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Toxicologist vs assistant research scientist

The differences between toxicologists and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a toxicologist, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a toxicologist has an average salary of $75,601, which is higher than the $62,780 average annual salary of an assistant research scientist.

The top three skills for a toxicologist include risk assessments, chemistry and product safety. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.

Toxicologist vs assistant research scientist overview

ToxicologistAssistant Research Scientist
Yearly salary$75,601$62,780
Hourly rate$36.35$30.18
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs21,83588,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4138
Years of experience42

What does a toxicologist do?

A toxicologist specializes in studying toxic substances and how it affects living organisms such as humans and animals. They may work at learning institutions, private laboratories or businesses, medical facilities, and even government agencies. Although the extent of their duties varies on their place of employment, it typically includes conducting studies and scientific research, coordinating with fellow experts, gathering and processing samples through various laboratory procedures, maintaining records, and drawing conclusions based on the research findings.

What does an assistant research scientist do?

An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.

Toxicologist vs assistant research scientist salary

Toxicologists and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

ToxicologistAssistant Research Scientist
Average salary$75,601$62,780
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $124,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityParamus, NJSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMassachusetts
Best paying companyExxon MobilUniversity of California
Best paying industryManufacturingEducation

Differences between toxicologist and assistant research scientist education

There are a few differences between a toxicologist and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:

ToxicologistAssistant Research Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaHarvard University

Toxicologist vs assistant research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between toxicologists' and assistant research scientists' demographics:

ToxicologistAssistant Research Scientist
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 51.5% Female, 48.5%Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 23.3% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between toxicologist and assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

Toxicologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Review in-house and contract toxicology studies on Monsanto products to ensure compliance with FDA and EPA regulations.
  • Evaluate, verify and certify patient results from multiple levels of testing; ELISA, LCMS, MSMS
  • Review and report both positive and negative initial drug screening data from the laboratory, and release results into the LIS.
  • Compile computer database of FDA regulatory compliance data.
  • Lead selection of CROs and qualification activities.
  • Show more

Assistant research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
  • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  • Gather and code quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS and Atlas.ti.
  • Standardize assays to elucidate the mechanism of action of lead molecules.
  • Show more

Toxicologist vs assistant research scientist skills

Common toxicologist skills
  • Risk Assessments, 13%
  • Chemistry, 10%
  • Product Safety, 6%
  • FDA, 6%
  • Toxicology Studies, 5%
  • Safety Assessments, 4%
Common assistant research scientist skills
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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