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Back to Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Chemist

Studies the properties and reactions of matter, develops new chemical products, and analyzes substances.

Science (PCB/PCM)

Career role details and responsibilities

Studies the properties and reactions of matter, develops new chemical products, and analyzes substances. Chemist sits within the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) career cluster and focuses on applying domain knowledge to practical problems. Students exploring this role should understand the work context, skill expectations, education pathways, and long-term growth opportunities before shortlisting it.

Role details

Studies the properties and reactions of matter, develops new chemical products, and analyzes substances. Chemist sits within the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) career cluster and focuses on applying domain knowledge to practical problems. Students exploring this role should understand the work context, skill expectations, education pathways, and long-term growth opportunities before shortlisting it.

Responsibilities

Conduct experiments, analyze chemical compounds, develop new materials and products, ensure quality control, manage laboratory safety, interpret test results. Typical responsibilities include understanding user or business needs, applying relevant tools and methods, and coordinating with stakeholders. The role also requires continuous learning, quality improvement, and adapting to changes in technology, industry practices, and market demand.

Next Gen career options

Green Chemist, Nanochemist, Computational Chemist, Polymer Scientist, Forensic Chemist.

Pointer: Next Gen career options related to this role

Green Chemist, Nanochemist, Computational Chemist, Polymer Scientist, Forensic Chemist.

Educational institutes

Top 5 educational institutes in India

Name of Institute Location Website
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune Pune, Maharashtra https://www.iiserpune.ac.in/
University of Delhi Delhi, Delhi https://www.du.ac.in/
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati, Assam https://www.iitg.ac.in/
Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh https://www.bhu.ac.in/
St. Stephen's College Delhi, Delhi https://www.ststephens.edu/

Top 5 educational institutes globally

Name of Institute Location Website
University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK https://www.cam.ac.uk/
Harvard University Cambridge, USA https://www.harvard.edu/
ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland https://www.ethz.ch/en.html
University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, USA https://www.berkeley.edu/
Max Planck Society Göttingen, Germany https://www.mpg.de/en
Refer our tool Unifinder to explore university matching your requirements https://counselnavi.com/uni-finder
Career role Name
Chemist
Career Cluster
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Industry alignment
Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Manufacturing, Materials Science, Food & Beverage, Environmental Testing, Research & Development.
Work environment
Primarily indoor laboratory settings. May involve fieldwork for sample collection or site analysis. Standard working hours, but research projects can demand flexibility.
Opportunity Type
Good growth potential, moderate work stress, steady salary growth, high creativity opportunity, good stability.
Key skills needed
Organic Chemistry (Advanced), Inorganic Chemistry (Advanced), Physical Chemistry (Advanced), Analytical Techniques (Spectroscopy, Chromatography) (Advanced), Laboratory Safety (Advanced), Research Methodology (Intermediate).
Interest type alignment
Investigative (scientific inquiry, experimentation), Realistic (developing practical applications). Aptitudes for science, mathematics, analytical thinking, and laboratory skills.
Career growth Path
Lab Assistant/Technician (0-3 yrs) -> Research Chemist (3-7 yrs) -> Senior Chemist (7-12 yrs) -> R&D Manager/Lead Scientist (12+ yrs).
Suggested education Pathways 10th standard onwards
  • Grade 10: Science (PCM/PCB)
  • Grade 12: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics/Biology
  • Undergraduate: BSc/MSc in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, or related fields
Education Stream recommendations
Science (PCB/PCM)
Demand in India
Moderate to High. Demand exists in pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and R&D.
Demand globally
Moderate to High. Driven by innovation in materials, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable chemistry.
Career & Job Prospects
Opportunities in R&D labs, quality control departments, manufacturing units of chemical and pharmaceutical companies, environmental agencies. Related roles include Analytical Chemist, Organic Chemist, Materials Scientist.