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What is an associate research scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith

An associate research scientist is an individual who assists in conducting research experiments, analyzing data, and presenting findings. They work in a variety of fields, including healthcare and academia. Associate research scientists typically have a master's or Ph.D. degree in their field of study and work under the supervision of a principal investigator or higher-level researcher. Their duties may include preparing research proposals, collecting and organizing data, performing statistical analysis, and preparing reports or publications.

What general advice would you give to an associate research scientist?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.
ScoreAssociate Research ScientistUS Average
Salary
5.7

Avg. Salary $72,409

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 29.06%

Black or African American 6.19%

Hispanic or Latino 9.38%

Unknown 4.05%

White 51.17%

Gender

female 41.57%

male 58.43%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an associate research scientist?

Pros

  • Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research

  • Chance to work with and learn from established scientists

  • Potential for career advancement and growth

  • Possibility of making significant discoveries

  • Intellectual stimulation and challenge

Cons

  • Long hours and intense workloads

  • High pressure to produce results

  • Limited autonomy and independence in research direction

  • Limited job security and funding uncertainty

  • Competitive job market with limited available positions

Associate research scientist career paths

Key steps to become an associate research scientist

  1. Explore associate research scientist education requirements

    Most common associate research scientist degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.5 %

    Doctorate

    24.5 %

    Master's

    15.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate research scientist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients9.85%
    Data Analysis6.41%
    Cell Culture5.34%
    Molecular Biology5.02%
    Chemistry4.74%
  3. Complete relevant associate research scientist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate research scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate research scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate research scientist resumes.
  4. Research associate research scientist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
    • Select anti-IgE antibodies that block the binding of IgE to receptor using solid-phase panning and ELISA.
    • Develop ELISA's for quantifying IGF-1 in serum and determining antibody levels in porcine and bovine serum.
    • Improve sequence throughput by a factor of four by streamlining DNA template purification protocols and incorporating new magnetic bead technology.
  5. Prepare your associate research scientist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate research scientist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an associate research scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable associate research scientist resume templates

    Build a professional associate research scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your associate research scientist resume.
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
    Associate Research Scientist Resume
  6. Apply for associate research scientist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate research scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first associate research scientist job

Zippi

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Average associate research scientist salary

The average associate research scientist salary in the United States is $72,409 per year or $35 per hour. Associate research scientist salaries range between $49,000 and $104,000 per year.

Average associate research scientist salary
$72,409 Yearly
$34.81 hourly

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Associate research scientist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Science of observation

Cons

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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