What does a medical science liaison do?
A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.
Medical science liaison responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real medical science liaison resumes:
- 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.
- Collect, capture and document any adverse events in accordance with FDA guidelines.
- Work with various insurance companies and their respective PBMs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
- Perform multiple CTD to eCTD conversions for Boiron including herbal, chemical and animal dossiers.
- Develop preliminary blood-base RNA biomarkers for the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
- Maintain high level of focus on key Medicaid and Medicare policies and their implications for health system.
- Direct the fiscal, labor and quality management for the medical surgical patient populations from pediatrics to geriatrics.
- Identify as a clinical leader to assist the medical staff in the understanding and updating of the EMR system.
- Compose portions of an integrate summary of efficacy (ISE) and an ISS for a tricyclic antidepressant NDA submission.
- Perform QC on regulatory documents.
Medical science liaison skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Medical Science Liaisons are proficient in Patients, Medical Affairs, and MSL. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observation skills, Communication skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Medical Science Liaisons that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 11%
Articulated benefits of injection technique to raise awareness and clinical knowledge of clinicians to help optimize insulin therapy for their patients.
- Medical Affairs, 9%
Identified relevant clinical data and assisted marketing and medical affairs in developing the information into field appropriate messaging.
- MSL, 7%
Assured MSL alignment with each brand's key strategic initiatives * Evaluated Investigator Initiated Study protocols for further organizational support.
- Medical Science, 6%
Assisted medical science liaison colleagues with formulation and implementation of special projects.
- Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
Contributed to the research, design and development of strategic marketing and educational materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
- Internal Stakeholders, 4%
Provided medical information booth coverage, attended oral sessions, and facilitated meetings between thought leaders and internal stakeholders.
Most medical science liaisons use their skills in "patients," "medical affairs," and "msl" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential medical science liaison responsibilities here:
Observation skills. The most essential soft skill for a medical science liaison to carry out their responsibilities is observation skills. This skill is important for the role because "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Additionally, a medical science liaison resume shows how their duties depend on observation skills: "initiated direct observation treatment program for hypertensives and drug free program for methadone patients. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform medical science liaison duties is communication skills. Medical science liaisons responsibilities require that "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Medical science liaisons also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "supported pi selection, pi meeting and siv as well as investigator communication for 2 ono/bms global clinical trials. "
The three companies that hire the most medical science liaisons are:
- Bristol-Myers Squibb51 medical science liaisons jobs
- The Independent Traveler49 medical science liaisons jobs
- Eisai28 medical science liaisons jobs
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Compare different medical science liaisons
Medical science liaison vs. Phd researcher
The primary job of a Ph.D. researcher is to plan and conduct experiments and analyzing their outcome. You will collect, organize, and analyze data and opinions to solve issues and predict trends. Other tasks you will perform include doing fieldwork to collect samples, writing reports, research papers, and reviews, and organizing materials testing. In addition, you need to liaise with research and production staff, develop ways to resolve problems, and supervise junior research staff.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, medical science liaison responsibilities require skills like "medical affairs," "msl," "medical science," and "pharmaceutical industry." Meanwhile a typical phd researcher has skills in areas such as "python," "chemistry," "research projects," and "data analysis." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Phd researchers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $79,949. Comparatively, medical science liaisons tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $152,658.phd researchers tend to reach higher levels of education than medical science liaisons. In fact, phd researchers are 7.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 22.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Medical science liaison vs. Researcher
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that medical science liaison responsibilities requires skills like "patients," "medical affairs," "msl," and "medical science." But a researcher might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "python," "lab equipment," "c++," and "data analysis."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Researchers tend to reach similar levels of education than medical science liaisons. In fact, they're 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 22.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Medical science liaison 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 many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a medical science liaison is likely to be skilled in "medical affairs," "msl," "medical science," and "pharmaceutical industry," while a typical fellow is skilled in "professional development," "veterans," "mathematics," and "math."
Fellows make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $67,978. On the other hand, medical science liaisons are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $152,658.Most fellows achieve a similar degree level compared to medical science liaisons. For example, they're 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Medical science liaison vs. Research fellow
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between medical science liaisons and research fellows, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a medical science liaison might have more use for skills like "medical affairs," "msl," "medical science," and "pharmaceutical industry." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of research fellows require skills like "research projects," "data analysis," "cell culture," and "immunology. "
Research fellows enjoy the best pay in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $57,261. For comparison, medical science liaisons earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.The average resume of research fellows showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to medical science liaisons. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 13.9%.Types of medical science liaison
Updated January 8, 2025
