Careers In Chemistry
The majority of chemists are employed by industries that provide a wide range of commonly used products, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics, fragrances and detergents.
These industrial chemists often work in the laboratory, providing testing and analysis services. They can also be involved in management or sales. Opportunities available depend on a person's level of education.
The other career paths available to chemists are:
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Academic Institutions -- Chemists are hired for teaching or research positions. Most colleges require faculty to have a doctoral degree to teach on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching chemistry in high school requires a baccalaureate degree.
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Government -- Government agencies on the city, county, state and federal levels often require chemists. The federal agencies that employ a large number of chemists are the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and National Science Foundation. Degree requirements vary depending on the positions.
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Nontraditional -- There are a number of chemists employed in careers such as pharmacists,
physicians, librarians, consultants, attorneys, writers and bankers.
The Chemistry Department has free publications that give job descriptions, working conditions, education and training, job outlook and salaries in different areas of chemistry. Career information can also be obtained online from the American Chemical Society.
Research experience
Employers prefer job candidates who have experience in research or independent study because it shows an ability to work individually without constant supervision and apply their knowledge to a particular situation.
When students participate in undergraduate research or independent study at NKU it is important for them to acquire a thorough understanding of the work they are doing and be able to describe that work to others in a clear, concise and enthusiastic fashion. Employers will often ask job candidates to discuss their research during a job interview.
Most employers will also expect letters of recommendation from former professors. It is important for students to work with professors and show them their abilities and characteristics. If a professor knows very little about a graduate other than what is shown on the transcript, it's often difficult to write an informative and supportive letter of recommendation.
Graduate and professional schools
Students who plan to obtain an advanced degree (masters or doctorate) or attend a professional school (medical, dental or pharmacy), must obtain baccalaureate degrees
with a grade point average of about 3.25 or higher.
Admission to most medical and dental schools often requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher. In addition to a high GPA, most graduate and professional schools expect students to have research experience.
Research projects are often started in the junior year and completed in the senior year.
Some graduate and professional schools require students to take admissions tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). These tests are usually taken a year in advance of admission and registration for the tests must be made months in advance of taking the test. Applications may require letters of recommendations from faculty members who have good knowledge of a student's abilities and aspirations.
If you plan to attend graduate school you should discuss your plans with your advisor and read the "Planning for Graduate Work in Chemistry" pamphlet published by the American Chemical Society.