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Student research assistant vs doctoral research assistant

The differences between student research assistants and doctoral research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a student research assistant and a doctoral research assistant. Additionally, a doctoral research assistant has an average salary of $56,458, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student research assistant.

The top three skills for a student research assistant include lab equipment, student research and data collection. The most important skills for a doctoral research assistant are data collection, research projects, and PI.

Student research assistant vs doctoral research assistant overview

Student Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Yearly salary$27,475$56,458
Hourly rate$13.21$27.14
Growth rate19%17%
Number of jobs59,75853,091
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Student research assistant vs doctoral research assistant salary

Student research assistants and doctoral research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Average salary$27,475$56,458
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $37,000Between $41,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityFairbanks, AKBoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyGoogleOak Ridge National Laboratory
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between student research assistant and doctoral research assistant education

There are a few differences between a student research assistant and a doctoral research assistant in terms of educational background:

Student Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Student research assistant vs doctoral research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between student research assistants' and doctoral research assistants' demographics:

Student Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 44.1% Female, 55.9%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between student research assistant and doctoral research assistant duties and responsibilities

Student research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Perform PCR amplification and electrophoresis.
  • Prepare agarose gels for electrophoresis and sequencing.
  • Perform biological experiments which provide data for further DNA analysis.
  • Provide DNA sequencing and primer support study transposition in tobacco/tomato root development.
  • Experience gain in polymer chemistry, polymer physics, material characterization, photo-polymerization techniques.
  • Show more

Doctoral research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
  • Receive additional training in SAS.
  • Used electronic and structure evaluations using quantum chemistry packages such as GAUSSIAN.
  • Prepare and implement unique proposals for the synthesis of polymer and small molecule targets.
  • Discover novel mechanical functions for collagen and short DNA molecules in response to force.
  • Develop the use of FPLC for detection and characterization of large DNA structural motifs.
  • Show more

Student research assistant vs doctoral research assistant skills

Common student research assistant skills
  • Lab Equipment, 10%
  • Student Research, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 7%
  • C++, 4%
Common doctoral research assistant skills
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Research Projects, 11%
  • PI, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%

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