Analytical Chemistry Jobs

According to Target Jobs, the typical employers of an analytical chemist are government departments, research councils and organisations, hospitals and testing companies, and manufacturers across food items, materials, polymers, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. The general trend is for analytical chemist jobs to be offered in large cities where similarly large employers in the niche have their head offices.

The typical journey between graduating from secondary school and becoming qualified to work as an analytical chemist involves:

• obtaining a bachelor’s degree in analytical chemistry, physics, or microbiology;
• gaining laboratory experience by working as an intern at a professional laboratory, which will provide you with an excellent opportunity to conduct experiments, analyse chemical compounds, and help develop their research;
• completing a higher education programme, such as a masters or even a PhD, in chemistry, analytical chemistry, or applied analytical chemistry.

According to the education portal of US News, you would be wise to sign up at:

• the University of Johannesburg;
• the University of KwaZulu-Natal;
• the University of South Africa;
• the University of the Witwatersrand;
• the University of Pretoria – should analytical chemistry be your calling.

However, according to BusinessTech, the top five universities in South Africa are the ones listed below. Weigh up your options carefully:

• University of Cape Town;
• University of the Witwatersrand;
• University of Pretoria;
• Stellenbosch University;
• University of Johannesburg

No specific course of study can possibly make someone a “nerd”.

Career Explorer suggests that a course focused on science and mathematics, to varying degrees, requires a potentially higher level of intelligence than the average career (if there is such a thing) – the term “nerd” tends to carry negative connotations about a person’s social skills or sporting abilities – and generalisations, of any sort, can never be true to task.

A few ideas to help a chemistry candidate gain a competitive edge in their field, include:

• chemistry clubs;
• science fairs;
• internships;
  and
• STEM competitions. 

These activities are sure to enhance your practical skills, deepen your knowledge, and reveal your passion for the subject – within your CV, and on a practical basis.

The Royal Society of Chemistry explains: “Imagine a crime scene. Think about all the clues you might find there: traces of blood, hair, or mysterious substances (i.e. fibres, drugs, explosives, toxins, and poisons)… If we’re talking about microscopic traces, we have to decide if it’s relevant to our case. Our role is to interpret that evidence.”

According to the Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Techniques, analytical chemists use not only traditional methods such as chromatography and advanced technologies such as mass spectrometry; they also need to know about proper evidence handling, legal considerations, and the future directions of forensic chemistry.

These are:

• Concepts in Physical Chemistry by Peter Atkins (free to download as an eBook, chapter by chapter, here);
• 30 Tutorials in Chemistry by WS Lau;
• Steeped by Michelle Francl;
• Material World by Ed Conway;
• Elixir, by Theresa Levitt.

Listen in to an explanation of each, here.

Jobted advises that your salary expectations are likely to increase from R6k per month at entry level, to R15 000 per month when you’ve gained more than four years of experience, and more than R29k per month when you have over 20 years of experience. While this is not a particularly high salaried career path, it all depends how you apply your skill and experience, who your employer is, and the level of demand for what you have to offer.

It sure is! SRG Talent advises interested parties that this industry is broad, and it is possible to find opportunities to specialise in anything from toxicology or pharmaceuticals, to quality control, or forensics.

To be clear, and before your studies kick off, it is a good idea to establish that you have the right combination of characteristics for this career. A good mix includes:

• numerical and analytical ability;
• a curious and independent mind;
• the impetus to solve complex problems, and the patience not to quit if they take a while to come to fruition;
• attention to detail;
• a deep theoretical understanding of analytical techniques;
• excellent IT skills;
• the sociability to work well as part of a research team.