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Process scientist vs senior scientist

The differences between process scientists and senior 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 process scientist and a senior scientist. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, which is higher than the $92,203 average annual salary of a process scientist.

The top three skills for a process scientist include chemistry, GMP and cell culture. The most important skills for a senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.

Process scientist vs senior scientist overview

Process ScientistSenior Scientist
Yearly salary$92,203$106,672
Hourly rate$44.33$51.28
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs67,69949,712
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a process scientist do?

In a manufacturing environment, a process scientist is primarily in charge of developing products and procedures, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify market and client needs, gathering and analyzing extensive data, assessing existing practices to determine its strengths and weaknesses, improving vulnerable areas, and monitoring the progress of all operations, implementing solutions as necessary. Aside from performing various experiments for product development, a process scientist may also collaborate with other experts and train junior scientists in the joint effort to deliver quality products and services to clients.

What does a senior scientist do?

A senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.

Process scientist vs senior scientist salary

Process scientists and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Process ScientistSenior Scientist
Average salary$92,203$106,672
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $124,000Between $74,000 And $153,000
Highest paying CityNovato, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateTennesseeCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Best paying industryHealth CareTelecommunication

Differences between process scientist and senior scientist education

There are a few differences between a process scientist and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:

Process ScientistSenior Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Process scientist vs senior scientist demographics

Here are the differences between process scientists' and senior scientists' demographics:

Process ScientistSenior Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between process scientist and senior scientist duties and responsibilities

Process scientist example responsibilities.

  • Ensure FDA compliance and minimal negative impact for all projects by managing change control documentation and procedures.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Participate in technical transfer activities of API's.
  • Champion site compliance activities while under FDA consent decree.
  • Install, qualify, and validate instruments for GMP use.
  • Optimize solvent ratios and isolation procedures leading to increase API yield.
  • Show more

Senior scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development and implementation of new technology for use in NMR applications.
  • Strategize and manage the PK/PD program with internal collaborations including chemistry, DMPK, formulation and toxicology.
  • Lead a team and develop a 24-channel GC parallel separation system for high throughput screening of catalysts.
  • Lead a team of 11 direct reports and 35 indirect reports to solve development problems for multicapillary electrophoresis instruments.
  • Influence and impact others through building and maintaining strong networks that are leverage to obtain critical information and accomplish objectives.
  • Manage collaborations with external CROs.
  • Show more

Process scientist vs senior scientist skills

Common process scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 15%
  • GMP, 13%
  • Cell Culture, 12%
  • Technical Reports, 4%
  • HPLC, 4%
  • Harvest, 3%
Common senior scientist skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 3%
  • Research Projects, 3%
  • C++, 3%
  • Java, 3%

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