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Research laboratory manager vs assistant research scientist

The differences between research laboratory managers and assistant research scientists 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 laboratory manager, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a research laboratory manager has an average salary of $64,333, which is higher than the $62,780 average annual salary of an assistant research scientist.

The top three skills for a research laboratory manager include lab equipment, research projects and lab safety. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.

Research laboratory manager vs assistant research scientist overview

Research Laboratory ManagerAssistant Research Scientist
Yearly salary$64,333$62,780
Hourly rate$30.93$30.18
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs89,98188,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4138
Years of experience42

What does a research laboratory manager do?

Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment. They must perform experimental studies and analyze the research data collected for research projects. Research laboratory managers must also manage the inventory of laboratory equipment while coordinating the purchase of lab supplies.

What does an assistant research scientist do?

An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.

Research laboratory manager vs assistant research scientist salary

Research laboratory managers and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research Laboratory ManagerAssistant Research Scientist
Average salary$64,333$62,780
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $91,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandMassachusetts
Best paying companyMetaUniversity of California
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between research laboratory manager and assistant research scientist education

There are a few differences between a research laboratory manager and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:

Research Laboratory ManagerAssistant Research Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityHarvard University

Research laboratory manager vs assistant research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between research laboratory managers' and assistant research scientists' demographics:

Research Laboratory ManagerAssistant Research Scientist
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 45.2% Female, 54.8%Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between research laboratory manager and assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

Research laboratory manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and order equipment and materials for lab usage with NIH grant and write monthly credit card reports.
  • Manage laboratory team activities v. assist set up and revision of project plans under the guidance of NIH vi.
  • Design, development and validation of cell-base assays; infrare EMSA analysis, western blotting, ELISA.
  • Prepare, perform RT-PCR and Q-PCR and analyze the results.
  • Write grant proposal, project reports, IRB applications, and documentation.
  • Compose and maintain all lab IRB protocols in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
  • Show more

Assistant research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
  • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  • Gather and code quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS and Atlas.ti.
  • Standardize assays to elucidate the mechanism of action of lead molecules.
  • Show more

Research laboratory manager vs assistant research scientist skills

Common research laboratory manager skills
  • Lab Equipment, 9%
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Lab Safety, 6%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Research Lab, 5%
Common assistant research scientist skills
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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