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Medical research scientist vs medical science liaison

The differences between medical research scientists and medical science liaisons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a medical research scientist and a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $78,125 average annual salary of a medical research scientist.

The top three skills for a medical research scientist include PCR, research findings and GMP. The most important skills for a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.

Medical research scientist vs medical science liaison overview

Medical Research ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Yearly salary$78,125$145,718
Hourly rate$37.56$70.06
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs129,65357,208
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Medical research scientist vs medical science liaison salary

Medical research scientists and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Research ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Average salary$78,125$145,718
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $129,000Between $59,000 And $359,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAJackson, TN
Highest paying stateRhode IslandTennessee
Best paying companyOak Ridge National LaboratorySaint Luke's Health System
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalManufacturing

Differences between medical research scientist and medical science liaison education

There are a few differences between a medical research scientist and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:

Medical Research ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Medical research scientist vs medical science liaison demographics

Here are the differences between medical research scientists' and medical science liaisons' demographics:

Medical Research ScientistMedical Science Liaison
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 40.0% Female, 60.0%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 27.2% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between medical research scientist and medical science liaison duties and responsibilities

Medical research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Experience working in a GMP regulate environment.
  • Experience with``firefight"responses and working with FDA.
  • Mouse colony maintenance are paramount, mouse genotyping, data organization.
  • Evaluate total tissue proteins and serum responses by ELISA, fluorescent and clotting assays.
  • Design and execute experiments to test the anti-allergic effect of CMP against grass, tree and ragweed pollen allergies.
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Medical science liaison example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and analyze medical necessity review of manage care appeals.
  • Develop and manage KOLs resulting in presentations to regional, national and international meetings.
  • Utilize extensive knowledge of medical terminology, ICD-9, HCPCS and CPT coding along with analysis and processing of Medicare claims.
  • Provide pre-launch field support for a novel diabetes compound.
  • Provide drug information to medical professionals and sales force within FDA guidelines.
  • Join Clementine as a trainee BMS and successfully complete training and registration.
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Medical research scientist vs medical science liaison skills

Common medical research scientist skills
  • PCR, 21%
  • Research Findings, 20%
  • GMP, 17%
  • Genotyping, 15%
  • Elisa, 13%
  • Extraction, 7%
Common medical science liaison skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Medical Affairs, 9%
  • MSL, 7%
  • Medical Science, 6%
  • Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
  • Internal Stakeholders, 4%

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