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Medical research scientist vs principal scientist

The differences between medical research scientists and principal scientists 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 principal scientist. Additionally, a principal scientist has an average salary of $119,982, 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 principal scientist are oncology, data analysis, and drug discovery.

Medical research scientist vs principal scientist overview

Medical Research ScientistPrincipal Scientist
Yearly salary$78,125$119,982
Hourly rate$37.56$57.68
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs129,65380,899
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Medical research scientist vs principal scientist salary

Medical research scientists and principal scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Research ScientistPrincipal Scientist
Average salary$78,125$119,982
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $129,000Between $84,000 And $169,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyOak Ridge National LaboratoryPayPal
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalFinance

Differences between medical research scientist and principal scientist education

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

Medical Research ScientistPrincipal Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Medical research scientist vs principal scientist demographics

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

Medical Research ScientistPrincipal Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 40.0% Female, 60.0%Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%
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, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between medical research scientist and principal scientist 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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Principal scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Provide development of and line support for assign immunoassay reagents, calibrators and controls.
  • Transfer controls to manufacturing for product launch and include all require studies, testing and documentation under GMP guidelines.
  • Maintain several lab documents for ISO certification.
  • Understand drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics and design stable molecules.
  • Image visualization and manipulation of background plates for animation and post-processing.
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Medical research scientist vs principal scientist skills

Common medical research scientist skills
  • PCR, 21%
  • Research Findings, 20%
  • GMP, 17%
  • Genotyping, 15%
  • Elisa, 13%
  • Extraction, 7%
Common principal scientist skills
  • Oncology, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Drug Discovery, 5%
  • GMP, 3%
  • Experimental Design, 3%
  • Clinical Trials, 3%

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