Post job

Senior research associate, research and development vs scientist

The differences between senior research associates, research and development and 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 research associate, research and development and a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $80,872 average annual salary of a senior research associate, research and development.

The top three skills for a senior research associate, research and development include cell culture, sops and GMP. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Senior research associate, research and development vs scientist overview

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentScientist
Yearly salary$80,872$97,344
Hourly rate$38.88$46.80
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs105,20662,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a senior research associate, research and development do?

A senior scientific associate performs professional technician, administrative and managerial research work. They work independently in the sphere of a research department. They do various research projects and coordinate with team members in doing a plethora of experiments. They use computers and laboratories to perform data analysis, statistical analysis, and elevated technical evaluation of research experiments. They also play a vital role in preparing development-based reports and writing different proposal to funding agencies. They are key to the review work of research staff and the development of their company.

What does a scientist do?

A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.

Senior research associate, research and development vs scientist salary

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentScientist
Average salary$80,872$97,344
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $109,000Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CityNovato, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companySAS InstituteAirbnb
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between senior research associate, research and development and scientist education

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentScientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Senior research associate, research and development vs scientist demographics

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentScientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 65.2% Female, 34.8%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

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

Senior research associate, research and development example responsibilities.

  • Forge and manage collaborative relationships with DoD and academia.
  • Enter data in internal LIMS system.
  • Support drug substance process development and GMP manufacturing.
  • Partner with regulatory to ensure FDA specifications are met.
  • Co-Authore method qualification report that are submitted to the FDA.
  • Isolate DNA and RNA from blood, tissue and culture cells.
  • Show more

Scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
  • Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
  • Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
  • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Show more

Senior research associate, research and development vs scientist skills

Common senior research associate, research and development skills
  • Cell Culture, 11%
  • Sops, 11%
  • GMP, 9%
  • Technical Reports, 7%
  • QC, 6%
  • Elisa, 5%
Common scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Java, 3%

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs