A Senior Research Assistant is an NIH employee appointed under the General Schedule. Senior Research Assistants serve in a scientific, technical support capacity at GS-12 or GS-13. They may design experiments with direction and provide expert, highly skilled technical support, but are not expected to initiate original research programs.

A Research Assistant is an NIH employee appointed under the General Schedule. Research Assistants serve in a scientific, technical support capacity at GS-11 and below.