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Postdoc fellow vs research scientist

The differences between postdoc fellows and research 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 postdoc fellow and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $58,376 average annual salary of a postdoc fellow.

The top three skills for a postdoc fellow include molecular biology, data analysis and CRISPR. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.

Postdoc fellow vs research scientist overview

Postdoc FellowResearch Scientist
Yearly salary$58,376$89,998
Hourly rate$28.07$43.27
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs8,49993,013
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Postdoc fellow vs research scientist salary

Postdoc fellows and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Postdoc FellowResearch Scientist
Average salary$58,376$89,998
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $80,000Between $58,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CityBurlingame, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyTRI-ADLyft
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between postdoc fellow and research scientist education

There are a few differences between a postdoc fellow and a research scientist in terms of educational background:

Postdoc FellowResearch Scientist
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Postdoc fellow vs research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between postdoc fellows' and research scientists' demographics:

Postdoc FellowResearch Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 71.1% Female, 28.9%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 45.5% White, 39.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between postdoc fellow and research scientist duties and responsibilities

Postdoc fellow example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with software engineers to automate identification of 15N- and 13C- labele LC-MS features.
  • Perform expression profiling on primary promyelocyte samples and identify candidate genes that may be involve in SCN pathogenesis and malignant transformation.
  • Investigate chromatid orientation through immunofluorescence.

Research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Used real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to troubleshoot and validate SNP base and gene expression assays.
  • Prepare clear technical presentations to NIH department heads in annual seminars.
  • Analyze chromatin dynamics during primordial germ cell specification with a CRISPR mouse model.
  • Identify impurities in final drug by LCMS and reject impurities with ethanol/water swish.
  • Show more

Postdoc fellow vs research scientist skills

Common postdoc fellow skills
  • Molecular Biology, 15%
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • CRISPR, 9%
  • Python, 9%
  • Chemistry, 8%
  • Conduct Research, 7%
Common research scientist skills
  • Python, 11%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • C++, 6%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Chemistry, 5%

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