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 associate professor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real research associate professor resumes:
- 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 associate professor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Research Associate Professors are proficient in Public Health, Biomedical, and Research Projects. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Research Associate Professors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Public Health, 15%
Conducted survey research, data analysis using quantitative and mixed methodologies in public health research.
- Biomedical, 12%
Co-founded and co-moderated the inaugural BioMedical Post-Doctoral Research in Progress Spring series.
- Research Projects, 11%
Guided undergraduate student research projects and provided instructions regarding presentations at HBCU UP National Research Conferences.
- SAS, 6%
Performed appropriate qualitative and quantitative data analysis and developed performance measures, evaluation designs and analytic methods with SAS and ACCESS.
- NIH, 6%
Served as the Principal Investigator on an R01 NIH grant to investigate novel mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer.
- Data Collection, 6%
Manage external consultants in identification of data needs of project and supervise their data collection from Managed Care Organization data sources.
Most research associate professors use their skills in "public health," "biomedical," and "research projects" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential research associate professor responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research associate professor to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "postsecondary teachers need to work well with others for tasks such as instructing students and serving on committees." Research associate professors often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "demonstrated strong communications and interpersonal skills serving as a liaison between patients and client to collect information necessary for future analysis. "
Speaking skills. Many research associate professor duties rely on speaking skills. "postsecondary teachers need good communication skills to present lectures and provide feedback to students.," so a research associate professor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways research associate professor responsibilities rely on speaking skills: "presented research findings in national and international conferences. "
Writing skills. research associate professors are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to research associate professor responsibilities, because "postsecondary teachers need strong writing ability to publish original research and analysis." A research associate professor resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "conducted statistical analyses and writing programs in sas and stata for sophisticated multivariate linear or non-linear regression. "
The three companies that hire the most research associate professors are:
- University of Pennsylvania8 research associate professors jobs
- UT Health East Texas3 research associate professors jobs
- PSEA3 research associate professors jobs
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Compare different research associate professors
Research associate professor vs. Science faculty member
A science faculty member teaches the science subject and facilitates laboratory activities. They can work in elementary schools, high schools, and even colleges and universities. Their responsibilities typically include developing lesson and coursework plans, preparing teaching materials, conducting quizzes and examinations, establishing guidelines, and monitoring the students' academic progress, assisting them when necessary. Moreover, as a science faculty member, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with the faculty staff and keep a safe and healthy classroom environment for the students.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a research associate professor are more likely to require skills like "public health," "biomedical," "research projects," and "sas." On the other hand, a job as a science faculty member requires skills like "philosophy," "social work," "scholarship," and "anatomy." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that science faculty members earn slightly differ from research associate professors. In particular, science faculty members are 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a research associate professor. Additionally, they're 28.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Research associate professor vs. Adjunct biology instructor
An adjunct biology instructor is an adjunct faculty member whose responsibility is to teach biology-related courses. Adjunct biology instructors are educators who are employed on a part-time or contractual basis. Typically, they teach prep or introductory undergraduate courses every semester for the entire academic year. The instructors conduct lectures and lab experiments and other activities. It is expected of them to maintain equipment, reagent inventories, and labs. They also provide assistance in developing and revising the necessary courses.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real research associate professor resumes. While research associate professor responsibilities can utilize skills like "public health," "biomedical," "research projects," and "sas," adjunct biology instructors use skills like "anatomy," "student learning," "general biology," and "learning outcomes."
On average, adjunct biology instructors earn a lower salary than research associate professors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, adjunct biology instructors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $62,630. Whereas research associate professors have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $113,117.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Adjunct biology instructors tend to reach higher levels of education than research associate professors. In fact, they're 9.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 28.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for research associate professors in the next 3-5 years?
David Simon
Professor, Stonehill College
With the surge in interest in quantum computation and related areas such as quantum cryptography, quantum communication, and quantum sensing, working knowledge of quantum mechanics has become a valuable asset for job seekers. In the past ten years, many start-up companies have appeared whose purpose has been to bring formerly exotic quantum protocols and quantum technologies to life in practical, real-world applications. Many tech giants like Apple, IBM, Microsoft, and Google have also recently founded initiatives along the same lines. So, these quantum technology companies have become a valuable source of potential jobs for new graduates who have a strong grounding in quantum mechanics, combined with either solid computational or experimental skills.
One other rapidly growing source of potential employment for new physics graduates in photonics, the science and application of light-based technologies. Photonics has an enormous range of applications that includes fiber-optic communication networks, self-driving cars, remote sensing for archeology, biomedical imaging, and remote detection of environmental hazards. Photonic devices are also one of the most promising platforms for the quantum technologies mentioned above, as well as being a key tool for many areas of fundamental science such as quantum optics and atomic physics. Non-academic jobs in photonics-related industries have been exploding in recent years, but the academic world has been slow to keep up: there is a widely recognized shortage of dedicated photonics programs at the undergraduate level. So, a student who graduates from a physics program with a strong background in optics and electronics is likely to find themselves with a wide variety of options in photonics-related careers.
Research associate professor vs. Science department chairperson
A Biology Instructor is a teacher responsible for educating students on biology either in middle school, high school, or at a college level. They are responsible for creating a learning curriculum that covers scientific investigations and lab experiments. They must also design student assessment programs, liaise with parents on student growth, and create school policies and regulations. Other duties include coordinating field trips, attending staff meetings, and establishing student rapport.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from research associate professor resumes include skills like "public health," "biomedical," "research projects," and "sas," whereas a science department chairperson is more likely to list skills in "classroom management," "science curriculum," "chemistry," and "anatomy. "
Science department chairpeople earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $55,265. Research associate professors earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $113,117.When it comes to education, science department chairpeople tend to earn higher degree levels compared to research associate professors. In fact, they're 8.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 32.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Research associate professor vs. Biology instructor
Types of research associate professor
Updated January 8, 2025
