The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Researcher \Re*search"er\ (-[~e]r), n. One who conducts research. In the field of scientific research, also called an investigator or scientist. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
researcher n 1: a scientist who devotes himself to doing research [syn: research worker, researcher, investigator]