What does a cancer researcher do?
A cancer researcher is a medical scientist who devotes their time working at laboratories to study and discover ways to diagnose and treat cancer, saving countless people's lives in the process. Their duties usually include gathering and analyzing samples through basic or complex laboratory processes, studying existing cases from people of all ages, organizing specimens and instruments, coordinating with fellow experts, conducting experiments, and maintaining extensive records. Moreover, as a cancer researcher, it is essential to keep an open communication line with fellow researchers, collaborating efforts for a smooth workflow.
Cancer researcher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cancer researcher resumes:
- Manage mouse colonies (breeding, weaning and genotyping).
- Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
- Perform quantitative analysis of DNA, RNA, and the use of RT-PCR.
- Perform clerical duties in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Inscribe and design genotyping protocols for new studies using rare Finnish DNA samples.
- Bill workers compensation, no-fault, HMO, commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid.
- Assess necessity for further site action and make suggestions base on EPA risk assessment standards.
- Collect data through interviews and questionnaires, enter and code data, and analyze data using SAS.
- Construct python code to simulate crystal equilibrium shapes which gives insight into how effective certain materials can act as catalysts.
- Conduct immunocytochemistry and analysis of markers of DNA damage.
- Verify insurance eligibility for Medicaid, private insurance etc.
- Analyze data for thesis using SAS to perform cross-tabulations and multivariate regression.
- Deliver algorithmic python scripts and toolboxes to compare cross city sustainability available online.
- Optimize protocol for protein production and purification to be implement in future pharmaceutical chemistry course.
- Present research focuse on the patient-physician communication process including treatment decision- making for patients in Alabama.
Cancer researcher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Cancer Researchers are proficient in Patients, Clinical Research, and Clinical Trials.
We break down the percentage of Cancer Researchers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 19%
Collaborated with physicians, radiologist and other hospital personnel to collect data on patients for analysis.
- Clinical Research, 9%
Assist with actual clinical research activities by collecting and recording pertinent data.
- Clinical Trials, 8%
Presented clinical trials to the Hospital Institutional Review Board for approval.
- Data Collection, 6%
Performed accurate and timely data collection of source documents, case report forms and respondent reports.
- Patient Care, 5%
Presented research findings to doctors at Howard University monthly, proving recommendations on how to improve patient care.
- Informed Consent, 5%
Prepared IRB and FDA documents including informed consents and protocols.
"patients," "clinical research," and "clinical trials" are among the most common skills that cancer researchers use at work. You can find even more cancer researcher responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a cancer researcher to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Cancer researchers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "presented research focused on the patient-physician communication process including treatment decision- making for patients in alabama. "
Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform cancer researcher duties is observation skills. Cancer researchers responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Cancer researchers also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "applied my knowledge of qualitative research methods including participant observation, interviews, textual analysis, and ethnographic data collection. "
The three companies that hire the most cancer researchers are:
- AstraZeneca5 cancer researchers jobs
- Atlantic Health4 cancer researchers jobs
- Cedars-Sinai3 cancer researchers jobs
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Compare different cancer researchers
Cancer researcher vs. Fellow
A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities. Furthermore, a fellow must adhere to the institution or organization's policies and regulations at all times, meet all the requirements and outputs involved, and coordinate with every person in the workforce.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, cancer researcher responsibilities require skills like "clinical research," "clinical trials," "patient care," and "informed consent." Meanwhile a typical fellow has skills in areas such as "professional development," "veterans," "mathematics," and "math." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Fellows earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $67,978. On the other hand, cancer researchers are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $60,192.The education levels that fellows earn slightly differ from cancer researchers. In particular, fellows are 3.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cancer researcher. Additionally, they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cancer researcher vs. Doctoral fellow
A doctoral fellow is a physician that has completed studies and receives a fellowship to cover his/her or her expenses while completing his/her or her medical dissertation. A doctor fellow undergoes this fellowship to get additional training for their chosen sub-specialty. During the fellowship period, a fellow can act as an attending physician or consultant physician with other physicians' direct supervision in the sub-specialty field.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, cancer researcher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "clinical research," "patient care," "molecular biology," and "hipaa." Meanwhile, a doctoral fellow has duties that require skills in areas such as "cell biology," "immunology," "veterans," and "crispr." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Doctoral fellows earn a lower average salary than cancer researchers. But doctoral fellows earn the highest pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $67,423. Additionally, cancer researchers earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $60,192 annually.In general, doctoral fellows achieve similar levels of education than cancer researchers. They're 3.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cancer researcher vs. Scientist
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from cancer researcher resumes include skills like "clinical research," "patient care," "nih," and "gene expression," whereas a scientist is more likely to list skills in "chemistry," "java," "flow cytometry," and "crispr. "
Scientists earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $134,486. Cancer researchers earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $60,192.scientists typically earn higher educational levels compared to cancer researchers. Specifically, they're 6.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cancer researcher vs. Postdoctoral associate
A postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.
Types of cancer researcher
Updated January 8, 2025
