Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between biology research assistants and student research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a biology research assistant and a student research assistant. Additionally, a biology research assistant has an average salary of $50,800, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student 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 student research assistant are lab equipment, student research, and data collection.
| Biology Research Assistant | Student Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $27,475 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $13.21 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 59,758 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 student research assistant is responsible for supporting the school's research department on conducting various research tasks using the techniques and resources provided by the supervising faculty. Student research assistants collect and verify research data, interpret and document findings using research methodologies, organize and prepare research materials, write research reports, and provide recommendations to improve research strategies and techniques. A student research assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to multitask and be a fast-learner to interpret data within a specific time.
Biology research assistants and student research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Student Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $27,475 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $19,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Fairbanks, AK |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Battelle | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a student research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Student Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and student research assistants' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Student Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |