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Senior research associate vs assistant research scientist

The differences between senior research associates and assistant research scientists 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 research associate and an assistant research scientist. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $62,780 average annual salary of an assistant research scientist.

The top three skills for a senior research associate include patients, data analysis and CRISPR. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.

Senior research associate vs assistant research scientist overview

Senior Research AssociateAssistant Research Scientist
Yearly salary$72,618$62,780
Hourly rate$34.91$30.18
Growth rate6%17%
Number of jobs58,90388,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4438
Years of experience22

What does a senior research associate do?

A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.

What does an assistant research scientist do?

An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.

Senior research associate vs assistant research scientist salary

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

Senior Research AssociateAssistant Research Scientist
Average salary$72,618$62,780
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $102,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyThe CitadelUniversity of California
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between senior research associate and assistant research scientist education

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

Senior Research AssociateAssistant Research Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityHarvard University

Senior research associate vs assistant research scientist demographics

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

Senior Research AssociateAssistant Research Scientist
Average age4438
Gender ratioMale, 53.6% Female, 46.4%Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between senior research associate and assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Develop, implement and optimize HPLC and ELISA assays in support of cell line and process development.
  • Provide purification service with rp-LCMS, np- HPLC, and MPLC, as well QC data including UPLC-MS and NMR.
  • Engineer and design a unique CRISPR cloning system for the group.
  • Apply the CRISPR technology to conduct gene editing in human IPSCs.
  • Develop an identity ELISA assay to detect the presence of competing and irrelevant drug products in manufacturing process.
  • Show more

Assistant research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
  • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  • Gather and code quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS and Atlas.ti.
  • Standardize assays to elucidate the mechanism of action of lead molecules.
  • Show more

Senior research associate vs assistant research scientist skills

Common senior research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • CRISPR, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Flow Cytometry, 4%
Common assistant research scientist skills
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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