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Postdoc research associate vs medical science liaison

The differences between postdoc research associates and medical science liaisons 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 research associate and a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $56,259 average annual salary of a postdoc research associate.

The top three skills for a postdoc research associate include data analysis, mouse model and research projects. The most important skills for a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.

Postdoc research associate vs medical science liaison overview

Postdoc Research AssociateMedical Science Liaison
Yearly salary$56,259$145,718
Hourly rate$27.05$70.06
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs49,46057,208
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a postdoc research associate do?

Postdoc research associates are professionals who are responsible for assisting postdoctoral researchers in their research after completing doctoral studies. These associates must train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their ongoing research projects so that they can be completed on time. They are required to perform data analysis and should prepare scientific and technical reports that will be presented at scientific conferences. Postdoc research associates must also conduct literature reviews on topics such as government policy, economic impact analyses, and scientific journal articles.

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.

Postdoc research associate vs medical science liaison salary

Postdoc research associates and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.

Postdoc Research AssociateMedical Science Liaison
Average salary$56,259$145,718
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $78,000Between $59,000 And $359,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CAJackson, TN
Highest paying stateHawaiiTennessee
Best paying companyIBMSaint Luke's Health System
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between postdoc research associate and medical science liaison education

There are a few differences between a postdoc research associate and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:

Postdoc Research AssociateMedical Science Liaison
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorChemistryNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Southern California

Postdoc research associate vs medical science liaison demographics

Here are the differences between postdoc research associates' and medical science liaisons' demographics:

Postdoc Research AssociateMedical Science Liaison
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 73.1% Female, 26.9%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 45.4% White, 38.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between postdoc research associate and medical science liaison duties and responsibilities

Postdoc research associate example responsibilities.

  • Achieve a best solar-matching spectrum and a broadband visible-to-IR absorption profile.
  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Research focuse on understanding how transcription factors and non-coding regulatory DNA interpret Endothelin signaling in vivo.
  • Programe in Fortran to simulate models, diagnose problems and examine results.
  • Investigate how ATM kinase regulates tumor suppressive function of B56? -PP2A in response to DNA damage.
  • Complete a project of conditional knock out mouse model, draft one manuscript on transcription factor function on brain developmental defect.
  • Show more

Medical science liaison example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Postdoc research associate vs medical science liaison skills

Common postdoc research associate skills
  • Data Analysis, 9%
  • Mouse Model, 8%
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Python, 7%
  • Chemistry, 7%
  • Cell Culture, 6%
Common medical science liaison skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Medical Affairs, 9%
  • MSL, 7%
  • Medical Science, 6%
  • Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
  • Internal Stakeholders, 4%

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