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Senior project scientist vs postdoctoral research associate

The differences between senior project 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 project scientist and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a senior project scientist has an average salary of $106,302, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.

The top three skills for a senior project scientist include GIS, sample collection and OSHA. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.

Senior project scientist vs postdoctoral research associate overview

Senior Project ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Yearly salary$106,302$52,785
Hourly rate$51.11$25.38
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs48,95059,377
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Senior project scientist vs postdoctoral research associate salary

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

Senior Project ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average salary$106,302$52,785
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $146,000Between $38,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CAMemphis, TN
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyAmazonArgonne National Laboratory
Best paying industryRetailProfessional

Differences between senior project scientist and postdoctoral research associate education

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

Senior Project ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Doctoral Degree, 47%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Senior project scientist vs postdoctoral research associate demographics

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

Senior Project ScientistPostdoctoral Research Associate
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 78.5% Female, 21.5%Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 24.5% White, 55.3% 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 project scientist and postdoctoral research associate duties and responsibilities

Senior project scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Complete health & safety and industrial hygiene oversight for excavation activities relate to utility installations at areas impact with hydrocarbons.
  • Produce ESA report maps utilizing AutoCAD skills.
  • Conduct research programs to identify new ingredients and new test methods to support product IP, consumer concepts and equity claims.
  • Provide technical and regulatory (NEPA) support for natural resources/aquatic environmental/biological projects.

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.
  • Show more

Senior project scientist vs postdoctoral research associate skills

Common senior project scientist skills
  • GIS, 14%
  • Sample Collection, 12%
  • OSHA, 12%
  • R, 10%
  • Site Assessments, 9%
  • Phase II, 7%
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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