What is a research assistant?

A research assistant supports research teams, professors and others by gathering accurate data and presenting it according to instructions. Research assistants may work with digital or physical archives and libraries, and they must have critical thinking skills to help determine whether the information is relevant to the assigned task and how it applies to the research project.

Specific duties of research assistants can include:

• Conducting online research using virtual archives, Google Scholar, journal databases and other digital resources

• Scheduling interviews with professionals in their field of research, drafting interview questions and conducting interviews

• Applying statistical analysis methods to data to draw conclusions

• Writing summary reports to highlight appropriate research

What is a research associate?

A research associate also conducts research and supports others on research teams. However, they’re typically involved in research relevant to medical science or clinical applications. Research associates may work directly with participants in clinical trials, interviewing and selecting subjects for a study.

Other duties of research associates might include:

• Managing data related to clinical trials

• Acting as a liaison between senior researchers, professors or medical research leaders and research assistants or study participants

• Constructing and maintaining databases to support the team throughout research projects

• Interpreting data and presenting findings to research leadership teams and other collaborators

• Drawing conclusions and working alongside other scientists and researchers to publish findings

Similarities between research assistants and research associates

If you’re comparing research associate vs. research assistant roles, you may find similarities in these positions. They both play critical support roles regarding research projects and involve collecting, interpreting and managing data. Because of this, the skills required for these positions may overlap.

Skills and qualifications you might consider when evaluating candidates for research associate or research assistant positions include:

• Experience with literature review processes and programs

• Knowledge of survey development and analysis

• Statistical analysis skills

• Communication and collaboration skills to support work with researchers

• Customer service skills, as these roles often work with study participants or interview subjects

• Organizational skills

Differences between research assistants and research associates

While there’s some cross-over between these positions, these roles are often separate in organizational charts. Understanding the differences between research associates and assistants can inform your hiring process.

Level of responsibility

Research associates tend to have more responsibility and autonomy than research assistants who are more likely to receive a specific task list to work through.

Education qualifications

You might want to require research associates to have a degree in statistical analysis or a field related to your business or organization’s scope of work.

Research assistants don’t necessarily need degrees, but you may want them to have some sort of specialty knowledge. Employers may hire college students working on a relevant degree for these positions.

Pay

According to Indeed salary data, research assistants make an average of $19.44 per hour in the United States. In contrast, research associates make an average of $31.68 hourly. This difference in pay reflects the higher level of responsibility and qualifications that research associates typically have.

Publication opportunities

Research associates are more likely than research assistants to publish their findings as coauthors on research papers. You might include this perk in your job description, as individuals looking to grow their careers may appreciate opportunities for bylines in academic journals.

Research assistant vs. research associate: Which one to hire

When deciding whether you need a research associate vs. an assistant, consider the similarities and differences above, the goals of your organization and what benefits you expect the new hire to bring.

Benefits of hiring a research associate

The benefits of hiring a research associate can include:

• Having someone who can lead certain parts of the research project

• Gaining specialized knowledge from their educational or work background

• Adding an employee to the research team who’s familiar with research protocols and processes

Benefits of hiring a research assistant

Potential benefits of hiring a research assistant include:

• Adding someone to the team who can assist with research tasks

• Providing capable research support at a potential cost-savings

• Supporting an entry-level research professional who may eventually become a critical addition to your team

How to choose between a research assistant and a research associate

In some cases, you may hire both research assistants and research associates. This might occur if you’re dealing with a large or complex research project or your department or team runs multiple projects simultaneously. You might, for example, hire a research associate to oversee research on multiple projects and hire research assistants to work within the confines of each project.

If you only want to hire one candidate, consider the scope of work and the position’s responsibilities. You should also consider what educational background you expect and the pay for the position when determining which research professional to hire.

FAQs about research assistant versus research associate

Are research assistants and associates full-time employees?

Whether you hire full-time research assistants or associates depends on your organization’s needs. Some projects may only require several weeks or months of research help. In those cases, you might hire temporary assistants.

Who do research assistants report to?

Depending on your organization, research assistants may report to a research supervisor or research team leader. They might also report to research managers or a professor in charge of a research team or project.

Who do research associates report to?

Research associates often report to project leaders or managers. Depending on your organization, they might also report to research managers or relevant department heads.