What does a scientific database curator do?
Scientific database curator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real scientific database curator resumes:
- Manage AIS boat check stations with WDFW enforcement (Carl Klein).
- Maintain information on a SQL database.
- Train associates how to maintain and troubleshoot immunoassay instruments, prepare dilutions, evaluate interfering substances and perform accelerate stability testing.
- Participate in the development of the tissue ontology for BSR.
Scientific database curator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 69% of Scientific Database Curators are proficient in Scientific Literature, Scientific Community, and SQL. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Problem-solving skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Scientific Database Curators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Scientific Literature, 69%
Analyzed the scientific literature and extracted pertinent information in regards to modified substrates and upstream regulatory enzymes.
- Scientific Community, 11%
Translated protein properties into Gene Ontology terms to conform to the industry standard and increased database quality for the scientific community.
- SQL, 9%
Manipulated Oracle database using Structured Query Language (SQL).
- Data Quality, 5%
Identified issues adversely affecting data quality and worked with data managers and IT department to implement preventative solutions.
- Data Integrity, 3%
Utilized SQL and Entity Relationship models to decrease data redundancy and increase data integrity in database.
- Human Diseases, 2%
Participated in a National Center for Biomedical Ontology project: Relating Zebrafish Phenotypes to Human Disease Genes.
Common skills that a scientific database curator uses to do their job include "scientific literature," "scientific community," and "sql." You can find details on the most important scientific database curator responsibilities below.
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a scientific database curator to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "working with databases requires an understanding of complex systems, in which a minor error can cause major problems." Additionally, a scientific database curator resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "scrutinized each artifact, recording its detailed physical description. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling scientific database curator duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "when database problems arise, administrators must troubleshoot and correct the problems." According to a scientific database curator resume, here's how scientific database curators can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "worked with python and github repository for a cloud-based solution in dna analysis. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for scientific database curators to perform their duties. For an example of how scientific database curator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "most database administrators work on teams and need to communicate effectively with developers, managers, and other workers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a scientific database curator: "improved communication skills by attending weekly meetings and discussing data analysis progress with supervisor. ".
Analytical skills. A big part of what scientific database curators do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to scientific database curator responsibilities because "dbas must monitor a database system’s performance to determine when action is needed." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical scientific database curator tasks: "identified issues adversely affecting data quality and worked with data managers and it department to implement preventative solutions. "
The three companies that hire the most scientific database curators are:
- Stanford University2 scientific database curators jobs
Compare different scientific database curators
Scientific database curator vs. Bioinformaticist
Principal bioinformatics specialists require skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, problem-solving, listening, speaking, writing, judgment and decision-making, math, and monitoring, as well as possessing a good sense of time management for this career. Specialists will be called on to evaluate existing bioinformatics approaches, develop new methods to push the state-of-the-art, document methods and analyses to allow research, and communicate their findings to cross-functional teams.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between scientific database curators and bioinformaticist. For instance, scientific database curator responsibilities require skills such as "scientific literature," "scientific journals," "encode," and "scientific community." Whereas a bioinformaticist is skilled in "python," "bash," "unix," and "perl." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, bioinformaticists reach higher levels of education than scientific database curators. Bioinformaticists are 24.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 8.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Scientific database curator vs. Bioinformatics specialist
Genomics scientists are healthcare professionals who are responsible for examining the samples of the nucleic acid of patients to identify genetic and genomic alterations that may cause inherited diseases or conditions. These scientists are required to examine cells for possible anomalies in the fetus where single-gene disorders have been identified through DNA analysis of families. They must conduct carrier testing and risk assessment for individuals who are at risk of single-gene disorders. Genomics scientists must also perform confirmation of diagnosis for patients with both inherited and acquired conditions.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, scientific database curator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "scientific literature," "scientific journals," "encode," and "scientific community." Meanwhile, a bioinformatics specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "next-generation sequencing," "rna-seq," and "genome." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Bioinformatics specialists earn higher levels of education than scientific database curators in general. They're 17.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 8.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Scientific database curator vs. Principal bioinformatics specialist
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, scientific database curators are more likely to have skills like "scientific literature," "scientific journals," "encode," and "scientific community." But a principal bioinformatics specialist is more likely to have skills like "project management," "cpu," "virtualization," and "dod."
When it comes to education, principal bioinformatics specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to scientific database curators. In fact, they're 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 23.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Scientific database curator vs. Genomics scientist
Types of scientific database curator
Updated January 8, 2025
