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Senior development scientist vs research scientist

The differences between senior development scientists and research scientists 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 research scientist. Additionally, a senior development scientist has an average salary of $102,262, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.

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

Senior development scientist vs research scientist overview

Senior Development ScientistResearch Scientist
Yearly salary$102,262$89,998
Hourly rate$49.16$43.27
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs93,48193,013
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
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 research scientist do?

The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.

Senior development scientist vs research scientist salary

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

Senior Development ScientistResearch Scientist
Average salary$102,262$89,998
Salary rangeBetween $74,000 And $140,000Between $58,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateTennesseeCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonLyft
Best paying industryPharmaceutical-

Differences between senior development scientist and research scientist education

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

Senior Development ScientistResearch Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Senior development scientist vs research scientist demographics

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

Senior Development ScientistResearch Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior development scientist and research scientist 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

Research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Used real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to troubleshoot and validate SNP base and gene expression assays.
  • Prepare clear technical presentations to NIH department heads in annual seminars.
  • Analyze chromatin dynamics during primordial germ cell specification with a CRISPR mouse model.
  • Identify impurities in final drug by LCMS and reject impurities with ethanol/water swish.
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Senior development scientist vs research scientist skills

Common senior development scientist skills
  • GMP, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Technical Reports, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • Method Development, 4%
  • Assay Development, 3%
Common research scientist skills
  • Python, 11%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • C++, 6%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Chemistry, 5%

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