A research assistant (RA) is a junior graduate scholar, employed on a temporary contract by a college or university for the purpose of academic research. A research assistant usually works on a project supervised by one or more full-time academics who are responsible for administering the funds from which he or she is paid. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A scholar is either a student or someone who has achieved a mastery of some academic discipline, perhaps receiving financial support through a scholarship. ... The term college (Latin collegium) is most often used today to denote an educational institution. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... Research is often described as an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting and revising facts. ... Plato is credited with the inception of academia: the body of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations. ...

Nowadays, most research assistantships are awarded to graduate assistants, i.e. graduate students who work towards an advanced degree (e.g. M.S. or Ph.D.). Depending on the funding, these appointments generally last until the completion of their degrees.

In some universities the title research associate is used instead of "assistant", although a research associate is more likely to have a doctorate. Older and more experienced contract holders may have the title of Research Fellow. In the academic setting, the title of a Research Associate is used to denote a research position, normally at a post-doctoral level. ... A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. ...

At Oxford University, the title research officer is used. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

The Research Assistant can make anywhere from $2,143-$3,435 per month.