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Summer research fellow vs research specialist

The differences between summer research fellows and research specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a summer research fellow and a research specialist. Additionally, a research specialist has an average salary of $52,662, which is higher than the $32,312 average annual salary of a summer research fellow.

The top three skills for a summer research fellow include summer research, R and cell culture. The most important skills for a research specialist are data collection, patients, and research projects.

Summer research fellow vs research specialist overview

Summer Research FellowResearch Specialist
Yearly salary$32,312$52,662
Hourly rate$15.53$25.32
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs55,01179,341
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age3737
Years of experience66

What does a summer research fellow do?

Identifying the research problem is the main work of the summer research fellow. They have the huge responsibility of supervising Summer Research Fellow (SRF), providing the pupil with an electronic copy of the letter so that they can research the academic assignment

What does a research specialist do?

In a laboratory setting, a research specialist's responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting thorough research and analysis, producing extensive detailed reports, reviewing results, and coordinating with senior researchers and other laboratory personnel to ensure the accuracy of results. Furthermore, a research specialist may contribute their expertise to other publications and articles, train or supervise new researchers, and implement all laboratory guidelines and safety regulations at all times.

Summer research fellow vs research specialist salary

Summer research fellows and research specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Summer Research FellowResearch Specialist
Average salary$32,312$52,662
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $50,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Novartis
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between summer research fellow and research specialist education

There are a few differences between a summer research fellow and a research specialist in terms of educational background:

Summer Research FellowResearch Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Summer research fellow vs research specialist demographics

Here are the differences between summer research fellows' and research specialists' demographics:

Summer Research FellowResearch Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 48.2% Female, 51.8%Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.2% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between summer research fellow and research specialist duties and responsibilities

Summer research fellow example responsibilities.

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Prepare and run DNA samples.
  • Present results and future studies with PowerPoint.
  • Utilize gel shift assays to quantify the thermodynamics of protein to DNA interactions
  • Present PowerPoint presentation of research project.
  • Analyze data for statistical significance using SPSS and interpret relevant insights.
  • Show more

Research specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage both GLP and non-GLP studies that are contracted to CROs.
  • Create weekly presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and manage monthly board meetings.
  • Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
  • Assist in surgical procedures on both rabbits and rats to obtain tissue specimens for RNA isolation for subsequent RT-PCR
  • Perform and supervise applied bench scale and pilot scale process research on extraction, distillation, and reaction processes.
  • Perform the timely and accurate execution of CESG protocols, procedures and results within the cloning and crystallography teams.
  • Show more

Summer research fellow vs research specialist skills

Common summer research fellow skills
  • Summer Research, 8%
  • R, 7%
  • Cell Culture, 6%
  • Literature Reviews, 5%
  • Python, 4%
  • Symposium, 4%
Common research specialist skills
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 4%

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