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If you’re looking for a job that blends practical and theoretical chemistry and enjoy the continual process of learning, improving, and evolving chemical and manufacturing processes simultaneously, process chemistry may be a good fit for you.

Typical Job Functions

Process chemists take compounds that were discovered by research chemists and turn them into commercial products. They “scale up� reactions by making larger and larger quantities, first for testing, then for commercial production. The goal of a process chemist is to develop synthetic routes that are safe, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient.

Process chemistry requires a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. They divide their time between the laboratory and the plant. At the bench, they test new reactions on small scales; in the plant they help to implement successful outcomes at larger scales.

Typical day-to-day duties of a process chemist include:

• Developing synthetic plans, and designing and running test experiments for large-scale use 
• Using a variety of analytical methods to monitor reaction processes 
• Troubleshooting existing processes
• Experimenting with multiple variables simultaneously and identifying acceptable ranges for all operational parameters
• Improving existing processes to reduce cost and increase reliability, purity, and safety
• Using simulation or modeling software to determine how changes in process affect the final product
• Maintaining familiarity with federal regulations 

One advantage of working in process chemistry is that you are working on products further along the development chain, so the odds of working on a product that makes it to market is quite high. Many process chemists get a great deal of satisfaction from seeing a product they helped develop on store shelves.

Career Paths

Process chemists generally start out as interns (or other entry-level positions) where they learn from more senior scientists. With experience, they are given more responsibility and begin training new process chemists. A process chemist might move into management, but the majority continue working in process chemistry.

While much manufacturing has moved overseas, a lot is still being done in the United States. With the growth of small chemical companies, there is a need for process chemists in specialty and small-volume chemicals.

Getting Started

Process chemists may have a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree. There are few schools that offer degrees in process chemistry specifically; most process chemists learn on the job. The best preparation is a strong understanding of synthesis and thermodynamics, and chemical engineering courses. 

Other useful background skills include:

• Knowledge of software systems to design, analyze, and troubleshoot flow systems
• Knowledge in design of experiments and statistical analysis
• Experience with flow chemistry and taking analytical measurements under flow conditions