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