Radiochemists study chemistry of radioactive elements. Radiochemistry is usually defined as the use of radioactive substances to study chemical reactions and properties while nuclear chemistry is the use of chemical techniques to study nuclear reactions. Some of the duties involve analyzing water, soil or compounds for different radioactive elements and interpreting what that means.
Training needs to done in chemistry with an emphasis in radiochemistry or radiopharmeceuticals.
Employment can be found at nuclear reactors, department of energy, nuclear weapons plants, uranium mines, hospital radiopharmeceutical preparation and research in industry and private or government laboratories, nuclear fuel fabrication plants, nuclear waste disposal, private consultant, and measuring the radioactivity in the environment and industrial analytical chemistry. A bachelor's degree, master's and Ph.D. is available in chemistry with an emphasis in radiochemistry. University of Missouri-Columbia and Washington University. Employment of chemists is expected to grow more slowly than the average. However, there is a growing need in radiopharmeceutical and radiochemistry and there could be a definite need for radiochemists in the future if more reactors are built.