Become A Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Working As A Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Getting Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
Mostly Sitting
$52,314
Average Salary
What Does A Postdoctoral Research Associate Do
How To Become A Postdoctoral Research Associate
Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some medical scientists get a medical degree instead of a Ph.D., but prefer doing research to practicing as a physician.
EducationStudents planning careers as medical scientists typically pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Undergraduate students benefit from taking a broad range of classes, including life sciences, physical sciences, and math. Students also typically take courses that develop communication and writing skills, because they must learn to write grants effectively and publish research findings.
After students have completed their undergraduate studies, they typically enter Ph.D. programs. Dual-degree programs are available that pair a Ph.D. with a range of specialized medical degrees. A few degree programs that are commonly paired with Ph.D. studies are Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Whereas Ph.D. studies focus on research methods, such as project design and data interpretation, students in dual-degree programs learn both the clinical skills needed to be a physician and the research skills needed to be a scientist.
Graduate programs emphasize both laboratory work and original research. These programs offer prospective medical scientists the opportunity to develop their experiments and, sometimes, to supervise undergraduates. Ph.D. programs culminate in a thesis that the candidate presents before a committee of professors. Students may specialize in a particular field, such as gerontology, neurology, or cancer.
Those who go to medical school spend most of the first 2 years in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and medical law. They also learn how to record medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. They may be required to participate in residency programs, meeting the same requirements that physicians and surgeons have to fulfill.
Medical scientists often continue their education with postdoctoral work. Postdoctoral work provides additional and more independent lab experience, including experience in specific processes and techniques such as gene splicing, which is transferable to other research projects.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMedical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who administer drugs, gene therapy, or otherwise practice medicine on patients in clinical trials or a private practice need a license to practice as a physician.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Communication is critical, because medical scientists must be able to explain their conclusions. In addition, medical scientists write grant proposals, because grants often are required to fund their research.
Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for solving a specific research question.
Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistical techniques, so that they can properly quantify and analyze health research questions.
Decisionmaking skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how best to investigate the questions, and what data will best answer the questions.
Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require precise observation of samples and other health data. Any mistake could lead to inconclusive or misleading results.
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Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs
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Postdoctoral Research Associate Career Paths
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Research Associate Professor 4.0 years
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Research Scientist 3.8 years
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Associate Research Scientist 3.8 years
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Senior Research Associate 3.7 years
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Assistant Research Scientist 3.3 years
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Graduate Research Associate 3.2 years
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Graduate Research Fellow 3.2 years
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Postdoctoral Research Associate 3.0 years
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Senior Research Fellow 2.9 years
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Graduate Researcher 2.8 years
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Postdoctoral Research Scientist 2.8 years
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Postdoctoral Associate 2.5 years
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Postdoc Research Associate 2.5 years
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant 2.4 years
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Post Doctoral Researcher 2.4 years
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Doctoral Research Assistant 2.4 years
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Research Fellow 2.3 years
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Postdoctoral Scholar 2.3 years
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Graduate Research Student 2.2 years
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Post-Doctoral Scientist 2.2 years
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Research Assistant Professor 1.9 years
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Fellow 1.7 years
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Research Assistant 1.7 years
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Research Scholar 1.4 years
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Student Research Assistant 1.2 years
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Research Trainee 0.9 years
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Research Volunteer 0.9 years
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Research Assistant 21.5%
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Teaching Assistant 12.3%
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Research Associate 5.9%
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Fellow 5.1%
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Research Fellow 4.4%
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Internship 4.2%
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Research Scientist 2.9%
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Researcher 2.5%
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Scientist 2.2%
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Lecturer 1.9%
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Graduate Researcher 1.9%
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Instructor 1.9%
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Research Internship 1.7%
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Graduate Assistant 1.3%
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Research Scientist 14.0%
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Senior Scientist 13.1%
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Research Associate 11.2%
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Scientist 7.6%
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Research Fellow 6.8%
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Assistant Professor 6.1%
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Fellow 6.0%
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Instructor 3.2%
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Consultant 3.1%
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Staff Scientist 3.0%
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Adjunct Professor 2.7%
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Adjunct Faculty 2.4%
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Principal Scientist 2.2%
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Lecturer 1.7%
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Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Postdoctoral Research Associate
Top Careers After Postdoctoral Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate Demographics
Gender
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Male
49.2% -
Unknown
26.5% -
Female
24.2%
Ethnicity
-
White
44.5% -
Asian
44.4% -
Hispanic or Latino
6.2% -
Unknown
4.1% -
Black or African American
0.8%
Languages Spoken
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Chinese
26.6% -
Spanish
16.8% -
Mandarin
9.8% -
French
9.3% -
German
5.6% -
Russian
3.7% -
Korean
3.3% -
Xiang
3.3% -
Japanese
3.3% -
Turkish
2.3% -
Carrier
2.3% -
Italian
2.3% -
Cantonese
1.9% -
Hindi
1.4% -
Shan
1.4% -
Ukrainian
1.4% -
Greek
1.4% -
Portuguese
1.4% -
Arabic
1.4% -
Dutch
0.9%
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Education
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Iowa State University
8.5% -
University of Florida
7.3% -
Texas A&M University
7.1% -
Purdue University
5.9% -
North Carolina State University
5.5% -
Michigan State University
5.5% -
Washington State University
5.4% -
Arizona State University
5.2% -
Cornell University
4.8% -
University of Illinois at Chicago
4.5% -
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
4.5% -
Kansas State University
4.3% -
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
4.3% -
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.1% -
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
4.1% -
University of Georgia
4.1% -
Ohio State University
3.8% -
University of Notre Dame
3.8% -
University of Arizona
3.6% -
University of Kansas
3.6% -
Chemistry 28.0%
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Physics 9.7%
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Chemical Engineering 5.3%
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Microbiology 5.1%
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Biology 5.0%
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Pharmacy 3.3%
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Genetics 2.5%
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Pharmacology 2.4%
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Neuroscience 1.9%
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Civil Engineering 1.7%
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Materials Sciences 1.7%
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Botany 1.7%
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Plant Sciences 1.5%
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Doctorate
85.7% -
Masters
6.6% -
Other
5.2% -
Bachelors
1.2% -
Certificate
0.8% -
Associate
0.5% -
Diploma
0.0%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Postdoctoral Research Associate Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | The Trustees of Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | Jan 08, 2016 | $118,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Ut-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | Oak Ridge, TN | Jun 01, 2015 | $115,020 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate (Materials Scientist) | Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC | Idaho Falls, ID | Jan 09, 2016 | $106,008 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Los Alamos National Security, LLC | Los Alamos, NM | Sep 17, 2016 | $104,000 - $125,600 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | Apr 07, 2016 | $103,868 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Oct 09, 2015 | $100,343 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | Aug 15, 2015 | $100,322 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate (Materials Scientist) | Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC | Idaho Falls, ID | Jan 09, 2016 | $100,008 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate, Metabolomics | Ut-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | Oak Ridge, TN | Sep 14, 2015 | $98,400 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Los Alamos National Security, LLC | Los Alamos, NM | Sep 19, 2016 | $92,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Los Alamos National Security, LLC | Los Alamos, NM | Jun 27, 2016 | $87,988 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Los Alamos National Security, LLC | Los Alamos, NM | Mar 07, 2015 | $87,000 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar-Research Associate | The University of Southern California | Marina del Rey, CA | Jan 07, 2016 | $86,424 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate Environmental Chan | University of Notre Dame Du Lac | Notre Dame, IN | Jan 14, 2015 | $52,787 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Jun 10, 2016 | $52,780 - $62,780 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Jan 10, 2016 | $52,780 - $62,780 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | Jan 22, 2015 | $52,620 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL | Jan 08, 2016 | $52,500 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Mississippi State University | MS | Jun 27, 2015 | $52,500 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Washington University In St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Sep 01, 2015 | $52,500 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | NY | Jan 07, 2016 | $52,291 |
| Postdoctoral Fellow Research Associate | Temple University--A Commonwealth University | Philadelphia, PA | May 05, 2016 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Washington University In St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Jan 07, 2016 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | Oct 17, 2015 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | Jan 12, 2015 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Washington University In St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Oct 09, 2016 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Notre Dame Du Lac | Notre Dame, IN | Aug 16, 2015 | $46,344 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Ames, IA | Oct 11, 2015 | $46,344 |
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Top Skills for A Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Top Postdoctoral Research Associate Skills
- Cell Culture
- Protein Expression
- Total Synthesis
- Experience with aseptic technique and microbial cell culture at scale from 5mL tubes to 300L bioreactors.
- Assessed protein expression changes in altered cell lines and tissues using immunoblot analysis and quantitative chemiluminescence.
- Total synthesis of dibromophakellstatin and its analogues.
- Examined fatigue crack growth behavior and texture evolution in Mg alloys using neutron diffraction techniques.
- Designed and documented protocols for procedures and analyses conducted in the laboratory; standardized techniques and improved efficiency.
Top Postdoctoral Research Associate Employers
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