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Research assistant professor vs research associate professor

The differences between research assistant professors and research associate professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a research assistant professor, becoming a research associate professor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research associate professor has an average salary of $94,301, which is higher than the $73,455 average annual salary of a research assistant professor.

The top three skills for a research assistant professor include research projects, biomedical and research program. The most important skills for a research associate professor are public health, biomedical, and research projects.

Research assistant professor vs research associate professor overview

Research Assistant ProfessorResearch Associate Professor
Yearly salary$73,455$94,301
Hourly rate$35.31$45.34
Growth rate17%12%
Number of jobs62,39557,738
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age3846
Years of experience24

What does a research assistant professor do?

A research assistant professor works part-time at colleges or universities where they focus on conducting research and extensive studies. They typically work under the supervision and directives of a professor and perform support tasks such as gathering and analyzing samples through different scientific procedures, completing interviews and surveys, performing experiments and assessments, maintaining records, and handling calls and other forms of correspondence. Additionally, a research assistant professor may also teach undergraduates and participate in preparing activities and curriculum materials.

What does a research associate professor do?

The work of a research associate professor is conducting research, publishing papers, and attending conferences. The professor is also tasked with the job of attending academic events and networking with other researchers and field experts, as well as supervising, advising, and mentoring teaching assistants and graduate students.

Research assistant professor vs research associate professor salary

Research assistant professors and research associate professors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research Assistant ProfessorResearch Associate Professor
Average salary$73,455$94,301
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $102,000Between $58,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSalt Lake City, UT
Highest paying stateMassachusettsUtah
Best paying companyStanford UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between research assistant professor and research associate professor education

There are a few differences between a research assistant professor and a research associate professor in terms of educational background:

Research Assistant ProfessorResearch Associate Professor
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityCornell University

Research assistant professor vs research associate professor demographics

Here are the differences between research assistant professors' and research associate professors' demographics:

Research Assistant ProfessorResearch Associate Professor
Average age3846
Gender ratioMale, 62.9% Female, 37.1%Male, 69.6% Female, 30.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 17.6% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%16%

Differences between research assistant professor and research associate professor duties and responsibilities

Research assistant professor example responsibilities.

  • Manage UW small animal MRI facility.
  • Manage all aspects of HPLC method development and analysis through interpretation of data ensuring accuracy of results.
  • Conduct basic and apply research on HIV immunology.
  • Apply SAS and SPSS programming in a variety of research contexts.
  • Key role in research group's NIH grant applications and long-term project planning.
  • Develop python pipeline to analyze imaging data.
  • Show more

Research associate professor example responsibilities.

  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Conduct NIH sponsor studies on HIV/AIDS in African-American and Hispanic populations in Alabama.
  • Train students in electron microscopy, laser safety, vacuum technology, chemistry, instrumentation, and other laboratory procedures.
  • Identify glucose-induced increases in the phosphorylation levels of interest proteins, including metabolic enzymes and transcription factors by analyzing phosphoproteomics data.

Research assistant professor vs research associate professor skills

Common research assistant professor skills
  • Research Projects, 9%
  • Biomedical, 7%
  • Research Program, 7%
  • Independent Research, 6%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
Common research associate professor skills
  • Public Health, 15%
  • Biomedical, 12%
  • Research Projects, 11%
  • SAS, 6%
  • NIH, 6%
  • Data Collection, 6%

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