Chemists

product investigative scientist chemical analysis process test information structure compound physical property

Analytical Chemist, Chemist, Research Chemist, Scientist

What they do:
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
On the job, you would:
  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  • Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.

Knowledge

Math and Science

  • chemistry
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Business

  • management

Skills

Basic Skills

  • using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software

  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Structured query language SQL Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Apple iWork Keynote
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Analytical or scientific software

  • Minitab
  • Waters Empower Chromatography Data Software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
doctoral degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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