This brochure assumes that you have chosen a major in chemistry or biochemistry and are thinking seriously of getting a job in industry after graduation. It is meant to help you use your undergraduate years to prepare effectively for a career in chemistry or in a related discipline. As an undergraduate student studying chemistry, you are aware of the broad scope of the contemporary chemical sciences, including such areas as materials science, polymers, biochemistry and molecular biology, biotechnology, environmental chemistry, and pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, as well as the more traditional sub disciplines of organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry. This brochure is intended to give you some ideas about this range of career possibilities, to make suggestions about what you should be doing now to prepare for your career, and to point out some of the many resources that are available to help you decide and plan. A background in chemistry is a powerful springboard to launch you into your career.
Chemistry is the central science.
It connects on one side with physics and mathematics, on another with earth and environmental sciences, and on still another with biology and medicine. A person with a bachelor's-level education in chemistry is prepared to assume a wide variety of positions in industry, education, or public service. It is obvious that a chemistry background is important if you plan to work in the chemical industry or to teach chemistry. It may be less obvious that a significant knowledge of chemistry is often required in professions such as molecular biology and biotechnology, hazardous waste management, art conservation, and forensic science. However, their background can make them strong candidates to move into sales, marketing, or management.