How to hire an associate research scientist

How to hire an associate research scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate research scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate research scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate research scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate research scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The associate research scientist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an associate research scientist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an associate research scientist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of associate research scientist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Research Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Research Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$23-50
   Chemist	Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter... Show more	$22-43
   Microbiologist	Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases... Show more	$18-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Data Analysis
   • Cell Culture
   • Molecular Biology
   • Chemistry
   • Research Projects
   • Oncology
   • Flow Cytometry
   • CRISPR
   • Cell Biology
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Elisa
   • C++
   • Western Blotting

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Perform PCR, DNA purification on samples, load sequencers and analyze data from ABI 373 and 377 DNA sequencers.
   • Assist in HPLC methods development for quantitative analysis

   More associate research scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate research scientist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An associate research scientist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, associate research scientists' average salary in louisiana is 59% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate research scientists 53% less than senior-level associate research scientists.
   • Certifications. An associate research scientist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an associate research scientist's salary.

   Average associate research scientist salary

   $72,409yearly

   $34.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate research scientist salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average associate research scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$107,331	$52
   2	New Jersey	$94,974	$46
   3	Maryland	$85,869	$41
   4	Indiana	$84,906	$41
   5	Connecticut	$79,450	$38
   6	Pennsylvania	$77,687	$37
   7	Massachusetts	$76,319	$37
   8	Virginia	$75,286	$36
   9	Michigan	$73,140	$35
   10	Arizona	$72,348	$35
   11	Washington	$71,112	$34
   12	New York	$70,432	$34
   13	Illinois	$70,256	$34
   14	District of Columbia	$65,468	$31
   15	Wyoming	$61,345	$29
   16	Colorado	$61,195	$29
   17	Iowa	$60,110	$29
   18	Oklahoma	$58,278	$28
   19	Georgia	$57,705	$28
   20	Texas	$56,017	$27

   Average associate research scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Yahoo	$127,579	$61.34
   2	Zulily	$117,420	$56.45
   3	Turner Broadcasting	$114,090	$54.85
   4	Cargill	$101,953	$49.02	6
   5	Goldman Sachs	$101,809	$48.95	17
   6	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$100,915	$48.52	1
   7	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory	$100,456	$48.30	229
   8	Autodesk	$98,155	$47.19	11
   9	Conagra Brands	$97,718	$46.98	23
   10	Gillette	$97,351	$46.80
   11	Cytokinetics	$96,807	$46.54	3
   12	Philip Morris International	$93,996	$45.19
   13	Exelixis	$93,893	$45.14	8
   14	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$92,496	$44.47	122
   15	P&G	$91,045	$43.77	12
   16	The Dow Chemical Company	$90,952	$43.73	44
   17	The Metropolitan Museum of Art	$90,402	$43.46	2
   18	Northrop Grumman	$88,537	$42.57	24
   19	NMC	$88,248	$42.43
   20	Biogen	$87,584	$42.11	1

4. Writing an associate research scientist job description

   An associate research scientist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an associate research scientist job description:

   Associate research scientist job description example

   At FibroGen, we approach our work each day with deep enthusiasm and the highest ethical standards, working with a passion to redefine what is possible in improving and saving the lives of patients. We value collaboration, extraordinary talent, and innovative thinking. We are motivated, curious, and passionate thinkers who believe in pushing scientific boundaries and are proud of our leadership and pioneering contributions to high-quality science. We have developed the first-in-class Hypoxia Inducible Factor - Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor for the treatment of anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease and are working on other groundbreaking treatments for diseases with high unmet needs.
   Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry
   
   Responsibilities:
   Independently design and synthesize compounds based off individual and team hypotheses Utilize novel synthetic methodologies and technologies without much supervision and provide recommendations on laboratory equipment as needed Carry out multi-step syntheses of small molecules with consistently high productivity Analyze and interpret data, solve synthetic challenges, and suggest follow-up experiments Collaborate with peers across departments and effectively communicate results conclusions in team and department meetings Maintain a laboratory notebook, contribute to patents, reports and scientific publications Adhere to FibroGen's laboratory safety policies and practices
   
   Requirements:
   BSc or MSc level with 3+ years industry experience Extensive knowledge of modern organic synthetic methods Excellence in common purification and analytical techniques Outstanding problem solving and communication skills
   
   FibroGen is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender identity/expression, creed, national origin/ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship, status, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.FibroGen will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
   
   E-Verify: Notice to all Prospective Employees
   
   Notice to Recruiters and Search Firms
   FibroGen makes every effort to source and hire its staff through direct recruitment methods. Employment opportunities at FibroGen are managed by our internal human resources team. Please do not contact hiring managers or other FibroGen employees.
   
   FibroGen does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than from the candidates themselves. FibroGen does not accept unsolicited communications from external recruiters. If there is a specific business need, a human resources team member will contact external recruiters directly.
   
   An agency or independent recruiter must have a current, signed agreement and a work order for a specific position with FibroGen before presenting candidates and must be presented to human resources. Submission of unsolicited resumes without a signed agreement and an applicable work order will not create an obligation on the part of FibroGen to pay a fee of any kind.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right associate research scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with associate research scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit associate research scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate research scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit associate research scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit associate research scientists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate research scientist

   Once you've selected the best associate research scientist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new associate research scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an associate research scientist?