Any character who performs scientific analysis. Forensics people, usually. If on [[ForensicDrama a show about those people]], such as ''{{CSI}}'' and its spinoffs, he will be the member of the team who deals with the most technical and specialized aspects.

They will often be fairly geeky, and/or [[MisfitLabRat members of other subcultures]]. [[HotScientist Not looking out of place on the catwalk is optional]]. Sometimes they will leave the lab and have adventures, or even become a more major character. Often the PluckyComicRelief if they get any character development.


[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Any character in the Mazinger series (''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Anime/GreatMazinger'' and ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'') filled TheProfessor role fit in this trope: Dr. Kabuto, Prof. Yumi, Prof. Kenzo Kabuto, Prof. Umon... All of them performed scientific analysis and research, either to design the HumongousMecha or to draw the information they needed from the data the BridgeBunnies collected.


[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has Waldo Butters, whose adventures outside the lab result in him very firmly returning to it, and only leaving while wearing a BulletProofVest.
* ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'': In the Palace of the Prophets, Wizard Warren becomes known as The Mole for stopping leaving the underground libraries. It takes Richard to draw him out again. Warren turns out to be both brilliant and a power combat-wizard, so it was mainly shyness.
* Every chapter featuring Melodie Crookshank in ''Literature/TyrannosaurCanyon'' emphasizes her technical expertise and discoveries specifically in her basement laboratory. The fact that she has no friends and few coworkers strikes her as dangerously isolating over the book.

[[folder: Fan Fic ]]

* Dr. Otto Octavius refers to himself as exactly this in ''FanFic/TheLifeAfterDeathTrilogy''.


[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Nigel Townsend from ''CrossingJordan''. He was as much a main character as anyone who wasn't Jordan could be throughout the show's duration, but his overenthusiasm at tackling any overly technical problem, quirky sense of humor, ambiguous personal life, and arguable ability to fall into the goth subculture place him squarely in this trope.
* Greg Sanders from ''Series/{{CSI}}'', whose nickname at TelevisionWithoutPity inspired this entry's title. He has now become a CSI in his own right.
** His role has been taken over by multiple people- David Hodges (Trace Analysis, endearingly annoying), Archie Johnson (Audiovisual) Mandy Webster (Fingerprints), Henry Andrews (Toxicology) and Wendy Simms (DNA, lower rung love interest). They got a LowerDeckEpisode with the hilarious "You Kill Me".
*** Also, the aptly named "Lab Rats" episode, and the (also aptly named) "Field Mice".
* ''Series/CSIMiami'' had Natalia Boa Vista, who has upgraded to full CSI.
** Maxine Valera also does this job.
* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' has Adam Ross.
* Marshall Flinkmann, the MissionControl from ''Series/{{Alias}}''.
* Broots from ''Series/ThePretender'', whose job description rarely entails leaving his electronics lab at Villain HQ.
* Abby Sciuto, the PerkyGoth lab tech from ''Series/{{NCIS}}''. A major case of BunnyEarsLawyer.
* In ''Series/{{Bones}}'', either Zack, Hodgins or Brennan (in that order or probability) depending on the episode and the context.
** Called "squints" in-universe by Booth. Because they sit in the lab and squint at things.
*** Also the rotating team of 'Squinterns', Dr Brennan's interns.
* In ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', Massive Dynamic's Brandon Fayette, and for pretty much the final two seasons, Astrid Farnsworth.
* While "serial killer" is a better description, blood-spatter analyst ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' Morgan is considered TheLabRat in his public life.
** If anything, Dexter is a subversion. At his job, he's seen as one of the lab rats, but the audience knows better. His co-worker Masuka, on the other hand, is a dead-on example.
* Chloe O'Brian from ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]''.
* Samantha Carter from ''StargateVerse''.
* Fred (and later Knox) in ''Series/{{Angel}}''.
* Early seasons of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' have Willow doing this, before it becomes less "chemical analysis" and more "potion-brewing".
* In ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'' while Topher has pretensions of being a MadScientist he's really just one of these, his assistant Ivy even more so.
* Agent Pendrell in ''Series/TheXFiles''.
* Lester in ''BeakmansWorld'' is a ''literal'' lab rat. Well, lab guy-in-a-rat-suit, but you get the picture.
* Eve Lockhart in WakingTheDead also qualifies.
* Phil and Lem from ''BetterOffTed''.


[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Ema Skye in the first ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' and ''Apollo Justice Ace Attorney''.
** Technically, a detective who really likes science, but the spirit is still there.


[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has Kat, even when dealing with second shadows and ghosts.


[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* TheLabRat from ''{{Grossology}}'' actually goes by this name.
* A sort of literal version of this occurs in ''CreatureComforts'', where a couple of lab rats in a maze being voiced by two real-life scientists talk about their day jobs.