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Senior development scientist vs postdoctoral research associate

The differences between senior development scientists and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a senior development scientist has an average salary of $102,262, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.

The top three skills for a senior development scientist include GMP, data analysis and technical reports. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.

Senior development scientist vs postdoctoral research associate overview

Senior Development ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Yearly salary$102,262$52,785
Hourly rate$49.16$25.38
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs93,48159,377
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a senior development scientist do?

The job of a senior development scientist revolves around product development, ensuring that the product will pass every stage of the process from design to delivery. You will oversee and guide the product development team in designing and testing new products and collecting and analyzing data needed for product release. As the senior product development scientist, you are expected to uphold all rules and regulations during production and development and ensure staff members adhere to safety protocols. You will also work closely with other departments, such as quality assurance and external consultants.

What does a postdoctoral research associate 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.

Senior development scientist vs postdoctoral research associate salary

Senior development scientists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Development ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average salary$102,262$52,785
Salary rangeBetween $74,000 And $140,000Between $38,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMemphis, TN
Highest paying stateTennesseeHawaii
Best paying companyAmazonArgonne National Laboratory
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalProfessional

Differences between senior development scientist and postdoctoral research associate education

There are a few differences between a senior development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:

Senior Development ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Senior development scientist vs postdoctoral research associate demographics

Here are the differences between senior development scientists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:

Senior Development ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior development scientist and postdoctoral research associate duties and responsibilities

Senior development scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage method validations and sample analysis for pre-clinical GLP studies.
  • Lead solvates diversity study of API to understand the mechanism of rejecting impurities by crystallization.
  • Manage formulating, packaging, distribution and QC of the PDAR, AoD and ABD product line in manufacturing environment.
  • Lead development of ELISA microplate assay for Cardiolipin antibodies
  • Work with quality department during production runs; assist QC with in-process HPLC.
  • Prepare regulatory submission package (CMC section) including reference standard, drug substance characterization and impurity characterization.
  • Show more

Postdoctoral research associate example responsibilities.

  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Transfect 293-T cells with CRISPR constructs.
  • Execute parallel synthesis on both solution and solid phase to develop library of compounds.
  • Diagnose and resolve all instruments during breakdown (GC/MS/MS, GC/ECD, UV-Vis).
  • Develop python codes to efficiently handle multiple read/unread, flag/unflag, and delete operations on emails.
  • Characterize particles using DLS and UV-vis spectrophotometer to measure particle sizes and detect oxide layer, respectively.
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Senior development scientist vs postdoctoral research associate skills

Common senior development scientist skills
  • GMP, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Technical Reports, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • Method Development, 4%
  • Assay Development, 3%
Common postdoctoral research associate skills
  • Python, 6%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Post-Doctoral, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%

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