American Chemical Society

Traditional & Non-Traditional Careers for Chemists

George J. O’Neill, Ph.D.

ACS Career Consultant & Workshop Presenter

Outline of Topics

Traditional Career PathwaysMajor Laboratory Presence

Non-Traditional Career PathwaysLimited Laboratory Presence

Career Pathways

Traditional Non-Traditional

Industry* Patents**

Academe Information Science***

Government Sales & Marketing

Writing

*Dr. Mary Lou Delucia

** Dr. David Ladner, Patent Agent

*** Dr. Bing Wang, Emory U.

WHERE THE JOBS WERE: 2007

BA/BS PHD

Academia 24 35%

Chemical industry 11 16

Pharmaceuticals 13 16

Other manufacturing 23 15

Analytical/clinical labs 11 3 [50%]

Government 8 7

Other* 7 7

, *Biotech research, contract research, research institutes, professional services, not-for profit organizations.

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/acsnews/pdf/8622salary.pdf

Comparison of R&DGoals/Purposes

Industry Academe

Sales & Profits* Increase knowledge

Customers Students

Innovate** Discover

* New, improved products, processes, services

** Market Need->Idea->Development->Production->Commercialize

Comparison of R&DType of Work

Industry Academe

Applied Research

Inter-disciplinary

Basic research

Specialization

“Customer Focus” Teaching and training

Comparison of R&DLevels of Independence

Industry Academe

Assigned first project

Funding, reliable

Teamwork & collaboration

Autonomous

Funding, challenging

Collaboration, difficult

Working for Government

• In 2008-9, 20% of new jobs for scientists in government laboratories.

• Federal agencies: CDC, DEA, EPA, FBI, NIH, National Labs, USDA, USPHS, DOE, DOD

• Job categories: Scientist/Engineer, Manager, Director

• States and cities also employ chemists in law enforcement, environmental protection and public health agencies.

• Job openings, search: www.usajobs.gov

2007 STARTING SALARIES BY EMPLOYER

B.A./B.S. M.S. PH.D.

Academia $36.0* $45.5**Industry 37.5 52.0 79.3

Government 32.5 - -

ALL $37.0 $48.0 $75.0

*$ THOUSANDS

**9-10 Months

Non-Traditional Careers, i.e., Getting Out of the Lab

Some Non-Traditional Careers for Chemists

•Sales & Marketing

•Writing

•Patents – Dr. Ladner

•Information Science – Ms. Wang

Sales and Marketing Careers

Laboratory Work (1->5)

Research 4-5

Product development 3-4

Customer support 2-3

Technical sales 1

Product management <1

Chemist as WriterLisa Balbes, Ph.D.

Writing

• Technical writer

• Science writer

• Journalist

• Freelance

FREELANCE WRITING-O’Neill, Ph.D.

FREELANCE WRITING-O’Neill, Ph.D.

FREELANCE WRITING-O’Neill, Ph.D.

Career Development Resources

• ACS Careers.org

– Workshops and resume reviews ACS meetings

– Literature, booklets, webinars

– Online volunteer career consultants

• Job search strategy

• Resume preparation

• Career development planning