Project Management in Science Technicians

Study Notes

Science technicians apply principles and theories of science and mathematics to assist in research and development, and help invent and improve products and processes.
They are more practically oriented than scientists and possess project management skills, including planning, setting up, operating, and maintaining laboratory instruments, monitoring experiments, and observing, calculating, and recording results.

Quality is a critical factor in science technicians' work, ensuring that processes are performed correctly, with proper proportions of ingredients, for purity or strength and durability.
Risk management is essential in executing tests and experiments, including control and risk management, to improve the yield and quality of crops, or the resistance of plants and animals to disease, insects, or other hazards.

Agricultural and food science technicians test food and other agricultural products, involved in food, fibre, and animal research, production, and processing.
Biological technicians work with biologists, assisting scientists who conduct medical research or work in pharmaceutical companies to develop and manufacture medicines.
Biotechnology technicians apply knowledge and execution skills to product development, using project management skills in collaboration and communication among team members.
Chemical technicians work in laboratories or factories, using monitoring and control skills to collect and analyze samples, ensuring quality assurance in manufacturing, testing packaging, and verifying environmental acceptability.

Technicians use a project management skill set to assist in initiating, planning, and executing tasks, while managing risks with some measure of reporting to determine if objectives satisfy constraints of cost, schedule, resource, and quality standards set.
Project management skills include planning, scheduling, control, and risk management, as well as collaboration and communication among team members.

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