophenotyping, cell cycle, and functional assays.
Why It's Important
It enables rapid, multiparametric analysis and sorting, delivering granular insight into heterogeneous populations for diagnostics and discovery.
How to Improve Flow Cytometry Skills
Start with happy cells. Prevent clumps with strainers, optimize cell concentration, and use viability dyes to gate out dead cells.
Panel design with intent. Match fluorochrome brightness to antigen density; minimize spectral overlap or use spectral unmixing wisely.
Controls that matter. Single-stain controls for compensation, FMO controls for gating, and isotypes only where appropriate.
Instrument QC. Bead-based performance checks, daily baseline verification, and regular calibration keep data tight.
Acquisition discipline. Apply doublet discrimination, set thresholds carefully, and collect enough events for statistical confidence.
Thoughtful analysis. Standardize gating strategies, document decision trees, and review inter-operator consistency.
How to Display Flow Cytometry Skills on Your Resume
6. Western Blotting
Western blotting separates proteins by size, transfers them to a membrane, and detects targets with antibodies. Specific, semi-quantitative, and still essential.
Why It's Important
It verifies protein presence, size, and relative abundance, supporting diagnostics, pathway analysis, and validation of other assays.
How to Improve Western Blotting Skills
Sample integrity. Accurate protein quantification, proper lysis buffers, protease/phosphatase inhibitors, and complete denaturation.
Right gel, right separation. Match gel percentage to protein size; run consistent voltages to avoid smiling or distortion.
Transfer efficiency. Choose PVDF or nitrocellulose appropriately; verify transfer with reversible stains.
Block smart. BSA versus milk can make or break background; test and lock the condition per antibody.
Antibody validation. Use validated antibodies; include knockout/knockdown controls when possible to prove specificity.
Detection in the linear range. Avoid saturated exposures. Consider total protein normalization or multiple housekeeping controls.
Rigorous washing. Sufficient volume, time, and detergent composition curb background without stripping signal.
How to Display Western Blotting Skills on Your Resume
7. Spectrophotometry
Spectrophotometry quantifies how much light a substance absorbs at specific wavelengths to infer concentration. Quick, quantitative, and ubiquitous in labs.
Why It's Important
It provides reliable concentration data for clinical assays, purity checks, enzyme kinetics, and environmental analyses.
How to Improve Spectrophotometry Skills
Calibrate and verify. Use standards and verify wavelength accuracy and stray light performance at regular intervals.
Blank properly. Match solvents and buffers exactly; re-blank when conditions change.
Cuvette discipline. Clean, scratch-free cuvettes; correct pathlength; consistent orientation for matched pairs. Microvolume devices need strict pipetting technique.
Temperature control. Keep samples at consistent temperatures to stabilize spectra and kinetics.
Linear range awareness. Dilute to stay within Beer–Lambert limits; build standard curves when matrices muddy assumptions.
Instrument care. Clean optics, inspect lamps, and track baseline drift over time.
How to Display Spectrophotometry Skills on Your Resume
8. Microscopy (Confocal, Electron)
Microscopy unlocks structures beyond the eye. Confocal uses lasers and pinholes to capture crisp optical sections and build 3D volumes. Electron microscopy fires electrons for ultrastructural detail: TEM for internal architecture, SEM for textured surfaces. Together, they reach from cell neighborhoods to nanoscopic streets.
Why It's Important
High-resolution imaging lays bare morphology, localization, and fine structure—fuel for accurate interpretation in research and diagnostics.
How to Improve Microscopy (Confocal, Electron) Skills
Confocal Microscopy
- Tune acquisition. Adjust laser power, pinhole, and detector gain to maximize signal-to-noise while minimizing photobleaching.
- Respect sampling theory. Nyquist sampling and appropriate objective/NA ensure true resolution, not wishful pixels.
- Fluorophore savvy. Use bright, photostable dyes; match filters and avoid spectral crowding; consider deconvolution post-acquisition.
- Refractive index matching. Proper mounting media and immersion oils reduce aberrations and improve depth fidelity.
Electron Microscopy
- Fixation and contrast. Precise fixation (e.g., glutaraldehyde), careful dehydration, and heavy-metal stains preserve and reveal ultrastructure.
- Clean grids, stable beams. Minimal contamination, proper alignment, and steady vacuum are non-negotiable.
- Cryo-EM when needed. For near-native structures, cryogenic workflows limit artifacts and radiation damage—training pays off.
How to Display Microscopy (Confocal, Electron) Skills on Your Resume
9. Cell Culture
Cell culture grows cells outside the body under controlled conditions. It powers discovery, testing, and therapeutic development.
Why It's Important
It allows controlled manipulation and observation of cellular behavior, essential for drug screening, mechanism studies, and manufacturing of biologics.
How to Improve Cell Culture Skills
Aseptic to the core. Work in a certified biosafety cabinet, plan your moves, and avoid antibiotics as a crutch.
Right media, right supplements. Optimize pH, osmolality, and growth factors; pre-warm thoughtfully, not endlessly.
Incubator stability. Maintain CO2, temperature, humidity, and—when relevant—O2 levels; track with logs.
Authenticate and test. Routine mycoplasma screening and STR profiling prevent silent sabotage.
Mind passage number. Avoid drift by freezing early, thawing cleanly, and using low-passage stocks.
Gentle handling. Use the right dissociation enzymes, avoid over-trypsinization, and seed at appropriate densities.
Cryopreservation discipline. Controlled-rate freezing, proper cryoprotectant, and swift thawing protect viability.
How to Display Cell Culture Skills on Your Resume
10. DNA Sequencing
DNA sequencing determines the exact order of nucleotides in DNA. From targeted panels to whole genomes, short reads to long reads, it deciphers genetic information at scale.
Why It's Important
It identifies variants linked to disease, informs precision medicine, enables outbreak tracing, and drives basic science.
How to Improve DNA Sequencing Skills
Start strong with DNA. High integrity, pure input. Check concentration by fluorometry and assess fragmentation or DIN/RIN where relevant.
Thoughtful library prep. Minimize PCR cycles, use UMIs for error correction when needed, and choose amplicon versus hybrid capture intentionally.
Platform fit. Short reads for accuracy and depth; long reads for structural variants, isoforms, and repeat-rich regions.
Coverage that counts. Define depth and uniformity targets based on the application; monitor Q-score distributions (e.g., Q30) and on-target rate.
Controls and indexing. Include positive/negative controls; use unique dual indexes to curb index hopping.
Clean pipelines. Validate alignment, deduplication, variant calling, and annotation steps; track software versions and parameters for reproducibility.
Interpretation with rigor. Apply quality filters, confirm critical calls orthogonally when required, and protect sensitive data in clinical contexts.
How to Display DNA Sequencing Skills on Your Resume
11. Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics blends biology, computing, and statistics to organize and interpret complex biological data. It turns raw sequences and signals into conclusions you can defend.
Why It's Important
It enables scalable analysis, reproducibility, and insight across genomics, proteomics, and beyond—accelerating discovery and clinical decision support.
How to Improve Bioinformatics Skills
Build core fluency. Learn Python and R, command-line basics, and data wrangling. Statistics isn’t optional.
Reproducible workflows. Use version control, containers, and workflow managers to lock down environments and automate analyses.
Data stewardship. Standardize metadata, document pipelines, and back up securely. Respect privacy and regulatory requirements.
Tool awareness. Keep up with aligners, callers, and annotation tools; benchmark before adoption.
Practice on real data. Public datasets sharpen skills and broaden your portfolio.
How to Display Bioinformatics Skills on Your Resume
12. CRISPR-Cas9
CRISPR-Cas9 edits genomes by directing a nuclease to a specific DNA sequence to cut, then leveraging cellular repair to introduce changes. Variants include high-fidelity enzymes, nickases, base editors, and prime editors for refined control.
Why It's Important
It enables precise gene perturbation, functional studies, and therapeutic development—fast iterations with crisp outcomes.
How to Improve CRISPR-Cas9 Skills
Guide design with care. Favor unique target sites, balanced GC content, and low predicted off-targets; test multiple guides per locus.
Choose the right editor. High-fidelity Cas9 for specificity, nickases for paired approaches, base or prime editors for edit types that don’t need double-strand breaks.
Delivery matters. RNP complexes for transient activity and fewer off-targets; optimize electroporation or vector-based delivery for cell type and viability.
HDR strategy. For precise edits, design donor templates smartly and consider cell-cycle synchronization to boost efficiency.
Control the window. Temporal control of nuclease activity and anti-CRISPR proteins can limit off-target exposure.
Validation beyond the locus. Use amplicon sequencing, off-target assays, and clonal isolation where appropriate; confirm on-target zygosity and unintended edits.
Ethics and safety. Follow institutional guidelines and biosafety rules, documenting designs and outcomes thoroughly.
How to Display CRISPR-Cas9 Skills on Your Resume
