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What does a neuroscientist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
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Neuroscientist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real neuroscientist resumes:

  • 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.

Neuroscientist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 43% of Neuroscientists are proficient in Literature Reviews, Animal Models, and Experimental Design.

We break down the percentage of Neuroscientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Literature Reviews, 43%

    Provided conclusions and recommendations based upon field investigations and literature reviews within the established projects.

  • Animal Models, 28%

    Develop assays to measure the immune-pharmacological and biochemical effects of maitake-mushroom fractions in tissue culture and in animal models.

  • Experimental Design, 16%

    Used experimental design to define critical parameters and establish optimal conditions.

  • R, 8%

    Created and validated R based automated analysis scripts for quality control release of manufactured materials.

  • Scientific Data, 4%

    Research Neuroscientist Prepare grants and manuscripts and design experimental setup and analyze scientific data

Common skills that a neuroscientist uses to do their job include "literature reviews," "animal models," and "experimental design." You can find details on the most important neuroscientist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a neuroscientist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what neuroscientists do because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a neuroscientist resume shows how neuroscientists use communication skills: "participated in method transfers of new products with akzo nobel served as qc representative on employee communication committee"

Observation skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling neuroscientist duties is observation skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." According to a neuroscientist resume, here's how neuroscientists can utilize observation skills in their job responsibilities: "coordinated and performed commercial release testing of marketed product at manufacturing site in qc environment to address fda audit observations"

See the full list of neuroscientist skills

Compare different neuroscientists

Neuroscientist vs. Doctoral fellow

A doctoral fellow is a physician that has completed studies and receives a fellowship to cover his/her or her expenses while completing his/her or her medical dissertation. A doctor fellow undergoes this fellowship to get additional training for their chosen sub-specialty. During the fellowship period, a fellow can act as an attending physician or consultant physician with other physicians' direct supervision in the sub-specialty field.

If we compare the average neuroscientist annual salary with that of a doctoral fellow, we find that doctoral fellows typically earn a $22,901 lower salary than neuroscientists make annually.Even though neuroscientists and doctoral fellows are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require animal models, experimental design, and mri in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, neuroscientist responsibilities require skills like "autism," "literature reviews," "eeg," and "scientific data." Meanwhile a typical doctoral fellow has skills in areas such as "patients," "cell culture," "research projects," and "immunology." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

On average, doctoral fellows reach higher levels of education than neuroscientists. Doctoral fellows are 10.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 14.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Neuroscientist 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.

On average, fellows earn a $9,903 lower salary than neuroscientists a year.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that neuroscientist responsibilities requires skills like "autism," "literature reviews," "animal models," and "experimental design." But a fellow might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "professional development," "veterans," and "mathematics."

In general, fellows achieve higher levels of education than neuroscientists. They're 10.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 14.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Neuroscientist 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.

On average, research fellows earn lower salaries than neuroscientists, with a $22,444 difference per year.By looking over several neuroscientists and research fellows resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "literature reviews," "animal models," and "experimental design." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a neuroscientist is likely to be skilled in "autism," "eeg," "scientific data," and "preclinical," while a typical research fellow is skilled in "patients," "research projects," "cell culture," and "immunology."

Research fellows typically earn higher educational levels compared to neuroscientists. Specifically, they're 13.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Neuroscientist vs. Postdoctoral scholar

A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.

Postdoctoral scholars average a lower salary than the annual salary of neuroscientists. The difference is about $18,680 per year.While both neuroscientists and postdoctoral scholars complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like literature reviews, animal models, and experimental design, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "autism," "eeg," "mri," and "scientific data" are skills that commonly show up on neuroscientist resumes. On the other hand, postdoctoral scholars use skills like chemistry, python, patients, and nih on their resumes.The average resume of postdoctoral scholars showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to neuroscientists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 15.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 7.6%.

Types of neuroscientist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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