A chemical scientist is a researcher who specializes in chemistry or materials science. Chemical science encompasses a wide range of occupations, each of which has its own distinct characteristics. A chemical scientist may work in academia and divide his time between conducting laboratory research and teaching chemistry, physics, and other physical sciences to students. Others may opt for a career in chemistry-related fields such as industrial cleaners, fuel, or electronics. Others use their chemical science knowledge in consulting or business-related work.
A chemical scientist frequently conducts laboratory research at universities, government agencies, or businesses that require chemical science expertise. Experiments are typically conducted, data is collected, and the data is used to refine experiments or form theories about various chemical behaviors. Some laboratory work aims to synthesize substances with a variety of specific chemical properties, as well as to comprehend and control a variety of important chemical reactions.
In a biomedical laboratory, a chemical scientist may also work. The proper functioning of the human body necessitates a wide range of chemical processes. Many medical processes are difficult to comprehend without some chemistry knowledge, which chemical scientists can provide.
A chemical scientist can also pursue industrial work, which is a viable and common option. This may include laboratory research in some cases, but an industrial chemical scientist has many other responsibilities. Chemical scientists play critical roles in industrial settings, such as production oversight and quality assurance. Chemical scientists are also in charge of developing and testing large-scale chemical processes that are used in industrial chemical production. They must generally prepare instructions that can be followed easily and safely by people with little or no chemical training or experience.
Chemical science knowledge and experience can lead to a variety of potentially lucrative business opportunities. A chemical scientist who discovers a new and useful chemical process may be able to turn it into a profitable business. Chemical scientists with a lot of experience often go into consulting because it gives them more freedom and potentially more money than traditional laboratory or industrial chemistry jobs. This may be ideal for those who, despite having a strong understanding of chemistry, do not enjoy the work environments and lifestyles offered by academia, laboratories, or industrial chemical work.