Building a Career in Chemistry After Graduation

[Md. Anikuzzaman]

A degree in chemistry doesn't only mean a lifetime of white coats and test tubes in a laboratory. In fact, there are numerous career options available for students who choose to major in chemistry.

Chemistry makes up a great deal of our everyday lives—most everything we touch is made up of chemicals. Accordingly, you'll find there are many viable options when it comes to building a career in chemistry after graduation. Here are a few different sectors in which you can use your degree to effect positive change.

Medicine and Forensics
When people learn you're majoring in chemistry, they might assume your plan is to go to medical school after you graduate. However, you can also work toward becoming a pharmacist. Like medical school, this path requires a few more years of study, but you'll have a more specialized role helping others manage their health care through the right combination of medication and consultations.

Or maybe you're interested in medicine, but you want a role behind the scenes. As a medical researcher, you can work on the development of new cures for diseases that we still face today.

If you've ever seen the television show CSI, you might think you know all about a day in the life of a forensic scientist. Unfortunately, the job isn't quite how Hollywood makes it out to be—but it's still a fascinating job that serves a very important role in bringing criminals to justice. Employers in this field typically look for candidates with outstanding moral values, analytical skills, and knowledge of biology and chemistry. You can use these skills (along with the ability to communicate the results of your experiments in the courtroom) to make sure justice is served.

Research and Development
When thinking about what careers a chemistry major can pursue, one of the first industries that comes to mind is manufacturing. But what kind of work would you find, exactly? In the development of new products or technologies, companies look for chemists to help with innovative research.

Almost every industry—from food and drink, oil, energy, and even cosmetics—relies on the work of chemists to keep the production process running smoothly. Chemical engineers and analytical chemists study chemical combinations and how these components interact with others. They're responsible for making sure that the products we use on a daily basis are both safe and functional.

If you've always been curious about the way the world works, then a job as a research scientist might be the right fit. In this case, you'll interact with researchers across different disciplines to conduct experiments in an effort to better understand the universe. As a research scientist, you can work in anything from astronomy to geology, materials science, or even meteorology. Combining a chemistry degree with another major can help you become a leader in a specialized field.

Energy
Advancements in technology and a growing awareness of humans' impact on the environment have created a societal demand for clean energy sources. Chemistry majors like you can make a difference in the world by leading the research that will protect the planet. As noted by Greentech Media, more and more large companies are investing in renewable energy—and they need experts in STEM fields like chemistry to innovate and discover how to both improve current green energy solutions and create new ones.

Aaron Ramsey is a current chemistry major at Azusa Pacific University. While taking an organic chemistry class, he learned about a drug for pregnant women that was originally thought to aid morning sickness but was actually found to cause birth defects. In that moment he realized that what he learns in the classroom can have "huge implications outside of it."

The reality is that you have many options for a career in chemistry after graduation. Having knowledge in a field that impacts nearly every part of daily life means you can find industries that interest you, form your own path to success, and help make a difference in the world. Whether you want to continue on in research and development, medicine, or even share your knowledge as an educator, you'll find that there's no limit when it comes to what career you can build as a chemistry major.

Source: https://www.apu.edu/articles/building-a-career-in-chemistry-after-graduation/