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What does a postdoctoral scholar do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.
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.

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Postdoctoral scholar responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real postdoctoral scholar resumes:

  • 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.
  • Develop a JavaFX visualization tool base off of D3.js concepts.
  • Verify targets genes by developing numerous quantitative RT-PCR and PCR assays.
  • Aid advisor in writing social cognitive neuroscience NIH and NSF grants.
  • Research include a variety of areas in ecology and physiology of microalgae.
  • Conduct original mathematics research with faculty in the department of mathematics at MIT.
  • Perform DNA extraction, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of ash tissue samples.
  • Oversee the development & implementation of programming, workshops, & scholar activities.
  • Amass an extensive knowledge base of the central nervous system anatomy and physiology.
  • Design feature to plot positions of planetary nebulae on sky using Flot Java library.

Postdoctoral scholar skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Postdoctoral Scholars are proficient in Chemistry, Python, and Patients.

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

  • Chemistry, 10%

    Completed projects related to atmospheric chemistry, specializing in simulation of regional air quality and the impacts of energy conversion technologies.

  • Python, 8%

    Developed a fully automated computational method for computing binding free-energies using semi-empirical quantum mechanics (MOPAC) in Python.

  • Patients, 6%

    Reviewed literature, recorded and categorized medicinal plants collected from traditional healers who treat symptomatic HIV patients.

  • Data Analysis, 6%

    Used qualitative data collection techniques and data analysis.

  • NIH, 5%

    Participated in experimental research proposals design and scientific writing of grants from NIH, USDA and California almond board.

  • C++, 5%

    Developed a parallel framework to simulate and predict biological experiments involving NGS machines, using C++ and MPI.

Most postdoctoral scholars use their skills in "chemistry," "python," and "patients" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential postdoctoral scholar responsibilities here:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a postdoctoral scholar to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what postdoctoral scholars do because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a postdoctoral scholar resume shows how postdoctoral scholars use communication skills: "interact with patients professionally using aidet communication framework. "

Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform postdoctoral scholar duties is observation skills. Postdoctoral scholars responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Postdoctoral scholars also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "conduct own research on social behaviors including data collection, data entry, interviews, and observations. "

See the full list of postdoctoral scholar skills

The three companies that hire the most postdoctoral scholars are:

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Compare different postdoctoral scholars

Postdoctoral scholar vs. Research chemist

A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.

The annual salary of research chemists is $18,256 higher than the average salary of postdoctoral scholars.Even though postdoctoral scholars and research chemists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require data analysis, research projects, and doe in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between postdoctoral scholars and research chemist. For instance, postdoctoral scholar responsibilities require skills such as "chemistry," "python," "patients," and "nih." Whereas a research chemist is skilled in "laboratory equipment," "method development," "analytical chemistry," and "polymer." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Research chemists really shine in the energy industry with an average salary of $92,565. Comparatively, postdoctoral scholars tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $72,557.research chemists tend to reach lower levels of education than postdoctoral scholars. In fact, research chemists are 5.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Postdoctoral scholar vs. Research and development chemist

A research and development chemist primarily works at laboratories to conduct extensive tests and experiments aiming to develop new products and technologies. Although the extent of their duties may vary, it typically revolves around conducting research and studies, observing chemical reactions, maintaining records and databases, collaborating with fellow experts, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing components or mixtures. They can find employment in different areas, such as manufacturing companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and even education.

On average, research and development chemists earn a $19,646 higher salary than postdoctoral scholars a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both postdoctoral scholars and research and development chemists have skills such as "data analysis," "synthesis," and "doe. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, postdoctoral scholar responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "chemistry," "python," "patients," and "nih." Meanwhile, a research and development chemist has duties that require skills in areas such as "product development," "laboratory equipment," "analytical methods," and "d chemist." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Research and development chemists earn a higher average salary than postdoctoral scholars. But research and development chemists earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $82,941. Additionally, postdoctoral scholars earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $72,557 annually.In general, research and development chemists achieve lower levels of education than postdoctoral scholars. They're 5.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 13.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for postdoctoral scholars in the next 3-5 years?

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.Friedbert Ninow Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, La Sierra University


  • All kinds of digital stuff

  • Technology that allows us to have alternatives to the screen; screen technology lets us shrink to two-dimensional beings.

Postdoctoral scholar vs. Quality control analyst

Quality assurance representatives are professionals who are responsible for ensuring the quality of units produced or manufactured is following the standards set by the industry. These representatives supervise the entire production process to identify erroneous methods or tools being used by workers and observing produced for visible defects. They are required to perform various tests to check for the durability of the product and other desirable characteristics. Quality assurance representatives must also collaborate with the manufacturing engineer to implement quality control programs and preparing training manuals and quality guidelines.

On average scale, quality control analysts bring in higher salaries than postdoctoral scholars. In fact, they earn a $1,630 higher salary per year.By looking over several postdoctoral scholars and quality control analysts resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "data analysis," "dna," and "immunofluorescence." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from postdoctoral scholar resumes include skills like "chemistry," "python," "patients," and "nih," whereas a quality control analyst is more likely to list skills in "qc," "lab equipment," "microbiology," and "test methods. "

Quality control analysts earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $62,870. Comparatively, postdoctoral scholars have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $72,557.quality control analysts typically earn lower educational levels compared to postdoctoral scholars. Specifically, they're 11.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 23.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Postdoctoral scholar vs. Quality control chemist

A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.

Quality control chemists typically earn higher pay than postdoctoral scholars. On average, quality control chemists earn a $1,305 higher salary per year.According to resumes from postdoctoral scholars and quality control chemists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "absorption," "r," and "hplc. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between postdoctoral scholars and quality control chemists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a postdoctoral scholar might have more use for skills like "chemistry," "python," "patients," and "data analysis." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of quality control chemists require skills like "qc," "lab equipment," "gmp," and "analytical methods. "

Quality control chemists enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $63,570. For comparison, postdoctoral scholars earn the highest salary in the technology industry.quality control chemists reach lower levels of education compared to postdoctoral scholars, in general. The difference is that they're 8.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 22.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of postdoctoral scholar

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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