Research Scientist Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides complete information on the research scientist job description and career, to help you learn the work they do.

It highlights the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that commonly define the research scientist work description.

You will discover the major requirements that candidates for the research scientist role are expected to meet to be hired, as well as the expected salary for the job.

It also shows how to become a research scientist and the various careers opportunities you can explore.

Please, keep reading:

What Does a Research Scientist Do?

The research scientist job description entails performing research studies in the laboratory and on test farms.

It also involves keeping detailed notes, laboratory notebooks, and equipment logs.

Research scientists prepare technical reports, summarize test results, and make recommendations based on the findings of their studies.

They are responsible for preparing proposals, budgets, and short-range plans used to determine the progress of specific research projects throughout the department or company in which they work.

The research scientist duties also involves training technicians and new associates in the use of techniques and equipment, and inspiring enthusiasm for their use.

They prepare budgets and proposals that are used to inform upper management decisions on which research projects will be funded.

Their duties also involve conducting laboratory tests to give results that are vital in determining whether a treatment will be effective, safe or both.

Furthermore, research scientists recommend improvements in products, methods, processes, or services that will improve the quality of research activities.

These include effective utilization of equipment and materials, reduction of costs, and increase in the effectiveness of administration.

It is also part of the research scientist’s duty to organize and conduct experiments necessary for study of important scientific problems as directed by a principal investigator or an advisory committee.

The research scientist job description involves reviewing and analyzing literature on the subject they are studying, and to make recommendations based on their findings.

It also includes conducting research studies with various test animals as well as in an appropriate human model.

These include brain-damaged patients and elderly patients suffering from senile dementia.

Research scientists also research laws and regulations relating to their activities and make recommendations regarding the best methods of dealing with each problem.

Research Scientist Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The research scientist job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Conduct research studies
• Prepare technical reports
• Review literature on particular subject of study and recommend improvements
• Conduct experiments necessary to study important scientific problems
• Review laws and regulations pertaining to their activities and make recommendations related to the best methods of dealing with each problem
• Keep detailed notes, laboratory notebooks and equipment logs
• Make recommendations based on the findings of studies
• Organize and conduct experiments necessary for study of important scientific problems as directed by a principal investigator or an advisory committee
• Create useful materials in the form of proposals, budgets and short-range plans used to determine the progress of specific research projects throughout the department or company
• Make recommendations based on the findings of studies
• Perform research studies with various test animals as well as in an appropriate human model (e.g., brain-damaged patients, elderly patients suffering from senile dementia, etc.)
• Recommend improvements in products, methods, processes, or services that will improve the quality of research activities such as effective utilization of equipment and materials, reduction of costs and increase the effectiveness of administration.

Research Scientist Job Description for Resume

If you are writing a new resume as someone who has worked before as a research scientist or is working presently in that role, you can create a compelling Professional Experience section for your resume by applying the above sample research scientist job description.

You can highlight the duties and responsibilities in the above research scientist job description example in the Professional Experience section of your resume, to show that you have been successful performing the research scientist job.

This piece of information in your resume can enhance its effectiveness, especially if the job that you are applying for requires some research scientist work experience.

Research Scientist Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Biology and 2 years of relevant experience
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Biology or a related field and 3 years of relevant experience
• Ph.D./M.D./J.D., etc., and 4 years of relevant experience
• MSEE/MSCE/MSCS degree, an MS in any discipline combined with 3 years of relevant experience and/or progressive development of administrative/management skills
• Doctoral degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
• M.S./M.A./BS, etc., and 2 years of relevant experience per degree level or 3 years of relevant experience for Master’s degree level applicants with a minimum of 3 years of significant professional achievement, and/or progressive development of administrative/management skills
• Doctoral degree candidates must provide in their application letters sufficient evidence to demonstrate that they meet the technical background requirements
• Advancement in degree level is recommended to those who have completed their degree or 3 years of relevant experience, and/or progressive development of administrative/management skills
• Applicants who hold Ph.D. degrees are not required to provide proof of a professional certification as a research scientist, but must demonstrate that they hold a Ph.D./M.D./J.D., etc., and that they are eligible for consideration and interviews

More Research Scientist Requirements

• The minimum time-in-class to be eligible for certification as a research scientist is 5 years as an engineer, or 5 years equivalent in any other specialty
• Recertification by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research scientist is required every 5 years
• A research scientist who has been assigned to a position at a level higher than that of research scientist cannot automatically carry that higher level title on a permanent basis. Such employee must apply and be approved in order to work above their current level of competency and responsibility as expressed in their job description/assignment document (and may be required/requested to submit evidence of continued education).

Research Scientist Salary

According to salary.com, the average research scientist income is $88,125 as of April 26, 2022, while the compensation ranges frequently between $73,746 and $110,434.

Conclusion

A research scientist does a job that requires knowledge of engineering, statistics, and scientific reasoning skills.

They work in an office doing research, but in most cases their work benefits the country’s progress.

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the research scientist career; they will be able to learn all they need to know about what the role does.

It is also useful to recruiters/employers in creating a job description for the research scientist position for use in the recruitment process for the vacant role in their organizations.