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Application scientist vs medical science liaison

The differences between application scientists and medical science liaisons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an application scientist and a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $89,939 average annual salary of an application scientist.

The top three skills for an application scientist include diagnostics, technical support and sample preparation. The most important skills for a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.

Application scientist vs medical science liaison overview

Application ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Yearly salary$89,939$145,718
Hourly rate$43.24$70.06
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs63,31457,208
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does an application scientist do?

The duties of an application scientist vary in one's place of employment. Typically, they are in charge of providing services to customers in their laboratory equipment needs. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients and fellow scientists, providing technical support through appointments and meetings, discussing and explaining conditions, and even test samples in different scientific applications. Furthermore, as an application scientist, it is essential to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.

What does a medical science liaison do?

A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.

Application scientist vs medical science liaison salary

Application scientists and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.

Application ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Average salary$89,939$145,718
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $141,000Between $59,000 And $359,000
Highest paying CityConcord, CAJackson, TN
Highest paying stateCaliforniaTennessee
Best paying companyAccelrysSaint Luke's Health System
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

Differences between application scientist and medical science liaison education

There are a few differences between an application scientist and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:

Application ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorChemistryNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Application scientist vs medical science liaison demographics

Here are the differences between application scientists' and medical science liaisons' demographics:

Application ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 62.9% Female, 37.1%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between application scientist and medical science liaison duties and responsibilities

Application scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Develop and standardize protocol for pathogen detection in food matrices using real time PCR.
  • Utilize free energy perturbation and molecular dynamics approaches to evaluate binding of proprietary camptothecins to DNA.
  • Structure-Base design and synthesis of biologically active compounds targeting SH2 domains for the treatment of osteoporosis and/or cancer.
  • Conduct technology comparison study to assess applicability of a wide range of chromatography products to support specific HTS assays.
  • Develop new product QC program significantly reducing costs and delays for experimental vaccine.
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Medical science liaison example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and analyze medical necessity review of manage care appeals.
  • Develop and manage KOLs resulting in presentations to regional, national and international meetings.
  • Utilize extensive knowledge of medical terminology, ICD-9, HCPCS and CPT coding along with analysis and processing of Medicare claims.
  • Provide pre-launch field support for a novel diabetes compound.
  • Provide drug information to medical professionals and sales force within FDA guidelines.
  • Join Clementine as a trainee BMS and successfully complete training and registration.
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Application scientist vs medical science liaison skills

Common application scientist skills
  • Diagnostics, 10%
  • Technical Support, 9%
  • Sample Preparation, 7%
  • Application Support, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Next-Generation Sequencing, 5%
Common medical science liaison skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Medical Affairs, 9%
  • MSL, 7%
  • Medical Science, 6%
  • Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
  • Internal Stakeholders, 4%

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