Career: Chemists and Materials Scientists
You may not realize it, but the products of chemistry play a big role in our daily lives. Chemists and materials scientists create the building blocks for medicines like Prozac or products such as plastic bags. Even the chocolate, marshmallow, and banana flavors of the processed food you eat were created in a lab by food chemists.
Chemists and materials scientists working in applied research come up with new products for industrial, commercial, and medical use.
Chemists research chemicals -- the building blocks of all materials. Materials scientists conduct research on the structures and compositions of materials.
“I like being able to work with my hands in the lab, making compounds and isolating cells.”
Jake, Postdoctoral Fellow in Biological Chemistry
Are You Ready To...?
- Use your hands to build apparatuses and perform experiments
- Use computers and high-level math
- Publish papers
- Give talks at conferences
- Keep up with the latest research
- Work with a team
It Helps to Be...
Detail-oriented so that you don’t miss anything when making observations. You’ll also need to be creative, so that you can come up with your own ideas about what you want to work on.
Make High School Count
- Get a strong background in science and build lab skills by taking advanced chemistry, physics, and biology classes.
- Take computer courses, such as computer science. You’ll be using computers to model things like molecules.
- Sign up for chemistry-related activities outside of class, such as the United States National Chemistry Olympiad.
Did You Know?
- Chemists and materials scientists work in specific fields, such as biochemistry, which deals with the chemical reactions in living organisms.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for chemists and materials scientists to grow as fast as the average for all careers through 2016. Competition among drug companies could mean jobs for chemists in that field. Also, researchers in chemistry will be needed to further genetic research.
Expect competition for jobs. Those with advanced degrees will have the best opportunities.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chemists had an average yearly salary of $71,070 in 2008. Materials scientists, on the other hand, earned $81,600.
