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.
Process scientist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real process scientist resumes:
- 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.
- Harmonize the tech transfer process between the development SDF group and GMP manufacturing SDF group.
- Analyze testing results of technical manufacturing, QC, or product performance to determine acceptability of the product.
- Validate products and methods using techniques such as ELISA and Immunofluorescence and provide technical and troubleshooting support for existing products.
- Analyze data and recommend procedures to troubleshoot manufacturing operations.
- Monitor internal QC supply inventory, outsource materials for QC panel generation
- Conduct technology comparison study to assess applicability of a wide range of chromatography products to support specific HTS assays.
- Perform testing of raw materials as required by USP.
- Perform extraction and separation of natural products.
- Complete Rigaku advance training using PDXL for XRD sample identification.
Process scientist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Process Scientists are proficient in Chemistry, GMP, and Cell Culture.
We break down the percentage of Process Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Chemistry, 15%
Serve as lead trainer for Process Chemistry for moisture assays, near-line sodium and Hunter Color analysis.
- GMP, 13%
Harmonized the tech transfer process between the development SDF group and GMP manufacturing SDF group.
- Cell Culture, 12%
Function as a member of a team to develop and scale-up mammalian cell culture process and tech-transfer.
- Technical Reports, 4%
Write and present technical reports documenting the technology transfer, scale-up, troubleshooting and equipment/raw material evaluation activities.
- HPLC, 4%
Coordinated installation and qualification of customized HPLC system to be used for successful development of topical cream product.
- Harvest, 3%
Performed statistical analyses of on/off-line manufacturing data to investigate failures of release parameters (harvest OD).
"chemistry," "gmp," and "cell culture" are among the most common skills that process scientists use at work. You can find even more process scientist responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a process scientist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a process scientist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "managed schedules and communications between engineering, manufacturing, analytic chemistry, and quality assurance departments for cleaning and process validations. "
Observation skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling process scientist duties is observation skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." According to a process scientist resume, here's how process scientists can utilize observation skills in their job responsibilities: "record experiments and observations in a laboratory notebook following glp and/or gmp and departmental sops. "
The three companies that hire the most process scientists are:
- Pfizer7 process scientists jobs
- Regeneron6 process scientists jobs
- Sanofi US6 process scientists jobs
Compare different process scientists
Process scientist vs. Quality control coordinator
A quality control coordinator is in charge of organizing and overseeing an organization's quality control procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They coordinate teams and activities, delegate tasks, conduct audits, set goals, establish guidelines, gather and analyze client feedback, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also conduct inspections to ensure the facility's compliance with state laws and standards. Furthermore, a quality control coordinator must monitor the progress of all operations, resolving issues promptly and efficiently while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between process scientists and quality control coordinator. For instance, process scientist responsibilities require skills such as "chemistry," "cell culture," "technical reports," and "matlab." Whereas a quality control coordinator is skilled in "patients," "data entry," "quality standards," and "laboratory equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Quality control coordinators earn the highest salaries when working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average yearly salary of $69,043. On the other hand, process scientists are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $95,206.On average, quality control coordinators reach lower levels of education than process scientists. Quality control coordinators are 8.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 7.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Process scientist vs. Chemical technician
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real process scientist resumes. While process scientist responsibilities can utilize skills like "chemistry," "cell culture," "matlab," and "harvest," chemical technicians use skills like "lab equipment," "safety procedures," "hazardous materials," and "osha."
Chemical technicians earn a lower average salary than process scientists. But chemical technicians earn the highest pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $66,439. Additionally, process scientists earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $95,206 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Chemical technicians tend to reach lower levels of education than process scientists. In fact, they're 14.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 7.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for process scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Betsy Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College
Process scientist vs. Analytical chemist
An Analytical Chemist uses a wide range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. They analyze samples using different software, techniques, and equipment, and then interpret and report the results.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from process scientist resumes include skills like "chemistry," "cell culture," "matlab," and "harvest," whereas an analytical chemist is more likely to list skills in "method development," "laboratory equipment," "gc," and "ms."
Analytical chemists earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $73,717. Comparatively, process scientists have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $95,206.Most analytical chemists achieve a similar degree level compared to process scientists. For example, they're 5.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 5.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Process scientist 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.
Types of process scientist
Updated January 8, 2025
