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Health researcher vs postdoctoral research associate

The differences between health researchers and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a health researcher and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a health researcher has an average salary of $83,787, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.

The top three skills for a health researcher include health services, data collection and data analysis. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.

Health researcher vs postdoctoral research associate overview

Health ResearcherPostdoctoral Research Associate
Yearly salary$83,787$52,785
Hourly rate$40.28$25.38
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs53,50459,377
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a health researcher do?

A health researcher is responsible for analyzing materials and publications and develop efficient research methodologies to support the analysis within the health industry. Health researchers review the current health trends, identify risks that may put public health in jeopardy, and coordinating with medical health professionals for in-depth investigation of diseases. They also assist laboratory technicians in performing examinations according to the research findings, proposing treatment plans, and improving diagnosing methods. A health researcher may present the study with different institutions, including the government, and recommend ways to minimize public health risk.

What does a postdoctoral research associate do?

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.

Health researcher vs postdoctoral research associate salary

Health researchers and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health ResearcherPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average salary$83,787$52,785
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $122,000Between $38,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJMemphis, TN
Highest paying stateNew JerseyHawaii
Best paying companyAppleArgonne National Laboratory
Best paying industryGovernmentProfessional

Differences between health researcher and postdoctoral research associate education

There are a few differences between a health researcher and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:

Health ResearcherPostdoctoral Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Most common majorPsychologyChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Health researcher vs postdoctoral research associate demographics

Here are the differences between health researchers' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:

Health ResearcherPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 32.4% Female, 67.6%Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between health researcher and postdoctoral research associate duties and responsibilities

Health researcher example responsibilities.

  • Lead Inovalon's team of biostatisticians and SAS programmers.
  • Manage database of test responses and conduct data analyses for NIH technical report.
  • Manage site assessment, initiation, monitoring, query resolution and site closure done by several CRO's and sponsors.
  • Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
  • Acquire and analyze clinical data (SAS programming).
  • Coordinate an FDA document retrieval system which decrease time and costs in filing new drug applications.
  • Show more

Postdoctoral research associate example responsibilities.

  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Transfect 293-T cells with CRISPR constructs.
  • Execute parallel synthesis on both solution and solid phase to develop library of compounds.
  • Diagnose and resolve all instruments during breakdown (GC/MS/MS, GC/ECD, UV-Vis).
  • Develop python codes to efficiently handle multiple read/unread, flag/unflag, and delete operations on emails.
  • Characterize particles using DLS and UV-vis spectrophotometer to measure particle sizes and detect oxide layer, respectively.
  • Show more

Health researcher vs postdoctoral research associate skills

Common health researcher skills
  • Health Services, 13%
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • Research Findings, 8%
  • Health Economics, 6%
  • Health Insurance, 5%
Common postdoctoral research associate skills
  • Python, 6%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Post-Doctoral, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%

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