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Senior research associate, research and development vs staff scientist

The differences between senior research associates, research and development and staff 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 staff scientist. Additionally, a staff scientist has an average salary of $93,941, 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 staff scientist are data analysis, research projects, and molecular biology.

Senior research associate, research and development vs staff scientist overview

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentStaff Scientist
Yearly salary$80,872$93,941
Hourly rate$38.88$45.16
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs105,206121,054
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 staff scientist do?

The primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.

Senior research associate, research and development vs staff scientist salary

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentStaff Scientist
Average salary$80,872$93,941
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $109,000Between $63,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CityNovato, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companySAS InstituteEtsy
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

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

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentStaff Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Senior research associate, research and development vs staff scientist demographics

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

Senior Research Associate, Research And DevelopmentStaff Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 65.2% Female, 34.8%Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2%
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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior research associate, research and development and staff 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.
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Staff scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to replace a critical radioactive immunoassay with a non-radioactive format to measure clinical samples.
  • Manage clinical sample testing using MSD and ELISA in LIMS, including data review and approval using LIMS.
  • Assist in managing and maintenance of HPLC and Prep-HPLC systems to ensure maximum productivity for the process development group.
  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Assist with RNA and DNA extractions from FFPE tissue and blood.
  • Supervise temps performing HPLC assays and validations during development and production campaigns under GMP conditions.
  • Show more

Senior research associate, research and development vs staff 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 staff scientist skills
  • Data Analysis, 9%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Next-Generation Sequencing, 4%
  • Statistical Analysis, 4%
  • RNA, 4%

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