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The differences between assay development scientists and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assay development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, an assay development scientist has an average salary of $75,782, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for an assay development scientist include assay development, cell-based assays and data analysis. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Assay Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $75,782 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $36.43 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 95,381 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Assay development scientists are biochemical experts who develop procedures that test or measure the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism. These scientists are required to provide technical support to develop new assays as well as assist in the transfer of assay to clinical laboratories internationally. They must collaborate with laboratory scientists and managers to optimize laboratory processes for increased efficiency and effectiveness. Assay development scientists must also produce and submit reports about the development of assays to the research & development (R&D;) managers as well as project managers.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Assay development scientists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assay Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $75,782 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $113,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Professional |
There are a few differences between an assay development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Assay Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between assay development scientists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Assay Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.1% Female, 47.9% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 29.0% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |