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What Can I Do With a Major in... Chemistry

Chemistry majors focus on learning about life processes at both the micro and macro level.  Most of the courses in chemistry will require working on experiments in a laboratory and drawing conclusions based on observations.  These observations lead to a better understanding of the physical world.  Students interested in chemistry are generally good at math, thinking logically, and problem-solving.  They also enjoy performing experiments and working in a laboratory and have good communication skills.

Chemistry is a field of study which offers many different career paths and opportunities.  Students with an undergraduate degree in chemistry generally find entry-level jobs such as lab coordinator or research assistant.  A master's degree is usually required for applied lab research, and a Ph.D. is needed for becoming a university professor or research lab manager.  Other sample job titles include radiologist, chemist, surgeon, researcher, and pharmacist.

General Career Information
 
Sample Job Titles

Entry Level

  • Chemist
  • Crime Lab Technican 
  • Materials Chemist
  • Pollution Prevention Environmentalist

Education + Experience

  • Director of Biostatistics
  • Laboratory Manager/Supervisor
  • Professor
  • Researcher

Show All Job Titles

These job titles are not an exhaustive list, but rather, represent the types of positions most widely recruited for.

  • Assistant Laboratory Director
  • Associate Process Develpment Scientist
  • Associate Quality Control Chemist
  • Associate Scientist
  • Biochemist
  • Biological Aid
  • Biological Products Specialist
  • Chemical Technician
  • Chemist
  • Chemistry Instructor
  • Chemistry Technician
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist
  • Clinical Toxicologist
  • Crime Lab Technician
  • Crystallographer
  • Data Analyst
  • Director of Biostatistics
  • Fabrication Process Engineer
  • Food Chemist
  • Hazardous Waste Worker
  • Identification Technician
  • Industrial Hygienist
  • Lab Technican
  • Laboratory Manager/Supervisor
  • Materials Chemist
  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Painting Restorer
  • Park Attendant
  • Pharmaceutical Product Development
  • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
  • Pharmacologist
  • Plant Pathologist
  • Pollution Prevention Environmentalist
  • Process Engineer
  • Product Development Engineer
  • Product Development Manager/Supervisor
  • Production Scientist
  • Professor
  • Protein Biochemist
  • Quality Assurance Chemist
  • Research Analyst
  • Research Technologist
  • Scientific Consultant
  • Senior Analytical Development Scientist
  • Senior Lab Technician
  • Soil Conservationist
  • Technology Integrator
  • Water Pollution Control Department Manager

 

 
Employment Areas
  • Academia
  • Government
  • Private Corporations
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Publicly Traded Corporations
 
Job and Internship Listings
Professional Organizations

 
Organizations That Have Hired UI Students and Alumni
  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Invitrogen Corporation
  • MERF- Holden Cancer Research Labs
  • Procter and Gamble
  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
  • The University of Iowa Chemistry Department
  • Total Eye Health Center

This is only a partial list - to view a complete list of organizations that recruit UI students and alumni, please visit: www.careers.uiowa.edu/students/uirecruit.html

 
Additional Resources

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UI Resources

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