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Senior clinical research scientist vs study director

The differences between senior clinical research scientists and study directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a senior clinical research scientist and a study director. Additionally, a senior clinical research scientist has an average salary of $103,836, which is higher than the $82,066 average annual salary of a study director.

The top three skills for a senior clinical research scientist include clinical operations, informed consent and clinical development. The most important skills for a study director are toxicology, data collection, and study design.

Senior clinical research scientist vs study director overview

Senior Clinical Research ScientistStudy Director
Yearly salary$103,836$82,066
Hourly rate$49.92$39.45
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs128,5556,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a senior clinical research scientist do?

A senior clinical research scientist has to identify various diseases among their patients and conduct clinical investigations. Once they identify a disease and its cause, they assist physicians in the treatment of patients. They also have to analyze clinical data and health tests. They should have the ability to develop new research methods.

What does a study director do?

Technically, a study director carries out scientific responsibilities for protocol design or study plan and approval. Study directors supervise the gathering, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and reporting of data results. They handle the matriculation of students with regard to data management system development. Working with the computer systems team is part of their duties so they will be able to establish a data management system in tracking the study participants. They also support the toxicology team or group on different project teams.

Senior clinical research scientist vs study director salary

Senior clinical research scientists and study directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Clinical Research ScientistStudy Director
Average salary$103,836$82,066
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $159,000Between $56,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAbiomedAbbVie
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between senior clinical research scientist and study director education

There are a few differences between a senior clinical research scientist and a study director in terms of educational background:

Senior Clinical Research ScientistStudy Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor-

Senior clinical research scientist vs study director demographics

Here are the differences between senior clinical research scientists' and study directors' demographics:

Senior Clinical Research ScientistStudy Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 48.5% Female, 51.5%Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior clinical research scientist and study director duties and responsibilities

Senior clinical research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage planning, implementation, conduct and reporting of assign early phase international clinical studies in oncology.
  • Contribute to the development of templates for protocols and clinical study reports following FDA, GCP and ICH guidelines.
  • Authore and review abstracts, manuscripts, slide decks and posters in collaboration with internal and external (CRO) stakeholders.
  • Lead feasibility and identification of CRO selection for pediatric program.
  • Recruit investigators perform pre-study visits, negotiate budgets, initiate and monitor studies and verify data for accuracy and completeness.
  • Manage clinical monitors in successful completion of large international hypertension study.

Study director example responsibilities.

  • Design, conducts and manages studies for EPA and oce compliance, such as water solubility and partition coefficient studies.
  • Manage all outsource toxicology studies at contract research laboratories.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Evaluate study design and toxicology data as needed.
  • Consult drug development scientists on data interpretation and study conclusions for FDA submission.
  • Participate on the ISO certification team.
    • Show more

Senior clinical research scientist vs study director skills

Common senior clinical research scientist skills
  • Clinical Operations, 8%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • Clinical Development, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Data, 6%
  • Consent Forms, 5%
Common study director skills
  • Toxicology, 10%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Study Design, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • FDA, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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