Chemist

Career path and progression

You'll find opportunities with a wide range of employers including:

• the NHS
• public health laboratories
• research institutes
• government agencies
• commercial industries

You could be involved in research and development, patent work, health and safety or forensic science. You could also move into teaching, lecturing, or science writing and communication.

As an experienced chemist you could work towards chartered status like Chartered Chemist (CChem) and Chartered Scientist (CSci).

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
• maths knowledge
• science skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• complex problem-solving skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• analytical thinking skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Chemistry - Chemists spend their entire careers investigating the chemical make-up of substances and how they behave under different conditions. They use techniques like spectroscopy, chromatography, and chemical synthesis to develop new medicines, analyse materials, and solve environmental problems.
• Mathematics - Chemists use maths constantly – from calculating concentrations and reaction yields to analysing experimental data using statistics. Algebra, logarithms, and calculus all come up when modelling chemical reactions or interpreting results.
• Biology - Chemists working in areas like medicinal chemistry or biochemistry need to understand how living organisms function at a molecular level. Researching new medicines or diagnosing diseases requires knowledge of how chemicals interact with biological systems.
• Physics - Chemists draw on physics when studying atomic structure, energy changes, and the behaviour of matter. Techniques like X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry all rely on physical principles to analyse substances.

Also relevant

• Environmental Science - Chemists often investigate environmental issues such as pollution, water quality, and the toxicity of chemicals in ecosystems. Understanding how substances move through the environment helps them develop greener chemicals and reduce waste.
• Computer Science - Chemists increasingly use computational modelling and simulations to predict how molecules will behave before running experiments in the lab. Some specialise in computational chemistry, writing code to model molecular structures and chemical reactions.
• English Language - Chemists write detailed research papers, lab reports, and patent applications that must communicate complex findings clearly and precisely. Those who move into science writing or lecturing need especially strong communication skills.