In which jobs do you work in a lab and use chemistry?

Question

I am interested in chemistry / reseach.

I heard chemical engineers work in oil refineries -- I'd prefer a lab!

Answer 1

Chemical engineers work in all areas of chemical processing not just the oil industry but they are more engineers than chemists.



You need to be looking at working for a chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturer.



I started work for a large chemical manufacturer in the laboratories more years ago than I care to remember!

First job was in the Process Control lab. The plant workers would bring me samples at different stages of the manufacturing process for me to analyse. I would pass the results to the Production Chemist who would decide whether the batch needed adjustment before continuing. Some was simple stuff like pH measurement, water content, viscosity or titration but in other cases I needed to do a lab scale conversion to the final product using different ratios of reactants to decide the reactant level for that batch.



From there I did R&D. Making lab scale preps to test a new source of raw material or looking for ways to improve the properties of existing products. My major project was determining the optimum chain length of various polyethoxylated alkyl phenols for use as wetting agents, detergents etc. AFter you have done a couple of hundred lab batches that gets quite tedious and I wanted to get into process chemistry - running a chemical plant!



Move of company as a shift production chemist controlling a plant manufacturing polyacrylamide copolymer flocculants. Biggest chemistry set I ever had!!!!! Based 50% in a lab doing testing of intermediates, raw materials, finished product and doing troubleshooting. Other 50% was out in the plant keeping an eye on things making sure all the processes were being followed.



From there I became lab manager - all the Quality Control. Raw Material testing etc. It was during this phase of my career that I realised I wasn't wearing a lab coat any more :(

Answer 2

find a job in the research field of chemistry, like at universities. many world renowned chemists have worked, and still work in universities. you can be a chem prof on the side also. for example, a chemist (who is also highly recognized as being an amazing prof...she's actually won an award) in my university is given money by the government to fund her field of research.

if you're in university, you can start now (if you have good grades) you can get volunteer/job positions/opportunities to work with a chemist in lab during summer months. at my school, this opportunity was given to first years with high grades. they had to apply and get interviewed for basically like getting a regular job, as there were limited spots

Answer 3

DO a search on "chemist" or "chemistry" in the "jobs>science/biotech jobs" part of some Craigalists and see what positions are posted. Look especially in large cities, as that will give you a good overview of the types of jobs out there.

Answer 4

Chemistry teacher at the smallest Community College you can find that has a decent lab facility.

Answer 5

A job as a chemist, possibly in the medical or pharmaceutical field might suit you better if you prefer working in labs. There's more information at the following link including career outlook, salary, and education requirements.



http://chemistry.about.com/od/educationemployment/a/chemistprofile.htm

Answer 6

post doc at a university. it's a 'job' but the pay is **** and you are somewhat limited on what you can do.