What does a research fellow do?
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
Research fellow responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real research fellow resumes:
- Collaborate with software engineers to automate identification of 15N- and 13C- labele LC-MS features.
- Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
- Manage investigator initiate and cooperative group correlative studies to identify biomarkers to ascertain tumor burden and clinical outcomes in lymphoma.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data through statistical software SAS and SPSS.
- Conduct sampling, PCR, data analysis and oral presentations of the work
- Implement python and C++ codes for numerical computation of transport properties in models and materials.
- Perform molecular biology experiments, DNA and RNA purification and biochemical assays.
- Use windows and Linux platforms.
- Analyze 3-D flight kinematics using MATLAB.
- Used python scripting language to optimize workflow.
- Prepare and submit funding proposals to DARPA and NSF.
- Utilize CRISPR technology to introduce MED12 mutations to human primary myometrial cells.
- Purify the carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes and analyze the f soluble carbohydrates by HPLC, TLC.
- Secure approval for animal work (IACUC) and use of control materials (IRB).
- Compare quantitative PCR and digital droplet PCR; find that relative expression levels with both techniques are comparable.
Research fellow skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Research Fellows are proficient in Patients, Research Projects, and Data Analysis.
We break down the percentage of Research Fellows that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 10%
Developed psychological screening process for breast clinic patients to identify patients in distress and provide subsequent consultation and ongoing treatment.
- Research Projects, 6%
Supported time-sensitive scholarly research by authoring research projects, conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing manuscripts.
- Data Analysis, 5%
Developed automated data analysis routines, based on anti-correlative measurement strategies to differentiate instrument systematic error from physical mirror surface attributes.
- Cell Culture, 5%
Managed laboratory cell culture operations, including training lab personnel, writing protocols, and performing necessary troubleshooting and maintenance tasks.
- Immunology, 4%
Coordinated interdisciplinary research between the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the College of Science and Technology.
- CRISPR, 4%
Utilized CRISPR technology to generate MED12 exon 2 deletion mutations in colon cancer cells.
Most research fellows use their skills in "patients," "research projects," and "data analysis" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential research fellow responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research fellow to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Research fellows often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "created templates for research procedures, purchase orders, data collection, and communication. "
Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform research fellow duties is observation skills. Research fellows responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Research fellows also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "translated clinical observations into developmental research and new approaches for novel immunotherapy vaccines and cancer therapeutics. "
The three companies that hire the most research fellows are:
- Emory Healthcare133 research fellows jobs
- Emory University106 research fellows jobs
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute73 research fellows jobs
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Compare different research fellows
Research fellow vs. Postdoctoral associate
A postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, research fellow responsibilities require skills like "rna," "public health," "past work," and "animal models." Meanwhile a typical postdoctoral associate has skills in areas such as "tip," "biomedical," "mit," and "rna-seq." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Postdoctoral associates tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $53,445. In contrast, research fellows make the biggest average salary, $57,261, in the non profits industry.postdoctoral associates tend to reach similar levels of education than research fellows. In fact, postdoctoral associates are 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 15.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Research fellow vs. Staff scientist
The primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that research fellow responsibilities requires skills like "patients," "immunology," "cell biology," and "python." But a staff scientist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "molecular biology," "project management," "product development," and "pcr."
Staff scientists may earn a higher salary than research fellows, but staff scientists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $102,260. On the other hand, research fellows receive higher pay in the non profits industry, where they earn an average salary of $57,261.staff scientists earn lower levels of education than research fellows in general. They're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 15.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Research Fellows in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Betsy Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College
Research fellow vs. Scientist
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a research fellow is likely to be skilled in "immunology," "cell biology," "python," and "nih," while a typical scientist is skilled in "molecular biology," "java," "product development," and "laboratory equipment."
Scientists earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $134,486. Research fellows earn the highest pay from the non profits industry, with an average salary of $57,261.scientists typically earn similar educational levels compared to research fellows. Specifically, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 15.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Research fellow vs. Postdoctoral research associate
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Types of research fellow
Updated January 8, 2025
