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Neuroscientist vs student research assistant

The differences between neuroscientists and student research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a neuroscientist, becoming a student research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a neuroscientist has an average salary of $76,267, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student research assistant.

The top three skills for a neuroscientist include literature reviews, animal models and experimental design. The most important skills for a student research assistant are lab equipment, student research, and data collection.

Neuroscientist vs student research assistant overview

NeuroscientistStudent Research Assistant
Yearly salary$76,267$27,475
Hourly rate$36.67$13.21
Growth rate17%19%
Number of jobs23,04659,758
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4138
Years of experience42

Neuroscientist vs student research assistant salary

Neuroscientists and student research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

NeuroscientistStudent Research Assistant
Average salary$76,267$27,475
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $133,000Between $19,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAFairbanks, AK
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyMetaGoogle
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between neuroscientist and student research assistant education

There are a few differences between a neuroscientist and a student research assistant in terms of educational background:

NeuroscientistStudent Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaHarvard University

Neuroscientist vs student research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between neuroscientists' and student research assistants' demographics:

NeuroscientistStudent Research Assistant
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 47.4% Female, 52.6%Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 27.9% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between neuroscientist and student research assistant duties and responsibilities

Neuroscientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.
  • Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.

Student research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Perform PCR amplification and electrophoresis.
  • Prepare agarose gels for electrophoresis and sequencing.
  • Perform biological experiments which provide data for further DNA analysis.
  • Provide DNA sequencing and primer support study transposition in tobacco/tomato root development.
  • Experience gain in polymer chemistry, polymer physics, material characterization, photo-polymerization techniques.
  • Show more

Neuroscientist vs student research assistant skills

Common neuroscientist skills
  • Literature Reviews, 43%
  • Animal Models, 28%
  • Experimental Design, 16%
  • R, 8%
  • Scientific Data, 4%
Common student research assistant skills
  • Lab Equipment, 10%
  • Student Research, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 7%
  • C++, 4%

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