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What does a research biologist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith

A research biologist is a scientist who works in the outdoors, laboratories, and offices to study the natural elements so that they can better understand how living organisms work. Research biologists must design experiments for various research projects conducted under standard operating procedures and good laboratory practice guidelines. They are required to supervise lab technicians and veterinary medicine students in their respective research projects and studies. Research biologists must also provide support for clinical research protocols through laboratory procedures and protocols.

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Research biologist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real research biologist resumes:

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Support book of business activities by performing request ELISA assays for ongoing GLP and Non-GLP safety studies.
  • Screen antibodies and optimize conditions for an indirect ELISA used to characterize a vaccine product.
  • Characterize recombinant human CPP32 to understand processing and activation by western blot analysis and activity assays.
  • Participate in a summer research intensive that provide hands-on training in interdisciplinary biomedical laboratory techniques with an emphasis in advance instrumentation.
  • Research muscle wasting in the elderly and the HIV population utilizing various forms of mass spectroscopy to perform biochemical analyses.
  • Represent USFWS work on TV and radio interviews as well as to local boards.
  • Set up and monitoring of affinity chromatography columns.
  • Prepare and analyze samples using instrumentation such as gas chromatography.
  • Research focuses on assay development, optimization, and implementation regarding neutralizing antibodies and HIV co-receptor usage.
  • Draft and submit study protocol documents to IRB, complete required grant regulatory documentation, and assist with grant application submissions.
  • Monitor regulatory compliance/audits, IRB submission/amendments, protocol development, maintain source documents, soldier recruitment, consent and clinical interviewing.
  • Study immunotherapy approaches with emphasis in co-stimulatory pathways blockade for autoimmune diabetes and islet transplantation in relevant rodent models.

Research biologist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Research Biologists are proficient in Laboratory Equipment, Research Projects, and Molecular Biology. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observation skills, Interpersonal skills, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Research Biologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Laboratory Equipment, 13%

    Perform general maintenance on laboratory equipment and troubleshoot where necessary.

  • Research Projects, 9%

    Managed all aspects of protocol driven research projects conducted under Standard Operating Procedures and the Good Laboratory Practices guidelines.

  • Molecular Biology, 5%

    Used skills in data evaluation and interpretation and practical knowledge of molecular biology analysis software and databases.

  • Cell Lines, 5%

    Developed stable cell lines used for multiple projects to screen for active compounds.

  • R, 5%

    Identified systematic errors in electronic medical record using a combination of SQL queries and R visualizations.

  • Research Findings, 4%

    Published first author original research articles in peer reviewed scientific journals and presented research findings at national conferences.

Common skills that a research biologist uses to do their job include "laboratory equipment," "research projects," and "molecular biology." You can find details on the most important research biologist responsibilities below.

Observation skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research biologist to have is observation skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Research biologists often use observation skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provide technical support, record data and perform observations for toxicology protocols and studies. "

All research biologist skills

The three companies that hire the most research biologists are:

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Compare different research biologists

Research biologist vs. Staff scientist

The primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.

If we compare the average research biologist annual salary with that of a staff scientist, we find that staff scientists typically earn a $24,222 higher salary than research biologists make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both research biologist and staff scientist positions are skilled in research projects, molecular biology, and cell lines.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a research biologist are more likely to require skills like "laboratory equipment," "research findings," "experimental procedures," and "rt-pcr." On the other hand, a job as a staff scientist requires skills like "next-generation sequencing," "rna," "c++," and "crispr." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Staff scientists tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $102,260. In contrast, research biologists make the biggest average salary, $83,836, in the manufacturing industry.On average, staff scientists reach similar levels of education than research biologists. Staff scientists are 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 15.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Research biologist vs. Scientist

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.

On average, scientists earn a $27,625 higher salary than research biologists a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Research biologists and scientists both require similar skills like "laboratory equipment," "research projects," and "molecular biology" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, research biologist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "research findings," "experimental procedures," "laboratory practices," and "gps." Meanwhile, a scientist has duties that require skills in areas such as "chemistry," "patients," "java," and "flow cytometry." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Scientists may earn a higher salary than research biologists, but scientists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $134,486. On the other hand, research biologists receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $83,836.scientists earn similar levels of education than research biologists in general. They're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 15.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for research biologists in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

Honestly, I think anytime a scientist tries to predict what will be "big" in a few years, they're likely to fail. That said, I think there's a growing interest among consumers for more "green" products, so research into those areas will likely grow. For instance, we might see attempts to develop new plastics that are safer for the environment and humans, perhaps biodegradable. Organic chemistry traditionally uses harsh solvents and chemicals that are difficult to dispose of safely, so there is an effort to find alternatives to these. Analytical chemistry techniques for separating and identifying compounds, like GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), will likely continue to be necessary. CRISPR, the relatively new gene-editing technology, is likely to become even more widely used on the biochemistry side of things.

Research biologist vs. Postdoctoral research associate

A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.

On average scale, postdoctoral research associates bring in lower salaries than research biologists. In fact, they earn a $16,934 lower salary per year.By looking over several research biologists and postdoctoral research associates resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "research projects," "cell lines," and "r." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

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 biologist resumes include skills like "laboratory equipment," "molecular biology," "experimental procedures," and "assay development," whereas a postdoctoral research associate is more likely to list skills in "python," "chemistry," "post-doctoral," and "cell biology. "

Postdoctoral research associates earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $69,999. Research biologists earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $83,836.postdoctoral research associates typically earn similar educational levels compared to research biologists. Specifically, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 38.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Research biologist vs. Research laboratory technician

Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.

Research laboratory technicians typically earn lower pay than research biologists. On average, research laboratory technicians earn a $31,411 lower salary per year.According to resumes from research biologists and research laboratory technicians, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "laboratory equipment," "research projects," and "cell lines. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "molecular biology," "research findings," "assay development," and "drug discovery" are skills that commonly show up on research biologist resumes. On the other hand, research laboratory technicians use skills like patients, chemistry, research data, and laboratory procedures on their resumes.In general, research laboratory technicians earn the most working in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $42,600. The highest-paying industry for a research biologist is the manufacturing industry.research laboratory technicians reach lower levels of education compared to research biologists, in general. The difference is that they're 6.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 6.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of research biologist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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