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Career Paths in Chemistry

University graduates of chemistry can pursue careers in traditional fields of the natural sciences or explore related disciplines. However, they also have their own specialized field of activity, which is structured as follows:

Introduction

The three pillars of fundamental scientific research: biology, chemistry, and physics – with chemistry right in the middle. Chemistry is the science of both living and lifeless nature. It has strong and stable links to pharmacy, medicine, nutritional science, geology, and materials science.

What is chemistry?

Chemistry is the science of substance, of matter, of material. But even since ancient times, it has been an influential science: it can change matter! It can “separate,” “isolate,“ “cast,“ “purify,“ and above all, “synthesize,” i.e., “assemble anew.” Like other (natural) sciences, it has theory, hypothesis, and experimentation at its disposal.

But even since its earliest days, when it was still referred to as “alchemy,” it has developed something entirely unique: the equipment, the process. How can you replace a very, very expensive dye and still dye fabrics a royal blue? How can you liquefy coal?  How can you synthesize the natural material of rubber to make tires cheaper and more durable? How can you identify the ideal raw materials for a new semiconductor?

Of course, the field of chemical engineering exists specifically to answer these questions, but the “process” has also traditionally been part of the canon of what can be learned in university chemistry classes – from a research-oriented, investigative, and forward-thinking perspective.

Which degree do you need for your career?

Since chemistry is a field that is so ancient and yet so modern, so diverse and yet so specialized, it may be a bit more difficult to start a career with just a bachelor’s degree compared to other natural sciences. Nevertheless, a bachelor’s can still be a viable entry point as long as you are prepared to plan for additional strategic steps, such as process-oriented specialization, additional vocational training (the “self-developed dual study program”), special professional development and continuing education, career entry at a non-academic level, etc.

With a master’s degree as your primary academic qualification, you will have career opportunities in the largest professional field in chemistry: non-university “research and development.” Currently, the focus here is increasingly on reviewing and improving established processes by improving their efficiency and sustainability, including making them less harmful to the climate. In the past, career entry as a research assistant was reserved for those with a doctorate. But due to the enormous demand for staff that R&D creates, there seem to be increasing opportunities for master’s graduates.

Note: This information is based on information provided by the BERUFENET of the German Federal Employment Agency and surveys conducted with graduates of Marburg University. We would like to thank Edgar Losse from the Marburg branch of the Federal Employment Agency for the suggestions and support.