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Career Opportunities in the Chemical Sciences
The following is a brief, general description of the career opportunities
available to students that graduate from USP with degrees in the chemical
sciences. However, it is by no means meant to be comprehensive. Since
the chemical sciences are critical to so many industrial processes,
as well as in the production of the materials used to manufacture
the things we see every day; from the buildings we live in, to the
automobiles we drive, to the foods we eat, to the computers we use
to access the World Wide Web; almost every industry employs chemists
in some fashion.
A BS degree in one of the chemical sciences also provides an excellent
background to pursue careers that do not have "chemistry" in their name,
including careers in forensics, high school teaching, science writing,
patent law, dentistry and medicine. Many of these careers do not involve
working at the lab bench and call upon other personal talents, such as the
ability to work with people, or the ability to write effectively.
Students should also be aware of the fact that an advanced degree, such as
a MS or PhD, may be necessary to take full advantage of these opportunities.
Biochemistry Degree Career Opportunities
Biochemists work in a variety of environments. In research hospitals,
such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), they collaborate
with physicians in clinical research to develop new methods of treatment
and diagnosis. In pharmaceutical companies, they work to develop a
better understanding of the metabolic processes of humans, animals,
and disease-producing organisms in order to find new approaches to
curing disease. In the biotechnology industry, biochemists are also
using the new techniques of molecular biology to produce chemicals
using programmed bacteria, rather than more traditional chemical methods.
In government, biochemists work at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and many other agencies
to either investigate disease states or oversee the efforts of private
companies. A BS degree in biochemistry also serves as an excellent
preparation for additional professional training in medicine and other
health-related careers.
Chemistry Degree Career Opportunities
Chemistry graduates can find employment in a wide variety of industries,
including the pharmaceutical, chemical, textile, automobile, computer,
aircraft, steel, communications, petroleum, and food industries, as
well as, government agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE),
the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Institute of Science
& Technology (NIST), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Chemists carry out research and development on new products, as well
as work in production, inspection, or administrative and consulting
positions. A BS degree in chemistry also serves as excellent preparation
for further training in patent law, medicine, and other health related
fields.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Degree Career Opportunities
Pharmaceutical chemists, especially those with MS and Ph.D. degrees,
work on developing drugs for the treatment and cure of disease. They
rely on their knowledge of the targeted disease - its cause, what
treatments have been used in the past, and how and where it affects
the living system. Pharmaceutical chemists design new drugs which
thwart the action of the attacking agent, and then alter the molecule
to maximize its therapeutic effects and minimize possible side effects.
Chemists at all levels (BS, MS and Ph.D.) are also involved in the
development and the use of methods to analyze for drugs, metabolites,
and/or biomolecules in bodily tissues or fluids. Pharmaceutical chemists
are in great demand within the pharmaceutical industry, and many
of the major pharmaceutical companies have their headquarters and/or
research laboratories in and around Philadelphia. Pharmaceutical
chemists are also employed in government labs, such as the Food
& Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture (DOA),
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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