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Research associate r & d vs scientist

The differences between research associate r & ds and scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a research associate r & d, becoming a scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $70,829 average annual salary of a research associate r & d.

The top three skills for a research associate r & d include cell culture, elisa and analyze data. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Research associate r & d vs scientist overview

Research Associate R & DScientist
Yearly salary$70,829$97,344
Hourly rate$34.05$46.80
Growth rate19%17%
Number of jobs57,14262,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age3741
Years of experience64

What does a research associate r & d do?

Research associates are employees who work in the company's research and development department. They are responsible for researching industry trends, product innovations, and even competitors' products. Research associates are usually fresh graduates or entry-level employees. They are exposed to the company's products and how each product came to be. They should be familiar with the company brand, as well as the company's vision and mission so that they are guided as they conduct research. Research associates research to further improve the current products and services of the company. They also help out in producing new products or innovating existing ones.

What does a scientist do?

A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.

Research associate r & d vs scientist salary

Research associate r & ds and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research Associate R & DScientist
Average salary$70,829$97,344
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $101,000Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleAirbnb
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between research associate r & d and scientist education

There are a few differences between a research associate r & d and a scientist in terms of educational background:

Research Associate R & DScientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Southern California

Research associate r & d vs scientist demographics

Here are the differences between research associate r & ds' and scientists' demographics:

Research Associate R & DScientist
Average age3741
Gender ratioMale, 50.4% Female, 49.6%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%8%

Differences between research associate r & d and scientist duties and responsibilities

Research associate r & d example responsibilities.

  • Manage training records for a department of 50 plus individuals ensuring company compliance with GLP practices.
  • Lead the execution of protein extraction, quantification and identification from medicinal plants, germinating seeds and seedlings.
  • Perform high-throughput DNA extraction utilizing Roche MagNaPure instrumentation.
  • Used LIMS to enter all analytical data in reports.
  • Run HP6890 GC with chemstation software for OVI and residual solvent test.
  • Isolate and purify viral RNA for RT-PCR and analyze sequences using ChromasPro.
  • Show more

Scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
  • Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
  • Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
  • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Show more

Research associate r & d vs scientist skills

Common research associate r & d skills
  • Cell Culture, 7%
  • Elisa, 6%
  • Analyze Data, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Cell-Based Assays, 5%
  • GMP, 4%
Common scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Java, 3%

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