What does a quality control-associate scientist do?
Quality control analysts are responsible for evaluating the quality of raw materials and finished products through various scientific analyses. They conduct and validate chemical and biological quality control assays and document statistical data from testing to confirm compliance with quality standards. Additionally, they are responsible for preparing and testing samples from all phases of the handling and manufacturing processes. Quality control analysts may also perform other tasks, including creating standard operating procedures, troubleshooting equipment, and establishing specifications for conducting control assays.
Quality control-associate scientist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality control-associate scientist resumes:
- SAP, Trackwise and outlook manage.
- Initiate documentation of components and record all testing upon their completion according to USP and EP, in compliance with FDA.
- Perform laboratory investigations for OOS results.
- Research, identify, purchase & biotinylate specific commercial MMP antibodies for use in in-house ELISA's.
- Work with QA to initiate and resolve deviations, OOS results, investigations, and audit observations.
- Maintain a wide variety of instruments and equipment including daily calibrations and compliance with ISO and GLP.
- Maintain and update in-house trending data base, analyze data, alert group on OOT/OOS, initiate CAPA.
- Perform USP physical property tests on products and wet chemistry tests such as peroxide value determination in oils.
- Utilize HPLC, UV, KF, pH, dissolution, appearance and water activity to analyze laboratory samples.
- Supervise and train scientists to perform bio-analytical methods mainly qPCR, Biacore, ELISA and bioassay methods following cGMP/FDA/IHC guidelines.
- Ascertain suitable methods of testing on finish goods and raw materials utilizing harmonize USP, EP, and JP methodologies.
- Perform HPLC analysis of creams, lotions, gels, ointments, emulsions and suspensions to support the release of products.
- Conduct raw material (including water test in USP and EP method), finish and stability testing using analytical instrumentation.
- Assist in tablet formulation development by performing dissolution, moisture content and hardness testing on the tablets, following USP guidelines.
- Play an active role in QA investigations, which focuse on interviewing technicians to generate supporting data to identify root cause.
Quality control-associate scientist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Quality Control-Associate Scientists are proficient in QC, Continuous Improvement, and Test Methods. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Control-Associate Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- QC, 16%
Served as QC representative at cross functional meetings and work effectively with quality assurance, manufacturing and regulatory affairs.
- Continuous Improvement, 6%
Tracked group performance (meeting deadlines) as part of Continuous Process Improvement project.
- Test Methods, 5%
Assisted in equipment validation of in-process materials, raw materials, and final products using KQC-LAL and Gel Clot test methods.
- GMP, 5%
Maintained detailed documentation of all work performed following GMP requirements.
- HPLC, 5%
Performed HPLC analysis of creams, lotions, gels, ointments, emulsions and suspensions to support the release of products.
- Troubleshoot, 4%
Perform analysis of UV automated ADT system dissolution profile for extended release products and identify and troubleshoot problems with instruments.
"qc," "continuous improvement," and "test methods" are among the most common skills that quality control-associate scientists use at work. You can find even more quality control-associate scientist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a quality control-associate scientist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "chemists and materials scientists need to evaluate the results of experiments to ensure accuracy in their research." Additionally, a quality control-associate scientist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "conducted initial, in-process, final, stability and raw material testing using analytical instrumentation. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling quality control-associate scientist duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "chemists and materials scientists must be able to convey information clearly in reports and presentations for both technical and nontechnical audiences." According to a quality control-associate scientist resume, here's how quality control-associate scientists can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "maintained close communication and interaction with qc management and staff to ensure on-time testing of samples. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for quality control-associate scientists to perform their duties. For an example of how quality control-associate scientist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "chemists and materials scientists typically work on teams and need to be cooperative." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a quality control-associate scientist: "provided inter-departmental communications between the business units, technology teams and support teams interpersonal relations/customer service".
Math skills. For certain quality control-associate scientist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a quality control-associate scientist rely on this skill, as "chemists and materials scientists regularly use calculus, algebra, statistics, and other math for calculations." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what quality control-associate scientists do: "performed, interpreted and reviewed quantitative analyses of stability samples in a current good laboratory practice (cglp) environment. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a quality control-associate scientist to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what quality control-associate scientists relies on this skill, since "chemists and materials scientists must document processes carefully when conducting experiments, tracking outcomes, and analyzing results." How this skill relates to quality control-associate scientist duties can be seen in an example from a quality control-associate scientist resume snippet: "supervised all projects assigned to the qc em/microbiology organizational unit and ensured all projects assigned were completed with accuracy and satisfaction. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on quality control-associate scientist job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in quality control-associate scientist duties, since "chemists’ and materials scientists’ work involves posing questions during research and finding answers through results." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day quality control-associate scientist responsibilities: "assist in the resolution of routine, and non-routine, technical problems authoring and review of sop's and test methods. "
See the full list of quality control-associate scientist skills
The three companies that hire the most quality control-associate scientists are:
- Catalent Pharma Solutions13 quality control-associate scientists jobs
- Bristol-Myers Squibb12 quality control-associate scientists jobs
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals
4 quality control-associate scientists jobs
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Compare different quality control-associate scientists
Quality control-associate scientist vs. Microbiology analyst
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, quality control-associate scientist responsibilities require skills like "qc," "continuous improvement," "test methods," and "troubleshoot." Meanwhile a typical microbiology analyst has skills in areas such as "test results," "laboratory procedures," "standard operating procedure," and "media preparation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Microbiology analysts tend to make the most money working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $50,426. In contrast, quality control-associate scientists make the biggest average salary, $84,868, in the pharmaceutical industry.On average, microbiology analysts reach lower levels of education than quality control-associate scientists. Microbiology analysts are 6.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Quality control-associate scientist vs. Laboratory analyst
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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, quality control-associate scientist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "qc," "continuous improvement," "troubleshoot," and "capa." Meanwhile, a laboratory analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "laboratory procedures," "sample preparation," "test results," and "math." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, laboratory analysts earn a lower salary than quality control-associate scientists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, laboratory analysts earn the most pay in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $47,806. Whereas quality control-associate scientists have higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $84,868.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Laboratory analysts tend to reach lower levels of education than quality control-associate scientists. In fact, they're 8.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for quality control-associate scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Suely Black Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry, Norfolk State University
Quality control-associate scientist vs. Analytical chemist
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, quality control-associate scientists are more likely to have skills like "qc," "continuous improvement," "troubleshoot," and "capa." But a analytical chemist is more likely to have skills like "laboratory equipment," "ms," "analytical techniques," and "sample preparation."
Analytical chemists earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $73,717. Quality control-associate scientists earn the highest pay from the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $84,868.When it comes to education, analytical chemists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to quality control-associate scientists. In fact, they're 2.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Quality control-associate scientist vs. Team lead for quality control
Even though a few skill sets overlap between quality control-associate scientists and team lead for quality controls, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a quality control-associate scientist might have more use for skills like "qc," "test methods," "lims," and "elisa." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of team lead for quality controls require skills like "quality checks," "quality products," "quality audits," and "qc testing. "
Team lead for quality controls enjoy the best pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $47,871. For comparison, quality control-associate scientists earn the highest salary in the pharmaceutical industry.team lead for quality controls reach lower levels of education compared to quality control-associate scientists, in general. The difference is that they're 8.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of quality control-associate scientist
Updated January 8, 2025
