Consultancy may be possible after gaining considerable experience. These will cover scientific advances and techniques, transferable skills development and management training. Career development Advancement usually involves managerial responsibility and reduced laboratory work. Some become senior scientists, others move into related functions such as manufacturing or commercial roles. The salary data was collected in Jul 99 Higher starting salaries are possible for those with highly relevant postgraduate qualifications.
Salaries also vary by location, sector and company size.
Work is usually laboratory based in multi-disciplinary teams. Some laboratories are plant based and working conditions and hours of work may be those of the production process. This can mean long hours in the lab, repeating experiments and checking data. In industry the commercial viability of projects is very important and this can conflict with personal interests. Travel Travel within a working day is occasional Absence from home at night is occasional Overseas work or travel is occasional Gender balance Gender is not a barrier to entry and career prospects.