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Senior staff scientist vs phd researcher

The differences between senior staff scientists and phd researchers 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 staff scientist and an phd researcher. Additionally, a senior staff scientist has an average salary of $123,740, which is higher than the $51,634 average annual salary of an phd researcher.

The top three skills for a senior staff scientist include data analysis, FDA and next-generation sequencing. The most important skills for an phd researcher are python, chemistry, and research projects.

Senior staff scientist vs phd researcher overview

Senior Staff ScientistPHD Researcher
Yearly salary$123,740$51,634
Hourly rate$59.49$24.82
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs113,26519,736
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 40%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a senior staff scientist do?

A Senior Staff Scientist is responsible for supervising projects and activities of a company. They manage the technical, budgetary, and scheduling aspects of scientific research projects.

What does an phd researcher do?

The primary job of a Ph.D. researcher is to plan and conduct experiments and analyzing their outcome. You will collect, organize, and analyze data and opinions to solve issues and predict trends. Other tasks you will perform include doing fieldwork to collect samples, writing reports, research papers, and reviews, and organizing materials testing. In addition, you need to liaise with research and production staff, develop ways to resolve problems, and supervise junior research staff.

Senior staff scientist vs phd researcher salary

Senior staff scientists and phd researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Staff ScientistPHD Researcher
Average salary$123,740$51,634
Salary rangeBetween $86,000 And $177,000Between $35,000 And $76,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANovato, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAirbnbMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between senior staff scientist and phd researcher education

There are a few differences between a senior staff scientist and an phd researcher in terms of educational background:

Senior Staff ScientistPHD Researcher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 40%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Senior staff scientist vs phd researcher demographics

Here are the differences between senior staff scientists' and phd researchers' demographics:

Senior Staff ScientistPHD Researcher
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 74.7% Female, 25.3%Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 32.5% White, 47.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior staff scientist and phd researcher duties and responsibilities

Senior staff scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Conduct research and analyze data to identify potential biomarkers and provide input for selection of candidates for non-clinical studies development.
  • Establish methods for OTFT parameters extraction, physics-base device modeling, and circuit elements simulation.
  • Interpret metabolism data and review reports to support strategies forward thinking with a specialization in drug metabolism and metabolic enzymes.

Phd researcher example responsibilities.

  • Manage and mentore graduate and undergraduate students in their physical chemistry relate studies and research projects on spin dynamics simulations.
  • Evaluate data employing GC/MS, gel electrophoresis, and UV/VIS spectroscopy.
  • Perform testing using gel electrophoresis as well as mixed and pour the gels used in testing
  • Optimize and redesign robotic components base on FEA for improve strength using ANSYS and SOLIDWORKS.
  • Coauthor an NIH grant proposal on DNA mismatch repair and malaria drug resistance (5R21AI072723-02).
  • Design a scent dispenser 3D model in SolidWorks and build a prototype by utilizing MasterCam and CNC machines.
  • Show more

Senior staff scientist vs phd researcher skills

Common senior staff scientist skills
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • FDA, 7%
  • Next-Generation Sequencing, 6%
  • Statistical Analysis, 5%
  • Regulatory Submissions, 5%
  • PK, 5%
Common phd researcher skills
  • Python, 9%
  • Chemistry, 8%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Renewable Energy, 6%
  • C++, 5%

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