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Research fellow vs research scholar

The differences between research fellows and research scholars can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a research fellow, becoming a research scholar takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a research scholar has an average salary of $58,047, which is higher than the $53,823 average annual salary of a research fellow.

The top three skills for a research fellow include patients, research projects and data analysis. The most important skills for a research scholar are analyze data, C++, and original research.

Research fellow vs research scholar overview

Research FellowResearch Scholar
Yearly salary$53,823$58,047
Hourly rate$25.88$27.91
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs59,74651,721
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4138
Years of experience42

What does a research fellow do?

A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.

What does a research scholar do?

Research scholars are college students who perform on projects in a particular field for a university or organization. Generally, they work with professors and other professionals in the field of study and focus on discovering new information that can be produced in trade or academic journals. Also, they pursue intellectual and academic activities as well as may engaged in educating other researchers. They are usually paid a stipend for a set duration of time, and some may work outside the university.

Research fellow vs research scholar salary

Research fellows and research scholars have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research FellowResearch Scholar
Average salary$53,823$58,047
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $72,000Between $36,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySouth San Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyMcKinsey & Company IncGoogle
Best paying industryNon ProfitsTechnology

Differences between research fellow and research scholar education

There are a few differences between a research fellow and a research scholar in terms of educational background:

Research FellowResearch Scholar
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityHarvard University

Research fellow vs research scholar demographics

Here are the differences between research fellows' and research scholars' demographics:

Research FellowResearch Scholar
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 55.3% Female, 44.7%Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between research fellow and research scholar duties and responsibilities

Research fellow example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with software engineers to automate identification of 15N- and 13C- labele LC-MS features.
  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Manage investigator initiate and cooperative group correlative studies to identify biomarkers to ascertain tumor burden and clinical outcomes in lymphoma.
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data through statistical software SAS and SPSS.
  • Conduct sampling, PCR, data analysis and oral presentations of the work
  • Implement python and C++ codes for numerical computation of transport properties in models and materials.
  • Show more

Research scholar example responsibilities.

  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Map DNA markers in the rice genome.
  • Develop a sensitive assay for evaluating replication stress and DNA damage with imaging cytometry.
  • Study the moisture absorption micro-mechanisms in glass-fiber/polymer composite materials using simulation and experimental methodologies (NSF research grant).
  • Design and implement numerical simulations of tsunami run-up in Fortran.
  • Prepare calibrators and reagents and investigate quantitative measurement of biochemicals by using HPLC and UV.

Research fellow vs research scholar skills

Common research fellow skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Immunology, 4%
  • CRISPR, 4%
Common research scholar skills
  • Analyze Data, 7%
  • C++, 7%
  • Original Research, 6%
  • PCR, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%

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