Organic chemists develop and improve products such as detergents, cosmetics, and plastics. A bachelor’s degree in organic chemistry is usually required, but employers often prefer a doctoral degree for advanced research, leadership roles, and teaching. Undergraduate degrees and internships provide hands-on training, and good communication and computer skills are important. Organic chemists work in teams and independently, and interdisciplinary knowledge is increasingly important.
Organic chemists work with carbon compounds to develop and improve common products such as detergents, cosmetics, plastics and more. They work for drug and biotechnology companies, in government agencies, and at universities. To become an organic chemist, a bachelor’s degree in organic chemistry — or a chemistry degree with study in organic chemistry — is usually the minimum education required. Employers most often want a doctoral degree, especially for organic chemists who conduct advanced research, lead interdisciplinary teams, and teach. According to the American Chemical Society, organic chemistry has the most doctorates of any chemistry discipline in the United States.
Hundreds of colleges and universities offer undergraduate degrees in chemistry and advanced programs in organic chemistry. To prepare to earn a degree to become an organic chemist, you must study chemistry, other basic sciences, and math in high school and develop strong computer skills. Organic chemists often use three-dimensional computer modeling to help study complex molecules and work with sophisticated computerized instruments in the laboratory.
During your undergraduate years, look for opportunities to work summer internships. An internship will provide hands-on training, possibly help you network for future employment, and may provide information on career paths and which degree level to pursue. Many people in the field of organic chemistry who hold a bachelor’s degree work as research assistants; therefore, the ability to follow directions and work as a team is important. People who earn their doctoral degrees often work in leadership roles, overseeing product research and development teams. To work in this role, leadership and motivation skills are required.
Organic chemists usually work in a team, but they also work independently, so having a flexible personality to work in any environment is a good prerequisite for becoming an organic chemist. Other useful traits for becoming an organic chemist are good reading, writing and general communication skills. A desire to work with your hands as well as your brain is important if you want to become an organic chemist, because you may spend a great deal of time in a hands-on laboratory environment.
Having some understanding of other disciplines and areas of chemistry such as business and marketing can be important for an organic chemist. Organic chemists increasingly work as part of interdisciplinary teams to conduct research and develop products. For example, an organic chemist may need to understand the identity of compounds prepared by an analytical chemist or understand how a particular product will be received by consumers.
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