Post job

Volunteer research assistant vs doctoral research assistant

The differences between volunteer 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 volunteer research assistant and a doctoral research assistant. Additionally, a doctoral research assistant has an average salary of $56,458, which is higher than the $52,906 average annual salary of a volunteer research assistant.

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

Volunteer research assistant vs doctoral research assistant overview

Volunteer Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Yearly salary$52,906$56,458
Hourly rate$25.44$27.14
Growth rate19%17%
Number of jobs50,98353,091
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Volunteer research assistant vs doctoral research assistant salary

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

Volunteer Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Average salary$52,906$56,458
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $81,000Between $41,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between volunteer research assistant and doctoral research assistant education

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

Volunteer Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorPsychologyChemistry
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Volunteer research assistant vs doctoral research assistant demographics

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

Volunteer Research AssistantDoctoral Research Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 39.3% Female, 60.7%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 53.0% 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 volunteer research assistant and doctoral research assistant duties and responsibilities

Volunteer research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Compile subject questionnaires using SPSS data analysis software.
  • Perform DNA extraction and estimation.
  • Analyze isolated purity of RNA samples with Nanodrop machine.
  • Assist in procedures when need, such as isolating DNA.
  • Perform tissue homogenization, RNA isolation, and Qiagen RNA easy clean up.
  • 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

Volunteer research assistant vs doctoral research assistant skills

Common volunteer research assistant skills
  • Lab Equipment, 14%
  • DR, 12%
  • Literature Reviews, 7%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Research Projects, 5%
Common doctoral research assistant skills
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Research Projects, 11%
  • PI, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs