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Postdoctoral scholar vs senior chemist

The differences between postdoctoral scholars and senior chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior chemist has an average salary of $91,008, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.

The top three skills for a postdoctoral scholar include chemistry, python and patients. The most important skills for a senior chemist are method development, laboratory equipment, and HPLC.

Postdoctoral scholar vs senior chemist overview

Postdoctoral ScholarSenior Chemist
Yearly salary$57,587$91,008
Hourly rate$27.69$43.75
Growth rate17%6%
Number of jobs18,98312,823
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4142
Years of experience4-

What does a postdoctoral scholar do?

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.

What does a senior chemist do?

Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.

Postdoctoral scholar vs senior chemist salary

Postdoctoral scholars and senior chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Postdoctoral ScholarSenior Chemist
Average salary$57,587$91,008
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $79,000Between $67,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAFremont, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVermont
Best paying companyMicrosoftGoogle
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between postdoctoral scholar and senior chemist education

There are a few differences between a postdoctoral scholar and a senior chemist in terms of educational background:

Postdoctoral ScholarSenior Chemist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Postdoctoral scholar vs senior chemist demographics

Here are the differences between postdoctoral scholars' and senior chemists' demographics:

Postdoctoral ScholarSenior Chemist
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 53.0% Female, 47.0%Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 22.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%5%

Differences between postdoctoral scholar and senior chemist duties and responsibilities

Postdoctoral scholar example responsibilities.

  • Lead community-based health projects on and off campus as an Oslerian student scholar.
  • Lead the in-vitro biophysical and biochemical characterization of homologous recombination and investigate structure-function effects of mutant enzymes.
  • Utilize basic organic and inorganic chemistry techniques including polymer synthesis and NMR spectroscopy.
  • Train graduate students on molecular biology techniques- DNA and RNA extraction and qPCR.
  • Contribute to successful NIH grant proposals.
  • Develop HPLC analysis method for skin folate.
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Senior chemist example responsibilities.

  • Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
  • Conduct GC-MS, TGA, and FTIR, UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis of extractables and elemental impurities.
  • Develop Simethicone assay method by FT-IR in liquid dosage.
  • Used EPA methods for actinide, technetium, strontium, and tritium determination.
  • Prepare submission documentation, including CMC sections, for IDE and PMA submissions.
  • Supervise mobile lab team of analysts at various EPA super fund site locations for PCB and halo-hydrocarbons analysis testing.
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Postdoctoral scholar vs senior chemist skills

Common postdoctoral scholar skills
  • Chemistry, 10%
  • Python, 8%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • NIH, 5%
  • C++, 5%
Common senior chemist skills
  • Method Development, 8%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 6%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • R, 4%
  • GMP, 4%

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