Senior Scientist
What this job does:
Leads scientific projects by designing rigorous studies, choosing methods, and guiding experiments from planning through analysis and decisions. Often mentors others and partners with cross-functional teams.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Design protocols and data collection instruments; run high-quality data collection with traceability; perform analysis and visualization; document methods for reproducibility; write reports/manuscripts; coordinate with collaborators and train new team members
Typical starting salary range
$174,657 to $277,402
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Study/experimental design and method planning (protocols, controls, acceptance criteria) (25%)
- Hands-on execution or technical oversight of experiments and method development (25%)
- Data analysis, interpretation, and decision-making (20%)
- Cross-functional collaboration, project leadership, and mentoring (15%)
- Other: documentation, reporting, presentations, and compliance (15%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Experimental design and rigor; method development/optimization; quantitative data analysis; troubleshooting and scientific judgment; project planning; clear scientific writing and presentations; cross-functional collaboration; mentoring
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Translate your dissertation as end-to-end study ownership (question, design‚ execution, analysis, decision). Highlight protocol development, control strategy, troubleshooting, mentoring, and communicating recommendations to mixed audiences.
Alternative job titles to search:
Principal Scientist; Lead Scientist; Staff Scientist; Senior Scientist I/II; Research Scientist (Senior level)
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
