Most scientists list "chemistry," "data analysis," and "patients" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important scientist responsibilities here:
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.
Scientist Responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real scientist resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.
- 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.
- Use various instruments such as Auto-Titrators, TGA, and NMR.
- Perform tissue culture quarantine tests (PCR) for available cell lines.
- Conduct experiments to troubleshoot and solve technical problems via internal discrepancy reports, CAPA, or external customer complaints.
- Operate HPLC-MS and examine chromatography and spectra results to identify impurities and identify compound fragmentation for technical reports.
- Support all GMP activities for manufacturing plant equipment release, including method development and validation, and cleaning verification.
- Coordinate and perform commercial release testing of market product at manufacturing site in QC environment to address FDA audit observations
- Perform compendial testing (USP, EP, BP and JP).
- Identify new metabolites in animals by LC-MS.
- Assist in writing CMC section of NDA.
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Scientist Skills and Personality Traits
We calculated that 9% of Scientists are proficient in Chemistry, Data Analysis, and Patients.
We break down the percentage of Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Chemistry, 9%
Subject matter expert for the Department of Homeland Security on trace explosives detection and explosives chemistry with an emphasis on thermal analysis
- Data Analysis, 7%
Responded to customer inquiries for data analysis and offered guidance for better usage of biochemical/ kits products to improve customer satisfaction.
- Patients, 7%
Performed microscopy analysis on chromosomes for diagnostics and prognostics examination for patients referred for oncology and reproductive evaluations.
- Molecular Biology, 4%
Planned and completed experiments utilizing molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry techniques to discover and develop novel neurological disease targets.
- Cell Culture, 4%
Mentored junior scientists in cell culture technology and cellular biology and provided support in troubleshooting, and atypical issue resolution.
- Java, 3%
Developed computational cognitive models of human performance in task interruption experiments using ACT-R cognitive architecture, Lisp and Java.
The three companies that hire the most prestigious scientists are:
- Amazon520 Scientists Jobs
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.186 Scientists Jobs
- Eurofins130 Scientists Jobs
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What Postdoctoral Research Associates Do
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.
In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take postdoctoral research associate for example. On average, the postdoctoral research associates annual salary is $44,559 lower than what scientists make on average every year.
While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both scientists and postdoctoral research associates positions are skilled in chemistry, data analysis, and patients.
As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a scientist responsibility requires skills such as "molecular biology," "java," "product development," and "laboratory equipment." Whereas a postdoctoral research associate is skilled in "python," "post-doctoral," "cell biology," and "c++." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.
Postdoctoral research associates really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $69,999. Whereas scientists tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $134,486.
The education levels that postdoctoral research associates earn is a bit different than that of scientists. In particular, postdoctoral research associates are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a scientist. Additionally, they're 30.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Are The Duties Of a Research Fellow?
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.
Now we're going to look at the research fellow profession. On average, research fellows earn a $43,521 lower salary than scientists a year.
Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Scientists and research fellows both include similar skills like "chemistry," "data analysis," and "patients" on their resumes.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, scientist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "molecular biology," "java," "product development," and "laboratory equipment." Meanwhile, a research fellow might be skilled in areas such as "immunology," "cell biology," "python," and "nih." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
It's been discovered that research fellows earn lower salaries compared to scientists, but we wanted to find out where research fellows earned the most pay. The answer? The non profits industry. The average salary in the industry is $57,261. Additionally, scientists earn the highest paychecks in the technology with an average salary of $134,486.
When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, research fellows tend to reach similar levels of education than scientists. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 30.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Technology Do You Think Will Become More Important And Prevalent For Scientists In The Next 3-5 Years?
Nels Hansen Ph.D.
Department Chair, Brigham Young University – Idaho
Autonomous agricultural equipment and artificial intelligence-driven decision support systems will continue to be emerging technologies that help crop producers and advisors make better decisions and improve operations efficiency. Students should look for opportunities to learn more about basic computer programming and information systems to be knowledgeable in these areas.Show more
How a Postdoctoral Associate Compares
A postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.
Let's now take a look at the postdoctoral associate profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than scientists with a $42,994 difference per year.
Using scientists and postdoctoral associates resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "chemistry," "data analysis," and "patients," but the other skills required are very different.
Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from scientist resumes include skills like "molecular biology," "product development," "laboratory equipment," and "gmp," whereas a postdoctoral associate might be skilled in "tip," "biomedical," "python," and "cell biology. "
Additionally, postdoctoral associates earn a higher salary in the education industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $53,445. Additionally, scientists earn an average salary of $134,486 in the technology industry.
Postdoctoral associates are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to scientists. Additionally, they're 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 30.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Description Of a Research Associate
A research associate is responsible for assisting the research team, organizing and interpreting findings, and verifying information before presenting the study to the board. Research associates duties also include gathering and comparing data from multiple sources, analyzing the current industry trends, creating draft outlines for reports, collecting individual contacts for interview purposes, and helping with the development of research procedures. A research associate must have excellent time-management skills and ability to multi-task, especially on meeting strict deadlines and conducting studies.
The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than scientists. On average, research associates earn a difference of $37,178 lower per year.
While their salaries may vary, scientists and research associates both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "chemistry," "data analysis," and "patients. "
Each job requires different skills like "molecular biology," "java," "product development," and "drug discovery," which might show up on a scientist resume. Whereas research associate might include skills like "lab equipment," "python," "analyze data," and "pi."
In general, research associates make a higher salary in the finance industry with an average of $84,005. The highest scientist annual salary stems from the technology industry.
In general, research associates reach similar levels of education when compared to scientists resumes. Research associates are 0.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 5.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Types Of Scientist
Research Fellow
Average Salary: $53,823
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 21,509
How To Become a Research Fellow
Chemist
Average Salary: $64,961
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 15,627
How To Become a Chemist
Research Scientist
Average Salary: $89,998
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 13,685
How To Become a Research Scientist
Quality Control Analyst
Average Salary: $59,217
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 8,109
How To Become a Quality Control Analyst
Quality Control Chemist
Average Salary: $58,892
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 5,082
How To Become a Quality Control Chemist
Laboratory Analyst
Average Salary: $44,024
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 4,930
How To Become a Laboratory Analyst
What a Scientist Does FAQs
Engineer Vs. Scientist
An engineer focuses on creating within a specific realm of science, while a scientist observes the world on a much broader scale.
An engineer is a scientist, but they deal with a variety of issues and topics. Their specialization is narrowed down to a specific area of interest, such as mechanical, environmental, or aerospace. Their primary focus is on how things work and how they can make them better.
Scientist Vs. Engineer
A scientist is a professional who specializes in one or several areas of science and observes the world, while an engineer is someone who creates things using math and other strategies.
Scientists undergo specific education and training in a specific scientific area. They conduct research in the hopes of advancing knowledge of particular parts of the world. Scientists may make hypotheses, test them with different means such as statistics and data, and formulate conclusions based on the evidence.
What Degree Do You Need To Be A Scientist?
You need a minimum of a bachelor's degree to be a scientist. The most common degrees include:
Chemistry
Biology
Biochemistry
Neuroscience
Molecular biology
What Does A Scientist Wear?
A scientist wears personal protective equipment (PPE). This often includes a lab coat or scrubs, gloves, and sometimes safety glasses. This is the outfit worn by most scientists in the laboratory setting.
What Is The Responsibility Of A Scientist?
The responsibility of a scientist is to practice science ethically and to contribute their knowledge, findings, and developments to the public.
Scientists have many individual responsibilities, and these vary depending on what scientific discipline they work in. There are universal responsibilities that apply to all scientists.
Where Do Scientists Work?
Scientists work in universities, government agencies, and company laboratories. They also work at for-profit companies, non-profits, and hospitals. Since science is such a broad and all-encompassing subject, it is no surprise that scientists can be found almost anywhere in the professional landscape.
Who Is A Famous Scientist Today?
A famous scientist today is Jane Goodall. Jane Goodall is a British primatologist known as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. She has studied social and family interactions with wild chimps for over 55 years.
Who Is The Most Famous Scientist?
The most famous scientist is Albert Einstein. While there are many famous scientists, Albert Einstein is considered one of the greatest revolutionary scientists the world has ever known.
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.