Career Opportunities

In addition to professional work and graduate study in chemistry, a chemistry major can establish a foundation for careers in a number of fields: e.g., engineering, health-related fields, law and technically related businesses. Graduate and professional schools in the medical sciences require a strong background in chemistry.

Recent Albion College graduates with a degree in Chemistry have found jobs in a variety of fields. A few of those positons include:

• Chemical sales representative (Brenntag Great Lakes)
• Research assistant (St. John Hospital and Medical Center)
• High school chemistry teacher
• Patent lawyer (Dow Chemical)
• Quality control metallurgist (Severstal Steel)

Recent Albion College graduates in Chemistry have also continued their education in a variety of medical, dental, biochemical and chemical graduate programs.

For additional information on careers in chemistry, the American Chemical Society website provides useful resources:

• What Chemists Do
• Salaries & Surveys
• Job Searching

In addition to those listed below, we also post internships and job announcements on the department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Graduate School

Thinking about graduate school in chemistry? Check out this article from the American Chemical Society (ACS).The ACS has also put together a great website devoted to helping you get in to the school of your dreams. Come and talk to any of the chemistry department faculty for more information about graduate school!

A few of things you can do to help prepare for graduate study:

• Gain experience in the laboratory by looking for chemistry related summer positions. See our Summer Opportunities web page for more information.
• Register your information on the Council on Undergraduate Research – Registry of Undergraduate Researchers database. Fill out a form with some of your information so grad schools can recruit you!

Other Resources

• Article about how chemists are needed in hospitals and medical centers.
• Careers in Chemistry (pdf) – Information about the use of chemical education in various careers.
• Careers Checklist (doc) – Advice on things you should consider doing in your junior and senior years (thanks to Cliff Harris).
• Ann Arbor USA – Career Services
• “Off-Campus Programs for Chemistry” is a brochure available from the Albion College Center for International Education. Programs in chemistry are available in Scotland, Tennessee, Ireland, Australia, and England.