What Do Industrial Chemists Do?
The course begins with a comparison of careers in industrial and academic research: purpose of the research, type of work, degree of independence, lifestyle, recognition, and possible career paths. Because so many scientists find employment in the pharmaceutical industry, a thorough discussion of pharmaceutical research–from drug discovery to Rx approval–is presented. Examples of careers in all of the major chemistry disciplines are provided by outside speakers, as are discussions of jobs in product research and process development. Speakers also describe careers with small companies and government laboratories. Jeni Thomas, a student in the course, found these speakers particularly helpful. “I now have a better understanding of the responsibilities and extent of specialization associated with different types of labs,” she explains. An important component of this section of the course is a case study that follows the development of a product from idea conception to commercialization.
