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Careers

Department Career Overview

Chemistry is the study of all things chemical, such as chemical processes, chemical compositions, and chemical manipulation. It is an exciting time in the field of chemistry — science and technology career opportunities are seeing unprecedented growth, with an average unemployment rate that is generally much lower compared to other careers. Opportunities to work as a chemical engineer, biochemist, or as a chemist within areas such as law, forensic science, defense, public health, and the environment, abound. Additionally, students majoring in chemistry/biochemistry receive excellent prerequisite training for health-related careers, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The Southern Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers bachelor's and master's courses of study; learner outcomes meet rigorous American Chemical Society (ACS) requirements. Below are labor statistics from a 2021 ACS survey.

  • 2021 National Unemployment Rate for All Chemists = 1.8%
  • 2021 National Median Salary for Chemists with a Bachelor’s degree = $83,100 per year
  • 2021 National Median Salary for Chemists with a Doctorate degree = $112,000 per year
      

Chemists in the New England Area fare even better.

  • 2021 New England Region Unemployment Rate for All Chemists = 1.1%
  • 2021 New England Region Median Salary for Chemists with a Bachelor’s degree = $96,169 per year
  • 2021 New England Region Median Salary for Chemists with a Doctorate degree = $128,000 per year
      

General Career Assistance

Students pursuing a degree in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department receive a strong background in discovery-based learning and problem solving. Our goal is to share our enthusiasm and curiosity for chemistry, including chemistry’s role and impact on the environment, energy, materials, and medicines. We want to motivate you to continually question, experiment, analyze, and discover the fascinating world of chemistry. This foundation of chemical knowledge and understanding in our major will be a platform for future intellectual growth. A major in chemistry will provide rigorous training for our students to positively contribute to education and future advances in research and technology.

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to working with you to help you achieve both your educational and professional goals. SCSU students receive one-on-one mentoring with one or several faculty members within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, on areas related to career assistance, academic advising, general coursework, and research training and mentorship. The department also hosts several seminars with speakers from industry and academia to provide students exposure to the various fields of research and careers within Chemistry. The department also sponsors the SCSU Chemistry Club to offer free chemistry tutoring and additional events and services to students. 

Internship and Experiential Learning Outcomes

We offer undergraduate education in chemistry with an American Chemical Society-certified degree in chemistry and interdisciplinary specializations in environmental chemistry (with a focus on marine and environmental studies) and biochemistry (with a focus on biology, biotechnology, and pre-medical fields of study). Programs of study leading to the M.S. degree in chemistry include the 4+1 accelerated M.S. program, Professional Science Master’s Degree track, and the M.S. in chemistry, which can also lead to teacher certification. Prerequisite courses provide a strong foundation in chemistry with the ability to explore numerous sub-disciplines within the field.

  • Applied Practical Skills and Hands-on Experience — SCSU students will gain hands-on experience with several state-of-the-art instruments for chemical analysis as well as significant laboratory experience with synthetic, computational, and analytical chemistry techniques. Our department houses an impressive array of specialized instrumentation and laboratory equipment to meet the needs for training graduates.
  • Independent Study/Student Research — SCSU students are encouraged to participate in faculty-mentored research. Specific areas of study include: biochemistry, environmental, analytical, inorganic, organic, medicinal, physical, and polymer chemistry. Each area provides the foundation to pursue undergraduate and graduate research.
  • Internships — SCSU students have the opportunity to work on research projects directly with biotechnology companies around the Greater New Haven area. We actively encourage internships to keep students engaged in chemistry during the summer months.
  • Service Learning/Volunteer Opportunities — We advise and help connect students with an interest in medicine with local volunteering opportunities.

Sample Career Occupations of Recent Graduates

Small class and laboratory sizes enable us to teach more advanced and specialized techniques typically limited at larger schools, and this ability provides our graduates with excellent qualifications to be competitive for job placement in the workforce throughout Connecticut. Our students often present research results at local, regional, and national conferences and are often co-authors of peer-reviewed publications. Most lectures and laboratory classes beyond the freshman year are taught by full-time faculty members. The 4+1 accelerated M.S. degree option provides a pathway for our students to receive a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years of full-time study with an emphasis on faculty-mentored research.  Recent graduates from our program have transitioned to the following roles:

  • Ph.D. Program – University of Connecticut, Michigan State University, University of Delaware, Wesleyan University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California Riverside, University of Bridgeport, New York Medical College, Indiana University, Washington University in St. Louis, Purdue University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Liverpool, University of Utah, University of Saskatchewan, École Normale Supérieure, Rockefeller University, University of Oxford
  • Master’s Program – Southern Connecticut State University, Northeastern University, University of Colorado, Ohio State University, University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart University, Purdue University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Western Governors University
  • MBA Program – Southern Connecticut State University, Albertus Magnus College, University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University
  • MD Program– Drexel University, University of Connecticut, St. George’s University Grenada, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Wayne State University, University of Pittsburgh, Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Pharmacy Program – University of Connecticut, University of New England, Creighton University
  • Physician Assistant Program – New York Institute of Technology, University of Saint Joseph
  • Law School – Quinnipiac University, Georgetown University, University of Connecticut

Academia

  • High School teacher – New Haven CT, Moreno Valley CA, Woodbridge CT, Suffield CT, Seymour CT, Naugatuck CT.  
  • Adjunct Faculty – Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University
      

Government Labs

  • Forensic Scientist - CT Department of Public Safety Toxicology Laboratory, Meriden, CT
  • CCT/Research Analyst - CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Manchester, CT
  • Laboratory Technician/Source Water Inspector - City of Meriden Water Department, Meriden, CT
       

Health Care

  • Laboratory Technician – LabCorp, Shelton, CT
  • Medical Lab Tech - CleanSlate Centers, East Hartford, CT
  • Laboratory Technologist - Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
  • Clinical Laboratory Assistant - Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
      

Sales

  • Senior Account Manager - Essential Ingredients Inc, Washington, NJ
  • Director of Sales - Custom Capsule Consultants, New York City, NY
  • Marketing & Business Development Professional - BYK Additives, Wallingford, CT
  • Market Development Manager - Vencorex Chemicals, Freeport, TX
       

Human Resources

  • Pharmaceutical Recruiter - TriNet Pharma, MA
       

Health and Safety

  • Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability Coordinator - Hubbard-Hall Inc, Naugatuck, CT
      

Regulatory Affairs

  • Product Safety & Regulatory Affairs Specialist – Henkel, Plano, TX
      

Industry Labs

  • Quality Control Technician - King Industries, Norwalk, CT
  • R&D Laboratory Assistant - Duracell Inc, New Haven, CT
  • Chemist - Bedoukian Research Inc, Danbury, CT
  • Quality Assurance Associate - Trevi Therapeutics Inc, New Haven, CT
  • Associate Scientist - Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc, Stratford, CT
  • Environmental Laboratory Technician - York Analytical Laboratories Inc, Stratford, CT
  • Chemist – Origins Laboratory Inc, Denver, CO
  • Research Associate - Abbratech Inc, New Haven, CT
  • Organic Laboratory Assistant Manager – AccuStandard, Meriden CT
  • Quality Control Chemist – AccuStandard, Meriden, CT
  • Process Engineer – Ashland Inc, Wilmington, DE
  • Staff Chemist Staff Chemist - Handy and Harman, Fairfield, CT
  • Customer Quality Engineer - MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions, West Haven, CT
  • Chemist - MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Danbury, CT
  • Research And Development Scientist - U.S. Chrome Corporation, New Haven, CT
  • Analytical Chemist - Absolute Standards Inc, Meriden, CT
  • Senior Chemist – Laticrete International, Bethany, CT
  • Scientist – Unilever, Cohoes, NY
  • Research Chemist – Solvay, Stamford, CT
  • Senior Scientist - Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, CT
  • Bioinformatics Scientist - Sema4, West Haven, CT
  • Lab Manager - Progressive Diagnostics, Trumbull, CT
  • Scientist – Kaust Inc, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
  • Chemist – Arthrex, Ave Maria, FL
  • Chemist - CT Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT
  • Research Chemist - Technic Inc, Providence, RI
  • Research and Development Associate – Reckitt Inc, Parsippany, NJ
  • Chemist - L'Oréal, Clark, NJ
  • Lead Process Engineer - Quantum Biopower, Southington, CT
  • Analytical Chemist - Corden Pharma, Boulder, CO
  • Analytical Chemist - Thor Specialties, Shelton, CT
  • Scientific Associate – Henkel, Rocky Hill, CT
  • Laboratory Technician – PepsiCo, Valhalla, NY
  • R&D Chemist - Element Solutions Inc, Hamden, CT
  • Associate Scientist – Invicro Inc, Guilford, CT
  • Principal Research Associate - Tome Biosciences, Watertown, MA
  • Chemistry Testing Analyst - Pratt & Whitney, Middletown, CT
  • Principal Materials and Process Engineer - Northrop Grumman, Palm Bay, FL
  • R&D Chemist - BYK Additives & Instruments, New Haven, CT
  • Analytical Technician – Allnex, Wallingford, CT
  • Field Services Engineer - Agilent Technologies, Trumbull, CT

Academia

  • Associate Professor - Northern Kentucky University, Newport, KY
  • Associate Professor – College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
  • Associate Professor – Holy Names University, Oakland, CA
  • Assistant Professor – University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT
  • Research Fellow - University of Glasgow, London, UK
  • Founder - Why Science, New Haven, CT
      

Health Care

  • Ophthalmologist - Eye Physicians & Surgeons of Arizona, Glendale, AZ
  • Pediatrician – Pediatric Associates of Cheshire, Cheshire, CT
  • Director of Cardiovascular Service Line – New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, NY
  • Physician Assistant - Hartford Hospital, Newington CT
  • Pharmacist - Steward Health Care, Fall River, MA
  • Supervisor of Specialty Chemistry – Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
  • Radiologist – Rad Artificial Intelligence, Atlanta, GA
      

Patent Law

  • Patent Attorney - Cadenza Innovation Inc, Danbury, CT
  • Law Associate - Pullman & Comley LLC, Glastonbury, CT
  • Chief Intellectual Property Counsel - Alere Inc, Cambridge, MA
      

Sales

  • Director of Field Sales - ET Browne Drug Company Inc, Sandy Hook, CT
  • North American Sales Manager of Surface Coatings – PQ Corporation, Woodbridge, CT
  • Account Executive, Oral & Specialty Drug Delivery - Catalent Pharma Solutions, Cambridge, MA
      

Marketing

  • Marketing Director – Arc3 Gases Inc, Dunn, NC
  • Senior Product/Partner Marketing Manager - Veeva Systems, New York City, NY
  • Technical Market Manager - Orion Engineered Carbons, Kingwood, TX
  • Manager of Business Development and New Product Development - ChemWerth Inc, Woodbridge, CT
      

Regulatory Affairs

  • Director of Quality & Regulatory Compliance – Bedoukian Research Inc, Danbury, CT
  • Group Director of Global Regulatory Business Capabilities - Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, CT
  • Regulatory Affairs Consultant and Owner - Ethidium Services LLC, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Senior Vice President of Regulatory, Compliance, and Technical Project Management – Chemwerth Inc, Woodbridge, CT  
  • Global Regulatory Lead, Science & Data Generation – UPL Inc, Waterbury, CT
      

Finances

  • Director of Alternative Investments – Pitcairn, Jenkintown, PA
  • Founder & Managing Partner – Shikari Partnership Ltd, Chicago, IL
      

Charitable Work

  • Program Officer of Crohn’s Disease Program – The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, New York City, NY
      

Upper Management

  • Vice President Operations and Owner - Kestrel Innovative Fibers, Narragansett, RI
  • Vice President & General Manager – Danaher Corp, NY
  • Head of Application Technology AMERICAS – Lanxess Inc, Hamden, CT
  • Senior Manager of R&D - B&R Products Inc, Miami, FL
  • Associate Director Quality Assurance - MannKind Corp, Danbury, CT
  • Business Development Manager – Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions, Freehold, NJ
  • Vice President of Scientific Affairs EMEA - Lupin Atlantis Holding SA, Zug, Switzerland
  • Director of Autonomous Driving and Safety Technology – ESI Automotive, Waterbury, CT
  • General Manager – Bright Innovation Labs, Phoenix, AZ
  • Director of Enterprise Informatics Product Owners – Waters Corp, Bristol, CT
  • Vice President of Chemistry – Walden Biosciences Inc, Cambridge, MA
  • Vice President of R&D – Drew Marine, Waterbury, CT
  • Director of Quality, Safety and Environmental of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast – Coca-Cola Inc, East Hartford, CT
  • COO and Vice President of Quality and Business Development - Astro Electroplating Inc, Shoreham, NY
       

Industry Lab Senior Positions

  • Senior Product Engineer - Johns Manville Industrial Insulation Group, Littleton, CO
  • Principal Scientist – Boehringer Ingelheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • FCC Development Chemist – Albemarle Corporation, Bayport, TX
  • Quality Assurance Manager – Precision Stability Storage LLC, Briarcliff Manor, NY
  • Coatings Research and Innovation Manager – Industrial Finishes and Systems, Inc, Eugene, OR
  • Head of Computational Chemistry – Animol-Discovery Inc, Boston, MA
  • Applications Director of Innovation – Drew Marine Inc, Waterbury, CT
  • Director, Quality Operations – Catalent Pharma Solutions, Palmetto, FL
  • ICP-OES R&D Project Leader – Perkin Elmer Inc, Bristol, CT
  • Vice President of Applied Technology - Incyte Corp, Philadelphia, PA
  • Senior Scientist – Green Light Biosciences, Medford, MA
  • Principal IT Business Systems Analyst – Medtronic Inc, North Haven, CT
  • Innovation Manager – Beiersdorf, Wilton, CT
  • R&D Project Manager - MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Richmond, VA
  • Process Engineer - Tokyo Electron US, Albany, NY
  • Global Director Research Operations Circuitry Solutions - MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Waterbury, CT
  • Director of Fragrance & Flavors - Carrubba Inc, Milford, CT
  • Senior Scientist – Henkel Inc, Trumbull, CT
  • Senior Associate Scientist - Pfizer Medicinal Chemistry, Groton, CT
  • Senior Development Engineer - Medtronic Vascular, North Haven, CT