Career Choices for Chemists

Several career opportunities are available for students that major in Chemistry or Biochemistry.

If you are interested in learning more about what you can do with a degree in chemistry or biochemistry, check out the American Chemical Society “College to Career” website.

People with chemistry or biochemistry degrees have an unusually broad range of employment opportunities because these bodies of knowledge are central to the spectrum of disciplines making up the natural sciences and engineering. Chemists and biochemists find work in industry, government, and academia. A majority of graduates work in industry, where they engage in fundamental research, new product development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, customer technical support, and management. As government scientists, they may work to formulate policy and legislation in areas touching upon science and technology, develop regulations related to foods, drugs, and the environment, or do basic and applied research in the many laboratories run by local, state, and federal agencies with responsibilities for health, environmental conservation, energy, and defense. Chemists and biochemists are found at all levels of the educational system; at the college and university level, they are most often active scholars as well.

Chemists and biochemists can be found creating new pest-resistant agricultural crops through genetic engineering, new drugs to eradicate malaria, lighter-weight materials to increase the fuel efficiency of cars and jet aircraft, and new batteries and solar cells to power future generations of non-polluting electric cars. The scope of interesting work available to someone with a degree in chemistry or biochemistry is very broad!

Job opportunities, as well as scholarships and internship opportunities can be found on the Nexus Chemistry and Biochemistry Students information page. We regularly post openings available for current students and graduates.