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The differences between biology research assistants and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a biology research assistant, becoming a postdoctoral research associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a postdoctoral research associate has an average salary of $52,785, which is higher than the $50,800 average annual salary of a biology research assistant.
The top three skills for a biology research assistant include laboratory equipment, laboratory techniques and cell culture. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Biology Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A biological research assistant's role is to perform support tasks for biologists and researchers. Their responsibilities typically revolve around organizing samples and research documents, updating databases, reviewing documents, summarizing results into reports and presentations, handling calls and correspondence, coordinating with external parties, and running errands. There are also instances when a biological research assistant prepare laboratories and instruments, cleaning and sanitizing them as needed. Furthermore, one can also perform experiments and analyses under the supervision or directives of a more experienced researcher.
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.
Biology research assistants and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Professional |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 16.9% White, 52.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |