Carry out quality control programs in manufacturing plants, investigate chemical aspects of drug action and perform other research and development activities. May specialize in areas such as biochemistry and analytical or physical chemistry. Chemists are involved in process control, industrial operations, product development, quality control, environmental control, medical diagnosis and treatment, biotechnology and other applications. They also conduct theoretical, experimental and applied research into basic chemical and biochemical processes to create or synthesize new products and processes. Employment in these occupations is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions and not seasonal.
Chemists work regular hours in research, developmental and quality control laboratories or offices.
Exposure to dangerous chemicals is possible, but safety precautions reduce substantially any risk. A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or in a related discipline is required for clinical research assistants as well as non-research positions in sales or in secondary level teaching. A doctoral degree is usually required to conduct independent laboratory research, advance into administrative research positions or teach at the university level. A master's degree is necessary for jobs in applied research and testing. With experience, occupational mobility is possible between occupations in this group, as well as to occupations concerned with plant management, technical sales, and the development and management of regulatory programs and teaching professions.