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Volunteer research assistant vs student research assistant

The differences between volunteer research assistants and student 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 student research assistant. Additionally, a volunteer research assistant has an average salary of $52,906, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student research assistant.

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

Volunteer research assistant vs student research assistant overview

Volunteer Research AssistantStudent Research Assistant
Yearly salary$52,906$27,475
Hourly rate$25.44$13.21
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs50,98359,758
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Volunteer research assistant vs student research assistant salary

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

Volunteer Research AssistantStudent Research Assistant
Average salary$52,906$27,475
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $81,000Between $19,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Fairbanks, AK
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between volunteer research assistant and student research assistant education

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

Volunteer Research AssistantStudent Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorPsychologyBiology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Volunteer research assistant vs student research assistant demographics

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

Volunteer Research AssistantStudent Research Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 39.3% Female, 60.7%Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9%
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, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between volunteer research assistant and student 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

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

Volunteer research assistant vs student 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 student research assistant skills
  • Lab Equipment, 10%
  • Student Research, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 7%
  • C++, 4%

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