Careers in Chemistry
Fall 2009
What is Chemistry?
“Take white lead, one part, and any glass you choose,
two parts, fuse together in a crucible and then pour the
mixture. To this crystal add the urine of an ass and
after forty days you will find emeralds”
Stillman, J. M. The story of Alchemy and Early Modern Chemistry;
Dover: New York 1960, p. 160.
What is Chemistry?
Although alchemy is now regarded as “silly” the overall
goal of chemistry has not changed in several hundred
years:
We endeavor to transform naturally occurring elements
and compounds into more useful forms, as well as to study
how this “chemistry” occurs.
What does a Chemist do?
• Studies the atomic composition and structural features of substances.
• Investigates the varied interactions among substances
• Utilizes natural substances and creates artificial ones.
• Comprehends the complex chemistry of living organisms.
• Provides a molecular interpretation of health and disease.
Main Divisions of Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Industrial Chemistry
Including:
chemical engineering & materials science
• Biochemistry
What is Organic Chemistry?
Largest area of specialization among the various fields of chemistry
Organic chemists study the infinite family of compounds derived from
carbon
A good organic chemist is someone who enjoys working at the laboratory
bench with chemicals and glassware
Organic chemists “create” new carbon compounds, from multi-step
synthesis of pharmaceuticals to the careful study of individual reactions
What is Organic Chemistry?
Career applications in Organic Chemistry Include:
Synthetic Organic Chemistry
 Pharmaceutical Chemistry
 Polymer Chemistry
 Dye and Textile Chemistry
 Pulp and Paper Chemistry
 Agricultural Chemistry
 Formulation Chemistry
(paint, food, petrochemicals, adhesives, etc.)
Physical Organic Chemistry
Correlates the physical and chemical properties of compounds with their
structural features.
Organic Chemists at Behrend
Dr. Marty Kociolek
Ph. D. University of New Hampshire, 1995
Dr. Kociolek investigates the synthesis and use of isoxazolidines, an
important building block in natural product synthesis
Organic Chemists at Behrend
O
O
S
O
OH
NH2
1) NaNO2, HCl,
2) KI
0oC
O
S
O
O Na
I
O
HCl
S
O
OH
I
O
S
O
I
Ac2O, H2O2
OH
o
40 C, 12h
CHTI
7
oxidized
substrate
substrate
Dr. Michael W. Justik
Ph. D. University of Akron, 2000
My research investigation is the synthesis of recyclable or “green”
oxidants based on hypervalent iodine
What is Organic Chemistry?
Inorganic chemists study the infinite family of compounds centered on
elements other than carbon
A good inorganic chemist is someone who also enjoys working at the
laboratory bench with chemicals and glassware
Inorganic chemists “create” new inorganic or organometallic compounds,
and studies their properties, structure and use
Many inorganic compounds are important biological and industrial catalysts
What is Inorganic Chemistry?
Disciplines within Inorganic Chemistry:
• Organometallic Chemistry
• Bioinorganic Chemistry
• Ceramics and Glass
• Semiconductors
Inorganic Chemist at Behrend
Dr. Alan J. Jircitano
Ph.D., 1982, University of Kansas
Dr. Jircitano studies the synthesis and structural characterization of
transition metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands. Macrocyclic
compounds are found extensively in nature, playing a role in some
very important biological processes.
What is Physical Chemistry?
A physical chemist measures, correlates, and explains the quantitative
aspects of chemical processes
A good inorganic chemist is someone who also enjoys mathematics and its
interface with chemistry, working with instrumentation and studying the
chemical world through physics
What is Physical Chemistry?
Theoretical Chemistry
Devoted to Quantum and Statistical Mechanics - use computers to help
them solve complicated mathematical equations that simulate specific
chemical processes
Chemical Thermodynamics & Chemical Kinetics
Studies the relationship between heat, work, temperature, and energy of
chemical systems and measure the rates of chemical reactions
Electrochemistry
Studies the interrelationship between electric current and chemical change
Photochemistry & Spectroscopy
Uses radiation energy to probe and induce change within matter.
Physical Chemists at Behrend
Dr. Jay Amicangelo
Ph.D. University of Vermont, 1999
Dr. Amicangelo’s research project involves the spectroscopic and
theoretical investigation of transient intermediates related to chemical
vapor deposition processes used to manufacture semiconductor and
microelectronic circuitry by performing matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy. .
Physical Chemists at Behrend
Host-guest chemistry can be used to create new
composite materials with novel properties by
inserting a guest molecule in a host lattice. These
materials often exhibit new properties that are not
observed in the individual species, including
nonlinear optical behavior. The proposed study
aims to better understand how the behavior of the
host-guest system is affected when the shape,
dimensionality, and chemistry of the host material
is varied in order to improve the ability to engineer
new materials.
Dr. Jennifer Holt
Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2002
What is Analytical Chemistry?
An analytical chemist is charged with the assay of anything made of
chemicals – from a qualitative sense (what is in here?) to a quantitative
sense (how much is in here?)
A good analytical chemist is someone who enjoys precision and takes great
care in methodology. They enjoy contributing to industry as well as the other
chemical disciplines.
They enjoy mathematics and working with instrumentation.
What is Analytical Chemistry?
Chemical and Biochemical Methods
• Gravimetry
• Titrimetric Analysis
• Enzymic Analysis
• Inmunochemical Analysis
Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopic Methods
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
• Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)
• Mass Spectrometry (MS)
• Vibrational Spectroscopy (IR, RAMAN)
• X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis (XPS)
• Electronic Spectroscopy (UV, VIS, Luminiscence)
• Atomic Spectroscopy (AA, ICP)
• Rotational Spectroscopy (Microwave, FIR)
What is Analytical Chemistry?
Chromatographic Methods
Gas Chromatography (GC)
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Ion Chromatography
Thermal Methods
Thermogravimetry (TG)
Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA)
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Thermomechanic Analysis (TMA)
What is Analytical Chemistry?
Electrochemical Methods
Electrogravimetry
Electrophoresis
Conductimetry,Potentiometry
Polarography
Voltammetry
Analytical Chemists at Behrend
Dr. Matt Heerboth
Ph.D. Florida State University 2007
We are currently searching for a tenure-track analytical faculty
member for a Fall 2008 start
Chemistry Career Opportunities
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Biochemistry
Chemical education (formal or outreach)
Chemical & pharmaceutical research
Chemical sales & marketing
Environmental services
Forensics
Medical, pharmacy & other professional schools
Where the Jobs Are
Reference: C&E News 2005 Salary Survey
Salary Survey
Chemistry at Behrend
B.S. Chemistry Options
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General (ACS approved)*
Biochemistry (ACS approved)*
Business
Chemistry Education (w/ Mercyhurst College)
Computer Science
* 633 nation wide - one of two in Northwest PA
Why ACS Accreditation?
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Insures high-quality program
National recognition for academic rigor
Immediate membership in ACS
Employers recognize graduates are better prepared
for technical employment
Some companies offer higher starting salary
Why ACS Accreditation?
“companies recognize the value of ACScertified degrees: according to the ACS 2003
Starting Salary survey, the average starting
salary for inexperienced bachelor-level
chemists with certified degrees was $34,000
compared to $31,000 for those without
certification”
Reference: CPI Fall 2004 Issue
Chemistry at Behrend
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Graduate 8-12 majors a year
8 full-time faculty members
Upper-level class sizes (10-15 students)
Lots of hands-on experience
Mandatory undergraduate research
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students present work at local & national conferences
students are coauthors on papers in peer-reviewed journals
ACS Approved Graduates
Typical yearly graduates:
Bachelors Certified
Not Certified
Penn State Behrend
10
5
Penn State (UP)
University Pittsburgh
Allegheny College
Bloomsburg University
Clarion University
Franklin & Marshall
Indiana University of PA
Swarthmore College
28
8
0
5
4
11
2
6
9
39
18
6
2
4
6
3
Chemistry at Behrend
Where do our graduates end up?
Graduate School
UC-Berkeley
Dartmouth College
University of North Carolina
Texas A&M
University of Wisconsin
Carolina
University of Pittsburgh
University at Buffalo
University of Virginia
University of Utah
University of Kansas
University of South
Chemistry at Behrend
Where do our graduates end up?
Industry Jobs
Merck
GlaxoSmithKline
Lucent Technologies
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Crompton Inc.
U.S. Steel
Naval Research Labs
Welch’s
Pfizer, Inc.
PPG Industries
Wyeth Research
Ontogen Corp.
Lancaster labs
Lawerence Livermore Labs
FBI
An Important Misconception about
Graduate School
Most undergraduates dismiss graduate school – more school =
more loans/debt or just more school
Truth be told:
 Natural sciences graduate programs are desperate for
domestic students to fill ranks of teaching assistants
 Graduate programs only require 24-32 additional credits of
courses you are interested in followed by 2-5 years of research
 Tuition is waived for all 2-6 years
 You earn a salary for research and teaching duties – National
Average in 2009 – $18,779
 Student loans from the B.S. are deferred
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Ph. D. Program?
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Of course…
Academic Salaries