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Research assistant professor vs senior research associate

The differences between research assistant professors and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a research assistant professor and a senior research associate. Additionally, a research assistant professor has an average salary of $73,455, which is higher than the $72,618 average annual salary of a senior research associate.

The top three skills for a research assistant professor include research projects, biomedical and research program. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.

Research assistant professor vs senior research associate overview

Research Assistant ProfessorSenior Research Associate
Yearly salary$73,455$72,618
Hourly rate$35.31$34.91
Growth rate17%6%
Number of jobs62,39558,903
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3844
Years of experience22

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 senior research associate do?

A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.

Research assistant professor vs senior research associate salary

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

Research Assistant ProfessorSenior Research Associate
Average salary$73,455$72,618
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $102,000Between $51,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyStanford UniversityThe Citadel
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between research assistant professor and senior research associate education

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

Research Assistant ProfessorSenior Research Associate
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityStanford University

Research assistant professor vs senior research associate demographics

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

Research Assistant ProfessorSenior Research Associate
Average age3844
Gender ratioMale, 62.9% Female, 37.1%Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4%
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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between research assistant professor and senior research associate 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

Senior research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Develop, implement and optimize HPLC and ELISA assays in support of cell line and process development.
  • Provide purification service with rp-LCMS, np- HPLC, and MPLC, as well QC data including UPLC-MS and NMR.
  • Engineer and design a unique CRISPR cloning system for the group.
  • Apply the CRISPR technology to conduct gene editing in human IPSCs.
  • Develop an identity ELISA assay to detect the presence of competing and irrelevant drug products in manufacturing process.
  • Show more

Research assistant professor vs senior research associate skills

Common research assistant professor skills
  • Research Projects, 9%
  • Biomedical, 7%
  • Research Program, 7%
  • Independent Research, 6%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
Common senior research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • CRISPR, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Flow Cytometry, 4%

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