Is A Chemistry Degree Any Good?

O.P.H

I'm a mature student(25) in second year undenominated science at NUI Galway. I'm doing chemistry, microbiology and botany. I hope to do chemistry and microbiology for 3rd year and major in chemistry for my final year. I don't think I would stay on to do a PhD if I was offered one as I'd be in my 30's by the time I'd get work etc.

I just want to get some opinions about a chemistry degree, is it any good? Originaly I wanted to do Pharmacology but could'nt due to subjects I chose and I was told chemistry is a way of getting into that area, that with a chemistry degree you could get into drug reasearch etc. I'm finding the chemistry very difficult and just want to know if I was to slug it out and maybe get a 2/1 what kind of work is out there, are the prospects good and can one make good money with a chem degree.

DennisSabre

Chemistry and botany would be a good combo - drugs from nature! When people ask me what they can do with a chemistry degree I always say

"Not all chemists wear white coats"

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/Not_All_Chemists.htm

O.P.H

DennisSabre wrote: »

Chemistry and botany would be a good combo - drugs from nature! When people ask me what they can do with a chemistry degree I always say

"Not all chemists wear white coats"

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/Not_All_Chemists.htm

Thanks for the link, its quite an eye opener. I realise it's their job to make chemistry look as appealing as possible and that colourful adds like that don't make chemistry any easier, but when you see that it can lead you anywhere it does make the hard work seem worth it, cheers!

napapa

just some words of advice considering you want to pursue a research career..you will find it extremely difficult to get a research position without a PhD. I know its an extra few years but its well worth it in the end.

good luck with college

DennisSabre

And to prepare you, this is what a typical chemistry lab looks like:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/chemist/Mrsstjohnx/vampiress.jpg?o=20

SoCal90046

O.P.H wrote: »

I'm a mature student(25) in second year undenominated science at NUI Galway. I'm doing chemistry, microbiology and botany. I hope to do chemistry and microbiology for 3rd year and major in chemistry for my final year. I don't think I would stay on to do a PhD if I was offered one as I'd be in my 30's by the time I'd get work etc.

I just want to get some opinions about a chemistry degree, is it any good? Originaly I wanted to do Pharmacology but could'nt due to subjects I chose and I was told chemistry is a way of getting into that area, that with a chemistry degree you could get into drug reasearch etc. I'm finding the chemistry very difficult and just want to know if I was to slug it out and maybe get a 2/1 what kind of work is out there, are the prospects good and can one make good money with a chem degree.

It depends on your ultimate goal. If you're thinking of a life in R&D, then I'd continue and get a PhD. There are examples of people with an undergraduate degree advancing up the research ladder in industry, but most people in the upper echelons of research companies--those on the research ladder--have PhDs.

If you're planning a career in something other than research, a PhD isn't really necessary, though it can be useful. There are many successful professionals in, say, technical sales who haven't gone further than an undergraduate degree.

ebmma

If you are happy with QC/QA type of jobs chemistry is a good degree to have. I got Chemistry and Physics Joint degree from UCD, but I hate chemistry..

christeb

I have a degree in Medicincal Chemistry from TCD. Good degree, although very few of the people that graduated in my class are working in the area directly (person who finished top of the class is now a pilot!!!).

If you're looking for a research role, you will really need to love your area and you don't want to be struggling in your final couple of years. As a general degree I would recommend it, although I still think people studying more business-orientated areas get better career prospects (at least outside of the lab) and more money for less study

sunnyjim

christeb wrote: »

I have a degree in Medicincal Chemistry from TCD. Good degree, although very few of the people that graduated in my class are working in the area directly (person who finished top of the class is now a pilot!!!).

If you're looking for a research role, you will really need to love your area and you don't want to be struggling in your final couple of years. As a general degree I would recommend it, although I still think people studying more business-orientated areas get better career prospects (at least outside of the lab) and more money for less study

Is it fair to say that a majority of Med Chem graduates end up in an analytical role, as opposed to more drug/pharma development roles?

Zuisse

The majority of people with Chemistry degrees tend to work in pharmaceutical companies or related industries, mainly doing routine analytical testing initially.
I have a MSc in Chemistry, but have hardly used it since I graduated, but I do work in the pharmaceutical area - mainly in the engineering type roles. It seems to me that a degree is really only a stepping stone, its typically a requirement to get into industry, but once you're there you'll have oportunities to move into varying roles. Not everyone fancies being struck on a lab testing all day (it's NOTHING like CSI or any other image portrayed on TV, its much more boring than that).
While the majority of my class ended up working for pharmaceutical companies, others went down the teaching / research routes & some switched carreers completely.

Tigger

Zuisse wrote: »

The majority of people with Chemistry degrees tend to work in pharmaceutical companies or related industries, mainly doing routine analytical testing initially.
I have a MSc in Chemistry, but have hardly used it since I graduated, but I do work in the pharmaceutical area - mainly in the engineering type roles. It seems to me that a degree is really only a stepping stone, its typically a requirement to get into industry, but once you're there you'll have oportunities to move into varying roles. Not everyone fancies being struck on a lab testing all day (it's NOTHING like CSI or any other image portrayed on TV, its much more boring than that).
While the majority of my class ended up working for pharmaceutical companies, others went down the teaching / research routes & some switched carreers completely.

chemistry degree is handy but if you don't wanna work for the americians in a boring but ok paid and safe enough role its sometjhing you may have to adapt

what else might you do

youtheman

christeb wrote: »

I have a degree in Medicincal Chemistry from TCD. Good degree, although very few of the people that graduated in my class are working in the area directly (person who finished top of the class is now a pilot!!!).

When you say 'Medicinal Chemistry from TCD', do you mean Pharmacy. It's just me bruvver has a Pharmacy degree from TCD and is also a pilot with a well known Irish airline. Just wondering !

sunnyjim

No, Medicinal Chemistry is just that. Pharmacy is Pharmacy.

Bonzostar

Chemistry is an excellent thing to get involved in. The prospects are phenomenal due to the large amount of pharmaceutical companies in this country.
Jobs are also available in education both second and third level and the Government have made proposals to make Ireland the centre of European Drug Research.

Overall, you are making the right choice choosing chemistry. It's not too difficult if you put your mind down to it. Good luck with the degree.

Jokesetal

The vast bulk of people who study chemistry will work at some time or another in Pharmaceuticals or similar sector. The work will usually involve routine work, but there is always the chance you could get pushed into more engineering roles. QC is widely available but pay varies at the lower level, QA is more or less technical report preparation.
Development roles are highly sought and usually you need a bit of experience to get them.
As with all jobs there will be supervisionary roles which require that you manage a set number of tasks and deliverables.
Research on the other hand takes a while to complete for qualifications, but there is always the chance that you can do a MSc/PhD part-time (maybe even through work).
There are several oppurtunities for entry level research scientists at the moment in research centres as full time positions.
The choice is yours..... Money, however, isn't fabulous but that's life!

sunnyjim

Tigger wrote: »

chemistry degree is handy but if you don't wanna work for the americians in a boring but ok paid and safe enough role its sometjhing you may have to adapt

what else might you do

Although they account for a massive percentage of what's going in terms of jobs, thy are not the only place to go.

Think of anywhere that would take in bulk/raw materials. Talking like foods, or even non consumables. Then there are reagents needed for industrial processes (you know, incase some puts the wrong sort of oil in a pigfeed )

Ayone here specialising in anything interesting? I'm thinking about going over to England to do brewing.

el_tiddlero

Jokesetal wrote: »

There are several oppurtunities for entry level research scientists at the moment in research centres as full time positions.

got any clues as to where i might find out about some of these jobs??
cheers....

universeo

What about pharmacy as an option. I'm currently doing a chemistry degree and am considering pharmacy afterwards. I heard pharmacy pays well and the course wouldn't be difficult if you have done a degree in chemistry. Does anyone know anyone that has gone on to do pharmacy? any feedback?

Chocolate frog

Pharmacy pays very well for the moment, but I reckon there will soon be too many pharmacists. I think I would die of boredom working as a pharmacist - I just think it's essentially working in a shop, counting sweets. In other countries pharmacists do a lot more than their irish counterparts do... making cough syrups and herbal remidies onsite in the shop. Maybe they do here also???

By the way, I know lots of people who've gone to Aberdeen to do pharmacy after the basic degree. It used to be that you could skip 1st year, but not anymore, so it would be at least a 3-4 year course after your 1st one...

chemistry is an excellent basic degree, but there are so many things you can go on to do afterwards. Lots of 1 and 2 year MSc degrees.
Bear in mind, a lot of chemistry jobs are in manufacturing also - if you have the chance to do a module in chemical engineering, do it!

Irish chemistry research ( in the universities) is on the up. Much better than it was even 10 or 15 years ago - lots of irish and european funding available. A PhD is a great life experience, but I do say if you have the drive and interest, you can do just as well in industry and even research without it. You may have to travel though. The most important thing when considering a PhD is the supervisor. How many papers do they have?

Best thing to do is have a look at the jobs available - and think of what jobs may be available in the future - think of the energy industry. It's going to require people with a chemistry background...
The subjects you mention make me think of biofuels.
good luck!

pfishfood

There seems to be a lot of jobs advetised for many different fields on online sites like monster and irishjobs.ie . But never any in the papers strange. When i finish im going to try specialise in the envoirnmental aspect of chemistry. But who knows with the current climate although there arent that many chemistry graduates these days so its looking good

sunnyjim

Yeah, but most of the jobs advertised on jobs.ie/monster.ie etc are all advertised by agencies. A lot of the time they have no real jobs to advertise, they just want to get your details and to add you on your books.

Apparently quite a few people go in expecting a job interview, only to find they are give the run around to come in, meet a 'recruitment consultant' and then get a text every week for the same thing.

Looking the way jobs are for science these days, I think a lot of grads are up the creek. I'm working part-time in lab, so I should be ok come June, but I think the rest of my course are planning further study cause of the lack of jobs.

abi2007

I have a degree in pharmaceutical technology (pretty much chemistry and biochemistry with a bit of pharmacology) and I still cant get a job. I completed my degree in 2005 and i'm still trying. I've applied for mostly QC and QA positions.

sunnyjim

Wow. That's a long time. I assume you have an honours degree?

Did you apply for every job that came up?

abi2007

Ord degree, I'm told each time that I lack experiance.

sunnyjim

Ouch.

Well, have you looked into work experience? Quite a few companies in Ireland do it, and paid. You really have to dig for the info, but I'll pm you a link. This crowd take on quite a few people in the summer, now is the time to get the oar in!

Edit: By the way, there are tons of graduate programs out there. People don't seem to know about them for some reason. It's worth googling terms like 'internship, chemistry, undergraduate work experience'. A few who take people on are.

• BP
• Diageo
• Azko Nobel
• Genzyme
• Medtronic
• Marine Institute (summer placements, they rejected me last year :mad:)

You might need to go abroad, but thats a plus.

Also, really worth checking out if you still have one summer to go doing science: Ureka. Paid science research during the summer. Takes place in quite a few IT's and Universities around the country. Only pays 300 euro a week, but you are working alongside post-docs etc for 12 weeks.

DIT: http://www.focas.dit.ie/ureka/projects.html
RCSI: http://www.ucd.ie/ureka/projects2008.html (2009 info available now)

It's done in tons more, and is worth doing. No chance that you'll go back to do the honours? Even distance or at night?

abi2007

I went back this year to do the honors but dropped out for a few reasons. Main one was money (i have a mortgage and childcare bills) and the other was my daughter. I couldn't find an undergrad part time course that is a level 8, but would definatly do it if I could find one. I'm going to have a look a the links you sent and hopefully get some experiance.

Timistry

I did a Honours degree in chem. Graduated last year. Felt that i couldnt stay in a lab all day so im now doing an M.Sc in Geochemistry in Leeds. Would that maybe interest you?

maherball

I got my degree in the Chemistry there in September, Single Honours from NUIM, and I can't get a job I've been applying everywhere but can't get one at all. I have only managed to get one interview in 4 months, it is beyond a joke now.

I am going on to do Pharmacy.

sunnyjim

Is there anyone here with a chemistry related degree who is working in science?



Anyone?

Limerickmob

O.P.H wrote: »

I'm a mature student(25) in second year undenominated science at NUI Galway. I'm doing chemistry, microbiology and botany. I hope to do chemistry and microbiology for 3rd year and major in chemistry for my final year. I don't think I would stay on to do a PhD if I was offered one as I'd be in my 30's by the time I'd get work etc.

I just want to get some opinions about a chemistry degree, is it any good? Originaly I wanted to do Pharmacology but could'nt due to subjects I chose and I was told chemistry is a way of getting into that area, that with a chemistry degree you could get into drug reasearch etc. I'm finding the chemistry very difficult and just want to know if I was to slug it out and maybe get a 2/1 what kind of work is out there, are the prospects good and can one make good money with a chem degree.

Hi, I am a student in Biochemistry, Biochem is pretty general but practically covers all areas of chemistry! I am on work experience in a Quality Control dept!! Its 90% paperwork and sitting at your desk or doing other activities around QC!! Its very enjoyable dont get me wrong and you are always busy (where I am anyway) but it is very hard to get work in Chemistry, especially research!! The majority of chem jobs are lab analysts!! Sometimes testing for hours on end and it can be mind numbing!! doing the same thing over and over expecting different results!! Id say get some work experience in different places, R&D, QC, QA, Production etc etc, and see what would suit you!! i know I am a very lab orientated person I hate office work, but I have to do it!! try get into a small enough company first then get to grips with the overall picture!! get trainied on everything, it will stand to you in the long run!! anymore Q's just ask!!

Mark

Dinkie

Hi,

Just to let you know that there are other options other then QC/QC jobs out there!

• Rather then do a Phd, you could do a Masters / Postgrad dip in a Business area,which is always good or one in Six Sigma
• There is the PhD and then lecturing/research
• You could go into pharmaceuticals research
• Clinical Trials often look for co-ordinators, etc
• Science teaching
• Medical Diagnostics - production/QA/Research (lots of jobs)
• Cosmetics - marketing, research, QC, (may have to go to uk for this)
• Application Specialist for instrumentation/pharmaceuticals

These are just off the top of my head... I'm sure there are loads more.

A primary degree is just to prove your capable - there is nothing to stop you doing what ever you want once the degree is obtained....

I did get one very good piece of advice from someone - its very difficult to get out of a lab, once you start in one. The advice being that once in a lab, it can be difficult to get promotion out of it (more people applying, lack of required experience, etc).

I have a science degree, but although I've worked in science since leaving college, have never worked in a lab.

Limerickmob

HI,

I wrote my post based on the fact that the OP was 25 and in 2nd year of college, the OP stated I wouldnt do PhD, and I was being realistic and honest in my answer that the majority of chem/biochem graduates go on to work in Industry.. whether it be in QC QA whatever.. The minority on the other hand go on to do further studies then perhaps research/ lecturing!! I think though that most students are so caught up in what money they will earn that the love of their field goes down the drain.. Einstein once was asked about his wages, I'm not sure of the actual quote but he said Ya I do get paid but I have never checked it. He never thought of money when he was doing his work.. Unfortunately the world has turned money hungry... As long as I have a roof over my head and a loving family I dont really care either!! My dream is to cure some sort of cancer, not to own a mansion! I hope yours is too!

Regards

Dinkie

Limerickmob wrote: »

HI,

I wrote my post based on the fact that the OP was 25 and in 2nd year of college, the OP stated I wouldnt do PhD, and I was being realistic and honest in my answer that the majority of chem/biochem graduates go on to work in Industry.. whether it be in QC QA whatever.. The minority on the other hand go on to do further studies then perhaps research/ lecturing!! I think though that most students are so caught up in what money they will earn that the love of their field goes down the drain.. Einstein once was asked about his wages, I'm not sure of the actual quote but he said Ya I do get paid but I have never checked it. He never thought of money when he was doing his work.. Unfortunately the world has turned money hungry... As long as I have a roof over my head and a loving family I dont really care either!! My dream is to cure some sort of cancer, not to own a mansion! I hope yours is too!

I'm assuming that you are meaning my post seeing as you posted just before and after my post:o

I'm not knocking QC/QA/Research. I realise its important - but IMO its not for everyone.

I work mostly in the biochemistry area (have a chemistry background) and I absolutely love my job... and while my dream isn't to cure cancer, I am in close to what I would call my dream job... I don't work in a lab though, nor do I make a lot of money. I could make more, but I love my job the way it is.

A lot of people go on to QC/RA/Research and love it... but I posted because a lot of people do science and then get to the end of the degree not knowing what they can do with it. And not everyone wants to work in a lab. All the career examples raised above involve using a science degree to some extent. I finished my degree and didn't know what I could really do with it.

Its one area I feel universities let down their students... the lack of career guidance... and I feel that it is an important area.

Sorry if I offended you Limerickmob

Limerickmob

Haha, I'm not offended, It'd take much more than that to offend me!! I was only defending the fact that many of the graduates from chem/biochem often take the first thing (job or otherwise) offered to them after college as they may be worried if there are other jobs available at the time etc..

And.. In this current recession climate I can imagine there will be a wealth of students just willing to sink their teeth into any opportunity that may come their way in terms of employment!

I am only on Co-Op at the moment but already i can see the difference in range of opportunity and employment.. I am in a QC/Analytical Chemists role in a very well established bio/pharma ortho company and I couldnt see myself do this for the next 20 years... I think I need to be in research and doing something TBH that will help someone somewhere someday and not just to "meet budget forecast for the third quart".... I dont like the road science has taken in terms of making lots of money exploiting great scientific breakthroughs to make some sort of profit! Makes me sick to my stomach!! But Im not gonna change that! (Im in work at the moment writing this message with a smile on my face!!! The company have paid me to write to you )

Regards..