Exploring A Decade of Research Trends on Laboratory Assistants in Education: A Global Bibliometric Analysis

Laboratory assistants play a vital role in supporting laboratory-based education through hands-on learning and the proper use of equipment. This study examines global research trends on laboratory assistants in education through a bibliometric analysis of 316 Scopus-indexed documents from 2015 to 2024. Metadata were retrieved on February 9, 2025, using the query: (“laboratory assistant” OR “lab assistant” OR “laboratory technician” OR “laboratory staff” OR “technical assistant” OR “scientific assistant”) AND education. Analysis was conducted using R-Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. Findings indicate a significant increase in publications after 2018, with a peak in 2021, followed by fluctuating citation impact. Productive authors include Fisher, Garcia, and Woodward, with Tweed having the highest citations. Major journals are Biochemia Medica, Malaria Journal, and PLOS ONE. Thematic clusters include epidemiology, workforce training, and AI-driven learning, with emerging topics in policy, certification, and global health. The study highlights growing scholarly attention and calls for further research on technology-based training and policy development.