Become An Associate Scientist
Where do you want to work?
Working As An Associate Scientist
- Getting Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
Mostly Sitting
$69,060
Average Salary
What Does An Associate Scientist Do
How To Become An Associate Scientist
Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some medical scientists get a medical degree instead of a Ph.D., but prefer doing research to practicing as a physician.
EducationStudents planning careers as medical scientists typically pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Undergraduate students benefit from taking a broad range of classes, including life sciences, physical sciences, and math. Students also typically take courses that develop communication and writing skills, because they must learn to write grants effectively and publish research findings.
After students have completed their undergraduate studies, they typically enter Ph.D. programs. Dual-degree programs are available that pair a Ph.D. with a range of specialized medical degrees. A few degree programs that are commonly paired with Ph.D. studies are Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Whereas Ph.D. studies focus on research methods, such as project design and data interpretation, students in dual-degree programs learn both the clinical skills needed to be a physician and the research skills needed to be a scientist.
Graduate programs emphasize both laboratory work and original research. These programs offer prospective medical scientists the opportunity to develop their experiments and, sometimes, to supervise undergraduates. Ph.D. programs culminate in a thesis that the candidate presents before a committee of professors. Students may specialize in a particular field, such as gerontology, neurology, or cancer.
Those who go to medical school spend most of the first 2 years in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and medical law. They also learn how to record medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. They may be required to participate in residency programs, meeting the same requirements that physicians and surgeons have to fulfill.
Medical scientists often continue their education with postdoctoral work. Postdoctoral work provides additional and more independent lab experience, including experience in specific processes and techniques such as gene splicing, which is transferable to other research projects.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMedical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who administer drugs, gene therapy, or otherwise practice medicine on patients in clinical trials or a private practice need a license to practice as a physician.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Communication is critical, because medical scientists must be able to explain their conclusions. In addition, medical scientists write grant proposals, because grants often are required to fund their research.
Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for solving a specific research question.
Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistical techniques, so that they can properly quantify and analyze health research questions.
Decisionmaking skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how best to investigate the questions, and what data will best answer the questions.
Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require precise observation of samples and other health data. Any mistake could lead to inconclusive or misleading results.
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Associate Scientist jobs
Associate Scientist Career Paths
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Associate Principal Scientist 6.3 years
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Senior Scientist 4.9 years
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Senior Associate Scientist 4.7 years
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Senior Staff Scientist 4.7 years
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Principal Scientist 4.7 years
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Chemist Scientist 4.4 years
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Associate Research Scientist 3.8 years
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Research Scientist 3.8 years
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Quality Control Scientist 3.7 years
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Senior Research Associate 3.7 years
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Lead Scientist 3.5 years
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Staff Scientist 3.4 years
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Scientist 3.4 years
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Assistant Research Scientist 3.3 years
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Development Scientist 3.2 years
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Technical Scientist 3.1 years
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Laboratory Scientist 3.1 years
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Research And Development Scientist 3.1 years
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Quality Control-Associate Scientist 3.1 years
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Associate Chemist 3.1 years
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Associate Scientist 3.0 years
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Assistant Scientist 2.9 years
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Analytical Scientist 2.8 years
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Research Associate R & D 2.8 years
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Quality Control Associate 2.4 years
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Assay Development Scientist 2.3 years
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Contract Scientist 1.3 years
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Research Assistant 15.8%
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Research Associate 15.1%
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Assistant Scientist 7.1%
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Research Technician 5.9%
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Scientist 5.2%
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Internship 5.1%
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Chemist 4.7%
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Laboratory Assistant 4.4%
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Teaching Assistant 3.8%
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Research Scientist 3.0%
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Analytical Chemist 3.0%
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Technician 2.1%
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Researcher 1.9%
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Research Internship 1.9%
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Research Fellow 1.7%
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Fellow 1.6%
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Scientist 26.5%
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Senior Scientist 12.6%
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Research Associate 8.5%
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Research Scientist 7.6%
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Chemist 3.7%
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Research Assistant 3.5%
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Project Manager 3.2%
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Consultant 2.8%
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Staff Scientist 2.7%
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Analytical Chemist 2.2%
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Quality Control 1.7%
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Manager 1.7%
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Group Leader 1.7%
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Laboratory Manager 1.6%
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Research Technician 1.6%
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Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Associate Scientist
Top Careers After Associate Scientist
Associate Scientist Demographics
Gender
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Female
48.8% -
Male
44.2% -
Unknown
7.0%
Ethnicity
-
White
67.1% -
Asian
20.6% -
Hispanic or Latino
8.6% -
Unknown
2.9% -
Black or African American
0.9%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
35.0% -
French
13.7% -
Chinese
9.1% -
German
8.1% -
Mandarin
5.6% -
Hindi
4.6% -
Russian
4.1% -
Cantonese
3.0% -
Japanese
2.5% -
Carrier
2.0% -
Korean
1.5% -
Portuguese
1.5% -
Persian
1.5% -
Urdu
1.5% -
Sami
1.0% -
Gujarati
1.0% -
Dutch
1.0% -
Tamil
1.0% -
Xiang
1.0% -
Arabic
1.0%
Associate Scientist
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Associate Scientist Education
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Johns Hopkins University
8.1% -
North Carolina State University
7.6% -
Pennsylvania State University
7.3% -
Northeastern University
6.6% -
University of California - San Diego
6.4% -
University of Delaware
6.1% -
Virginia Commonwealth University
5.8% -
Temple University
5.8% -
University of California - Davis
5.5% -
San Jose State University
4.4% -
Drexel University
4.4% -
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
4.1% -
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
4.0% -
University of Connecticut
3.7% -
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
3.7% -
University of Maryland - University College
3.5% -
University of Massachusetts Amherst
3.4% -
University of California - Berkeley
3.2% -
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
3.2% -
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
3.2% -
Biology 24.1%
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Chemistry 23.5%
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Pharmacy 6.1%
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Biotechnology 5.8%
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Microbiology 5.0%
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Business 4.5%
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Chemical Engineering 2.4%
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Biomedical Sciences 1.6%
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Pharmacology 1.6%
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Management 1.2%
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Food Science 1.2%
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Animal Science 1.2%
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Zoology 1.1%
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Medicine 1.1%
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Project Management 1.0%
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Bachelors
42.2% -
Masters
35.3% -
Doctorate
10.9% -
Other
6.8% -
Certificate
2.6% -
Associate
2.0% -
Diploma
0.3%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Associate Scientist
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Associate Scientist Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Scientist | Horizon Discovery, Inc. | Cambridge, MA | May 10, 2016 | $135,655 |
| Associate Scientist | Brookhaven National Laboratory | NY | Jan 10, 2016 | $121,004 |
| Associate Scientist | Brookhaven National Laboratory | NY | Jan 10, 2016 | $120,600 |
| Biologist Research Associate/Scientist | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | Berkeley, CA | Nov 01, 2015 | $114,252 |
| Biologist Research Associate/Scientist | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | Berkeley, CA | Jan 11, 2015 | $114,252 |
| Principal Associate Scientist | Dart Neuroscience, LLC | San Diego, CA | Sep 14, 2016 | $111,000 |
| Associate Scientist II | Janssen Research & Development, LLC | San Diego, CA | Feb 23, 2015 | $108,410 |
| Associate Scientist | The Dow Chemical Company | Freeport, TX | May 20, 2016 | $107,598 - $141,924 |
| Associate/Scientist | Abt Associates Inc. | Bethesda, MD | Apr 09, 2016 | $107,120 |
| Associate Scientist, Development-M and S | Genentech, Inc. | South San Francisco, CA | Aug 31, 2016 | $104,894 - $164,200 |
| Associate/Scientist | Abt Associates Inc. | Bethesda, MD | Apr 09, 2016 | $104,749 |
| Associate Scientist | Brookhaven National Laboratory | NY | Jan 10, 2016 | $104,496 |
| Associate Scientist | Brookhaven National Laboratory | NY | Jan 10, 2016 | $104,150 |
| Associate Scientist .02 Molecular & Cellular Blgts) | Pro Unlimited, Inc. | San Francisco, CA | Feb 23, 2016 | $79,872 |
| Associate Scientist .02 Molecular & Cellular Blgts) | Pro Unlimited, Inc. | South San Francisco, CA | Feb 23, 2016 | $79,872 |
| Associate Scientist (Analytical Research & Method Developmen | G&W Pa Laboratories, LLC | Sellersville, PA | Feb 11, 2015 | $79,500 |
| Associate Scientist (Analytical Research & Method Developmen | G&W Laboratories, Inc. | Sellersville, PA | Feb 11, 2015 | $79,500 |
| Associate Scientist | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Cambridge, MA | Feb 09, 2015 | $78,894 - $104,700 |
| Associate Scientist | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Cambridge, MA | Sep 02, 2015 | $78,894 - $104,700 |
| Associate Scientist | EMD Serono Research Institute, Inc. | Billerica, MA | Dec 07, 2016 | $78,507 |
| Associate Scientist I | EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc. | Billerica, MA | Jan 07, 2016 | $78,507 |
| Associate Scientist | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | Oct 06, 2016 | $67,535 |
| Associate Scientist | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | Jun 10, 2016 | $67,535 |
| Associate Scientist II | University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | Silver Spring, MD | Sep 14, 2015 | $67,486 |
| Associate Scientist II, Technical Development | Biogen IDEC, Inc. | Cambridge, MA | Jun 25, 2015 | $67,289 |
| Associate Scientist | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Cambridge, MA | Jan 01, 2015 | $67,201 |
| KH Associate Scientist | Kemin Foods, LC | Des Moines, IA | Sep 09, 2015 | $67,200 |
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Top Skills for An Associate Scientist
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Top Associate Scientist Skills
- Lab Equipment
- Analytical Methods
- Cell Culture
- Developed and performed risk assessments for new or existing lab equipment to maintain compliance with GLP and Company regulations.
- Used analytical methods to support development of drug product formulations.
- Experienced in molecular biology including protein, cell culture, and Franz diffusion cell work.
- Perform routine manufacturing work using standard operating procedures and authored several batch records.
- Write, review analytical methods, method validation protocols and its reports.
Top Associate Scientist Employers
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