careers with chemistry phd

PhD Program

Professor Wender discusses chemistry with his graduate students.

Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental sciences.

The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for graduate study spanning contemporary subfields, including theoretical, organic, inorganic, physical, biophysical and biomedical chemistry and more. Much of the research defies easy classification along traditional divisions; cross-disciplinary collaborations with Stanford's many vibrant research departments and institutes is among factors distinguishing this world-class graduate program.

The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development.  This advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement with mutual respect by both the adviser and advisee.

• The adviser is expected to meet at least monthly with the graduate student to discuss on-going research.
• There should be a yearly independent development plan (IDP) meeting between the graduate student and adviser. Topics include research progress, expectations for completion of PhD, areas for both the student and adviser to improve in their joint research effort.
• A research adviser should provide timely feedback on manuscripts and thesis chapters.
• Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
• If there is a significant issue concerning the graduate student’s progress in research, the adviser must communicate this to the student and to the Graduate Studies Committee in writing.  This feedback should include the issues, what needs to be done to overcome these issues and by when.

Academic advising by Stanford faculty is a critical component of all graduate students' education and additional resources can be found in the  Policies and Best Practices for Advising Relationships at Stanford  and the  Guidelines for Faculty-Student Advising at Stanford .

Learn more about the program through the links below, and by exploring the research interests of the  Chemistry Faculty  and  Courtesy Faculty .

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Found 136 jobs

Browse through varied chemist job roles, including postdoc, researcher, and professor positions, among others. Nature Careers provides opportunities for chemists at every career stage, from recent graduates to seasoned experts.

Vice President, Nature Communications Portfolio

• New York City, New York (US), Berlin, or Heidelberg
• Competitive salary and excellent benefits
• Springer Nature Ltd

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in the market-leading journal Nature Portfolio and help drive its overall contribution.

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Overseas Talent, Embarking on a New Journey Together at Tianjin University

• Tianjin, China
• This will be evaluated case by case.
• Tianjin University (TJU)

We cordially invite outstanding young individuals from overseas to apply for the Excellent Young Scientists Fund Program (Overseas).

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• 4 days left
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Chair Professor Positions in the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

• Competitive salary

SPST seeks top Faculty scholars in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

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Chair Professor Positions in the School of Materials Science and Engineering

SMSE consists of materials science-related majors and research, including metallic materials, ceramic materials, polymeric materials...

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PhD/master's Candidate

• Kanazawa University

PhD/master's Candidate    Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University is seeking candidates for PhD and master's students i...

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Global Talent Recruitment of Xinjiang University in 2024

• Wulumuqi city, Ürümqi, Xinjiang Province, China
• Salary and benefits can be contacted by phone with the person in charge.
• Xinjiang University

Recruitment involves disciplines that can contact the person in charge by phone.

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Assistant/Associate Professor in Sustainable Biobased Products Manufacturing

• Lubbock, Texas
• Commensurate with experience
• Texas Tech University

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Head of Operational Excellence

• United States (US) - Remote
• $107,200 - $147,400
• American Physical Society

In this key position, you’ll be responsible for ensuring efficiency and quality in journal workflows through continuous improvement and innovation.

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• 13 days ago
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Rowland Fellowship

• Cambridge, Massachusetts
• $89,999 per year
• Rowland Institute at Harvard

The Rowland Institute at Harvard seeks outstanding early-career experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering.

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Faculty Positions at the Center for Machine Learning Research (CMLR), Peking University

• Beijing, China
• Center for Machine Learning Research (CMLR), Peking University

CMLR's goal is to advance machine learning-related research across a wide range of disciplines.

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• 14 days ago
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Faculty Positions at SUSTech Department of Biomedical Engineering

• Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
• A globally competitive start-up package will be provided
• Southern University of Science and Technology (Biomedical Engineering)

We seek outstanding applicants for full-time tenure-track/tenured faculty positions. Positions are available for both junior and senior-level.

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W3-Professorship (with tenure) in Inorganic Chemistry

• 53113, Zentrum (DE)
• "-"
• Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität

The Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Bonn invites applications for a W3-Pro...

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• 16 days ago
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Research Positions in China Spallation Neutron Source

• Dongguan, Guangdong, China
• CSNS offers competitive salaries and sufficient start-up funds, commensurate with qualifications.
• Spallation Neutron Source Science Center

We are seeking 23 researchers with a proven track record of conducting advanced research and demonstrating outstanding academic achievements.

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• 17 days ago
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Faculty Positions in School of Engineering, Westlake University

• Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
• Westlake University

The School of Engineering (SOE) at Westlake University is seeking to fill multiple tenured or tenure-track faculty positions in all ranks.

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Research Associate (part-time) / Ph.D. candidate in Surface Science

• Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE)

  The University of Bonn is an international research university with a wide education and research profile. With a 200-year history, approximately...

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Faculty Positions, Aging and Neurodegeneration, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine

• Internationally competitive salary and startup package
• Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine (WLLSB)

Applicants with expertise in aging and neurodegeneration and related areas are particularly encouraged to apply.

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Faculty Positions in Chemical Biology, Westlake University

• Internationally competitive salary and startup package will be provided
• School of Life Sciences, Westlake University

We are seeking outstanding scientists to lead vigorous independent research programs focusing on all aspects of chemical biology including...

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Calling for Application! Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School Global Recruitment

• Highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience and accomplishments.
• Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School

To reshape graduate education as well as research and development to better serve local, national, regional, and global sustainable development.

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Chief Editor, Physical Review X

• $120,000 - $165,000

The Chief Editor of PRX, you will build on this reputation and shape the journal’s scope and direction for the future.

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Assistant/Associate Professor, New York University Grossman School of Medicine

• New York (US)
• $140,000 - $160,680
• NYU Langone Health

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the NYUGSoM in Manhattan invite applications for tenure-track positions.

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105 PhD jobs in Chemistry

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Assistant department Green Chemistry and Technology (27090)

    →   Apply until 28/05/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time)    →   Faculty of Bioscience Engineering    →   Department BW24 - Green Chemistry and Technology    →   AAP temporary appointment - 100%    →   Number of openings: 1    →   Referenc...

Full-time research and teaching assistant position in chemistry - Faculty of sciences

Reference : 2024/S243Application deadline: 27/06/2024 Start date : 01/10/2024Job DescriptionThis position is intended for candidates wishing to undertake a PhD in Science in the field of chemistry. The work includes two aspects: a research activit...

PhD Position: Nanotechnology for Gas Sensing

PhD Position: Nanotechnology for Gas SensingThe research of the Human-​centered Sensing Laboratory centers around physics, chemistry and medicine to gain new fundamental understanding in micro/nano...

Reference : 2024/S244Application deadline: 27/06/2024 Start date : 01/10/2024Job DescriptionThis position is intended for candidates wishing to undertake a PhD in Science in the field of chemistry. The work includes two aspects: a research activit...

Doctoral scholarship holder ecotoxicology PFAS systemic regional approach to assess spatial distribution, transfer, exposure and remediation of widespread pollution in Willebroek, Flanders

Let’s shape the future - University of AntwerpThe University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, c...

Early Stage Researcher - PhD Student (m/f/d) SB24-0074

The University for Continuing Education Krems specializes in part-time academic continuing education. As a public university for continuing education, it works with its expertise in teaching and research to overcome societal challenges and tailors...

Research and Teaching Assistant (PhD student) in food Science-Ghent University Global campus, Korea

Job summaryFull time Research and Teaching Assistant (PhD candidate in Food Science and Technology)-Ghent University Global campus.Departments:KR01 – Department of Environmental Technology, Food Technology and Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent Univer...

Doctoral Researcher in Process Metallurgy (solidification of steel)

The University of Oulu is one of the biggest and most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We create new knowledge and innovations that help to solve global challenges. We offer you an intern...

Doctoral Researcher in Process Metallurgy (reduction of chromite)

PhD-student: Non-Hermitian nano-optomechanical networks and their sensing performance

The Photonic Forces group seeks a motivated and talented PhD student working at the intersection of the fields of nano-optomechanics and topological physics. Nanomechanical resonators are versatile...

Three-year PhD position in Physics (Photonics, Optoelectronics, Material Science): Giant interband transition nanostructures - optical and optoelectronic properties and application in photodetection

RESEARCHER PROFILE: PhD/ R1: First stage Researcher                  RESEARCH FIELD(S)1: PhysicsMAIN SUB RESEARCH FIELD OR DISCIPLINES1: EngineeringJOB /OFFER DESCRIPTION: Giant interband transition nanostructures, which are based on semiconductor...

PhD position: exploring a shared upstream pathway as potential driver of ICU-acquired muscle weakness and adrenal insufficiency in prolonged critical illness

The selected candidate will conduct translational PhD research under the supervision of Prof. Greet Van den Berghe and Prof. Lies Langouche. You will join the Intensive Care Medicine Research Group...

PhD Positions in Cancer Research

Are you looking for excellent research opportunities for your PhD studies at the forefront of cancer research? The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg invites international students holding a Master’s degree in (molecular) biology, ...

Upcoming PhD Positions at the International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life in Autumn 2024

More information for the new call-out will come up during Autumn 2024. Stay tuned!The International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) will have an open call for fully-funded PhD student positions in the areas of biochemis...

Upcoming PhD positions at the CGA

Call for applications for up to 12 PhD positions at the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research opens soon! The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on St...

International Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences in Switzerland

*New application deadlines for two open calls per year: November 1 and May 1!Life Science Zurich Graduate School offers more than 100 funded PhD positions. With around 500 research groups and more than 1600 Ph.D. students, the Life Science Zurich ...

PhD on the impact of energy-efficient and nature-inspired lighting strategies on greenhouse crop biology

At the Department of Biosystems of the University of Leuven (Belgium), the lab of Prof. Bram Van de Poel (http://bramvandepoel.wixsite.com/vandepoel-lab) conducts research on molecular plant hormon...

PhD position in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion

PhD position in Electrochemical Energy Storage and ConversionThe Electrochemical Energy Systems Laboratory (PI: Prof. Lukatskaya) in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zuri...

The role of calcium in trophoblast differentiation

Our laboratory is a young and vibrant research group embedded in the Department of Development and Regeneration, focusing on calcium signalling during reproduction, and more specifically placental ...

Junior Scientist - Quantum sensing (f/m/d)

YOUR FUTURE RESPONSIBILITIESBringing together applied science and industry, SAL offers research in the areas of Sensor Systems, Intelligent Wireless Systems, Power Electronics and Embedded Systems. The position will be located within the Sensor Sy...

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Transferring Your Ph.D. Chemist Skills to a Nontraditional Career

By Lisa M. Balbes, Ph.D., Balbes Consultants LLC

During graduate school, you’ve been thinking about chemistry, your particular field of research, and specific scientific techniques and methods. But have you spent any time thinking about yourself, and what you really want to do for the next step in your career?

The traditional career path for a Ph.D. chemist is to pursue a professorship or to do research in a government or industry laboratory. Fortunately, during your graduate career you probably got hands-on teaching and research experience to support the pursuit of these career trajectories. But what if you realize that you really don’t like teaching? Or that hands-on bench chemistry, or even research, is not what you love? Do you need to start over in order to pursue a nontraditional path? Absolutely not!

Consider Your “Transferable Skills”

During your postgraduate studies, you have been acquiring all kinds of knowledge and skills that the “real world” values highly. If you spend some time thinking about knowledge you have gained, as well as what you have to offer a potential employer, you will find all sorts of “transferable skills”—things you know how to do that you can immediately apply in another field.

For example, while you may have found that you don’t like teaching a chemistry lab class, you may also have discovered that you really enjoy mentoring others and helping them one-on-one. This might lead you to explore careers in technical support, where you instruct individual scientists in how to use new equipment after they have purchased it.

Maybe you realized that while research chemistry is not for you, what you are really good at is writing up the results of that research into journal articles and reports. In that case, technical writing or editing would be a promising career path for you to explore.

Identify Your Strengths

Exploring your career options comes down to understanding what your strengths are and what you enjoy doing. Often these are the same, so it’s just a matter of identifying them. Start by asking yourself, “What are my most significant accomplishments so far in my career?” Then explain in detail (out loud or in writing) what made them so satisfying.

A colleague recently told me his most significant accomplishment was an oral presentation he gave to his department. However, when asked to elaborate, he talked at length about how the work bridged two departments, and he had to do all sorts of political maneuvering to get them to agree on how the work would be presented. He did not mention the technical subject of the talk once. What made it so significant for him was not the science, but serving as the bridge between departments and negotiating deals between people. He is now looking into a career in technology transfer, where serving as a bridge between companies will be the main focus of his day.

Some other questions you can use to identify your transferable skills are:

• What do other people say you’re good at, or ask you for help with?
• What are you doing when you lose track of time?
• Are you a people person or a data person?
• Are you a big picture guy or a detail gal?
• Is it the tool or the technique that excites you?
• Do you prefer organizing people or things?
• What sort of things do you do in your free time? (You learn there too!)
• What do you feel passionate about?

Focus on Your Passion

Consider the course of your career and ask yourself, “When am I having the most fun?”

If writing your dissertation is the most fun part of your career, then looking into careers in technical writing might be in order.

If explaining to nonscientists how your research is going to make the world a better place gets your juices going, a career in public affairs or public relations might be for you.

If you wake up in the morning thrilled that you’re going to be helping one of your friends figure out what to do with his or her career, perhaps the profession of human resources is in your future.

If you look forward to discussing things with your adviser and convincing him or her that yours is the better way to proceed, then perhaps a career in technical sales deserves some consideration.

If learning about and implementing safer ways of doing things, and then ensuring that your labmates follow the safest procedures, is where you prefer to spend your time, then a career in chemical health and safety (inspector, agent) might be for you.

Throughout your career, you have collected reams and reams of data and learned various techniques of data analysis and critical thinking to turn that data into actual useful information and hypotheses. If the analysis interests you more than the collecting, maybe being a business analyst position is for you.

Perhaps you have had to consider the intellectual property (IP) implications of your research. Instead of the rigorous right-and-wrong, black-and-white of science, did you enjoy the more flexible shades-of-gray world of intellectual property? If so, you may want to talk to IP law firms, many of which hire Ph.D. scientists straight out of graduate school to serve as technical specialists.

No matter which of your skills you enjoy using the most, there is sure to be a career path that will take advantage of that. Once you have identified the skills you want to use, talk to career counselors and/or more experienced scientists, and ask them what career paths might let you do that. Find professional societies that cover your new field, and see what career resources they have. See a list of resources to start your exploration .

Everything you have done so far has taught you something. In some cases, it taught you that you never want to do that again. In other cases, you learned that you were good at something unexpected, or you enjoyed using a new skill. If you take the time to identify the skills and tasks you truly enjoy, then explore career paths that will let you use them, you will have learned the most valuable lesson of all.

Lisa M. Balbes, Ph.D., of Balbes Consultants LLC is the author of this article. Lisa has been a freelance technical writer and editor for almost 20 years. She is also the author of Nontraditional Careers for Chemists, published by Oxford University Press.

Taking a Closer Look

Chemistry Grad Student & Postdoc Blog Thoughts on “Transferring Your Ph.D. Chemists Skills into a Nontraditional Career”

CENtral Science: Just Another Electron Pusher The beauty of transferable skills: How grad school prepares you for careers off the beaten path

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April 19, 2012

What does a Ph.D. in chemistry get you?

By Janet D. Stemwedel

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

A few weeks back, Chemjobber had an interesting post looking at the pros and cons of a PhD program in chemistry at a time when job prospects for PhD chemists are grim. The post was itself a response to a piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education by a neuroscience graduate student named Jon Bardin which advocated strongly that senior grad students look to non-traditional career pathways to have both their Ph.D.s and permanent jobs that might sustain them. Bardin also suggested that graduate students "learn to approach their education as a series of learning opportunities rather than a five-year-long job interview," recognizing the relative luxury of having a "safe environment" in which to learn skills that are reasonably portable and useful in a wide range of career trajectories -- all while taking home a salary (albeit a graduate-stipend sized one).

Chemjobber replied :

Here's what I think Mr. Bardin's essay elides: cost. His Ph.D. education (and mine) were paid for by the US taxpayer. Is this the best deal that the taxpayer can get? As I've said in the past , I think society gets a pretty good deal: they get 5+ years of cheap labor in science, (hopefully) contributions to greater knowledge and, at the end of the process, they get a trained scientist. Usually, that trained scientist can go on to generate new innovations in their independent career in industry or academia. It's long been my supposition that the latter will pay (directly and indirectly) for the former. If that's not the case, is this a bargain that society should continue to support? Mr. Bardin also shows a great deal of insouciance about the costs to himself: what else could he have done, if he hadn't gone to graduate school? When we talk about the costs of getting a Ph.D., I believe that we don't talk enough about the sheer length of time (5+ years) and what other training might have been taken during that time. Opportunity costs matter! An apprenticeship at a microbrewery (likely at a similar (if not higher) pay scale as a graduate student) or a 1 or 2 year teaching certification process easily fits in the half-decade that most of us seem to spend in graduate school. Are the communications skills and the problem-solving skills that he gained worth the time and the (opportunity) cost? Could he have obtained those skills somewhere else for a lower cost?

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Chemjobber also note that while a Ph.D. in chemistry may provide tools for range of careers, actually having a Ph.D. in chemistry on your resume is not necessarily advantageous in securing a job in one of those career.

As you might imagine this is an issue to which I have given some thought. After all, I have a Ph.D. in chemistry and am not currently employed in a job that is at all traditional for a Ph.D. in chemistry. However, given that it has been nearly two decades since I last dipped a toe into the job market for chemistry Ph.D.s, my observations should be taken with a large grain of sodium chloride.

First off, how should one think of a Ph.D. program in chemistry? There are many reasons you might value a Ph.D. program. A Ph.D. program may be something you value primarily because it prepares you for a career of a certain sort. It may also be something you value for what it teaches you, whether about your own fortitude in facing challenges, or about how the knowledge is built. Indeed, it is possible --- maybe even common --- to value your Ph.D. program for more than one of these reasons at a time. And some weeks, you may value it primarily because it seemed like the path of least resistance compared to landing a "real job" right out of college.

I certainly don't think it's the case that valuing one of these aspects of a Ph.D. program over the others is right or wrong. But ...

Economic forces in the world beyond your graduate program might be such that there aren't as many jobs suited to your Ph.D. chemist skills as there are Ph.D. chemists competing for those jobs. Among other things, this means that earning a Ph.D. in chemistry does not guarantee you a job in chemistry on the other end.

To which, as the proud holder of a Ph.D. in philosophy, I am tempted to respond: join the club! Indeed, I daresay that recent college graduates in many, many majors have found themselves in a world where a bachelors degree guarantees little except that the student loans will still need to be repaid.

To be fair, my sense is that the mismatch between supply of Ph.D. chemists and demand for Ph.D. chemists in the workplace is not new. I have a vivid memory of being an undergraduate chemistry major, circa 1988 or 1989, and being told that the world needed more Ph.D. chemists. I have an equally vivid memory of being a first-year chemistry graduate student, in early 1990, and picking up a copy of Chemical & Engineering News in which I read that something like 30% too many Ph.D. chemists were being produced given the number of available jobs for Ph.D. chemists. Had the memo not reached my undergraduate chemistry professors? Or had I not understood the business model inherent in the production of new chemists?

Here, I'm not interested in putting forward a conspiracy theory about how this situation came to be. My point is that even back in the last millennium, those in the know had no reason to believe that making it through a Ph.D. program in chemistry would guarantee your employment as a chemist.

So, what should we say about this situation?

One response to this situation might be to throttle production of Ph.D. chemists.

This might result in a landscape where there is a better chance of getting a Ph.D. chemist job with your Ph.D. in chemistry. But, the market could shift suddenly (up or down). Were this to happen, it would take time to adjust the Ph.D. throughput in response. As well, current PIs would have to adjust to having fewer graduate students to crank out their data. Instead, they might have to pay more technicians and postdocs. Indeed, the number of available postdocs would likely drop once the number of Ph.D.s being produced more closely matched the number of permanent jobs for holders of those Ph.D.s.

Needless to say, this might be a move that the current generation of chemists with permanent positions at the research institutions that train new chemists would find unduly burdensome.

We might also worry about whether the thinning of the herd of chemists ought to happen on the basis of bachelors-level training. Being a successful chemistry major tends to reflect your ability to learn scientific knowledge, but it's not clear to me that this is a great predictor of how good you would be at the project of making new scientific knowledge.

In fact, the thinning of the herd wherever it happens seems to put a weird spin on the process of graduate-level education. Education , after all, tends to aim for something bigger, deeper, and broader than a particular set of job skills. This is not to say that developing skills is not an important part of an education --- it is! But in addition to these skills, one might want an understanding of the field in which one is being educated and its workings. I think this is connected to how being a chemist becomes linked to our identity, a matter of who we are rather than just of what we do.

Looked at this way, we might actually wonder about who could be harmed by throttling Ph.D. program enrollments.

Shouldn't someone who's up for the challenge have that experience open to her, even if there's no guarantee of a job at the other end? As long as people have accurate information with which to form reasonable expectations about their employment prospects, do we want to be paternalistic and tell them they can't?

(There are limits here, of course. There are not unlimited resources for the training of Ph.D. chemists, nor unlimited slots in graduate programs, nor in the academic labs where graduate students might participate meaningfully in research. The point is that maybe these limits are the ones that ought to determine how many people who want to learn how to be chemists get to do that.)

Believe it or not, we had a similar conversation in a graduate seminar filled with first and second year students in my philosophy Ph.D. program. Even philosophy graduate students have an interest in someday finding stable employment, the better to eat regularly and live indoors. Yet my sense was that even the best graduate students in my philosophy Ph.D. program recognized that employment in a job tailor-made for a philosophy Ph.D. was a chancy thing. Certainly, there were opportunity costs to being there. Certainly, there was a chance that one might end up trying to get hired to a job for which having a PhD would be viewed as a disadvantage to getting hired. But the graduate students in my philosophy program had, upon weighing the risks, decided to take the gamble.

How exactly are chemistry graduate students presumed to be different here? Maybe they are placing their bets at a table with higher payoffs, and where the game is more likely to pay off in the first place. But this is still not a situation in which one should expect that everyone is always going to win. Sometimes the house will win instead.

(Who's the house in this metaphor? Is it the PIs who depend on cheap grad-student labor? Universities with hordes of pre-meds who need chemistry TAs and lab instructors? The public that gets a screaming deal on knowledge production when you break it down in terms of price per publishable unit? A public that includes somewhat more members with a clearer idea of how scientific knowledge is built? Specifying the identity of the house is left as an exercise for the reader.)

Maybe the relevant difference between taking a gamble on a philosophy Ph.D. and taking a gamble on a chemistry Ph.D. is that the players in the latter have, purposely or accidentally, not been given accurate information about the odds of the game.

I think it's fair for chemistry graduate students to be angry and cynical about having been misled as far as likely prospects for employment. But given that it's been going on for at least a couple decades (and maybe more), how the hell is it that people in Ph.D. programs haven't already figured out the score? Is it that they expect that they will be the ones awesome enough to get those scarce jobs? Have they really not thought far enough ahead to seek information (maybe even from a disinterested source) about how plausible their life plans are before they turn up at grad school? Could it be that they have decided that they want to be chemists when they grow up without doing sensible things like reading the blogs of chemists at various stages of careers and training?

Presumably, prospective chemistry grad students might want to get ahold of the relevant facts and take account of them in their decision-making. Why this isn't happening is somewhat mysterious to me, but for those who regard their Ph.D. training in chemistry as a means to a career end, it's absolutely crucial -- and trusting the people who stand to benefit from your labors as a graduate student to hook you up with those facts seems not to be the best strategy ever.

And, as I noted in comments on Chemjobber's post , the whole discussion suggests to me that the very best reason to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry is because you want to learn what it is like to build new knowledge in chemistry, in an academic setting. Since being plugged into a particular kind of career (or even job) on the other end is a crap-shoot, if you don't want to learn about this knowledge-building process -- and want it enough to put up with long hours, crummy pay, unrewarding piles of grading, and the like -- then possibly a Ph.D. program is not the best way to spend 5+ years of your life.

Careers with a Chemistry Degree

• Engineering

Perhaps when one thinks of what they can do with a chemistry degree, they think, "Well, I can go on to graduate school and become a chemist". And yes, they can! But, that's just one of many, many careers options with this degree!

Chemistry degree programs can provide you with the necessary knowledge base and skill set to become successful in virtually any field that's even remotely related in some way to chemistry.

For example, chemistry graduates can be found applying their skills within the areas of environmental consulting, medical science, scientific equipment sales, science communication, teaching or academic research, and many, many other fields.

This careers guide contains detailed occupational information on career paths relevant to this degree. Included are job descriptions, expected salaries, educational requirements and other pertinent information related to these careers. We’ve also included chemistry-specific scholarships to help you pay for school!

Will I Need a Graduate Degree?

With an undergraduate chemistry degree, there are careers you may be able to jump right into. These are typically positions with lower levels of responsibility, often referred to as “entry-level” jobs. Jobs with a higher degree of responsibility will often require further education, training and/or experience to qualify for. This typically includes most teaching, research and consulting positions.

Fortunately, if you are interested in a career that requires further education, an undergraduate degree in this field serves as a great foundation for advanced study, in this and other graduate and professional programs, such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine and Law.

Careers Directly Relevant to a Chemistry Degree

The knowledge and skills you can gain by studying chemistry at the university level serve as an excellent foundation for the following careers (not an inclusive list):

• Agricultural Chemist

• Air Pollution Monitor

• Brewmaster

• Chemical Analyst

• Chemical Engineer

• Chemical Information Specialist

• Chemical Oceanographer

• Chemical Safety Officer

• Chemical Technician

• Clinical Chemist

• Clinical Data Analyst

• Clinical Research Associate

• Clinical Research Coordinator

• Clinical Technician

• Consumer Advocate

• Crime Lab Assistant

• DNA Analyst

• Elementary School Teacher

• Energy Engineer

• Energy Policy Analyst

• Energy Researcher

• Entrepreneur

• Environmental Chemist

• Flavorist

• Food and Drug Inspector

• Food Chemist

• Food Safety Auditor

• Food Scientist

• Food Technologist

• Forensic Chemist

• Forensic Lab Analyst

• High School Teacher

• Industrial Chemist

• Laboratory Manager

• Materials Scientist

• Medical Laboratory Technologist

• Medical Writer

• Methods Development Chemist

•  Military Officer

• Nanotechnologist

• New Food Product Developer

• Nuclear Chemist

• Organic Chemist

• Patent Agent

• Pest Control Technician

• Petroleum Chemist

• Pharmaceutical Chemist

• Pharmacist

• Pharmacologist

• Pulp and Paper Chemist

• Quality Control Specialist

• Regulatory Affairs Manager

• Regulatory Affairs Specialist

• Research Assistant

• Research Chef

• Sales Representative

• Science Advisor

• Science Writer

• Technical Writer

• Textile Chemist

• Toxicologist

• University Professor

• Wastewater Operator

• Wastewater Treatment Engineer

• Water Purification Chemist

• Water Quality Analyst

• Water Quality Control Manager

Please Note: Some of the above listed careers require additional education, training and/or experience. Click on careers that are of interest to you to find out more about the qualifications you’ll need.

What Types of Employers Hire Chemistry Majors?

There are many employers, across many different sectors of industry that are interested in the skills and knowledge of chemistry majors, including:

• Cosmetics and fragrance production companies

• Computer and telecommunication companies

• Pulp and paper companies

• Consulting firms

• Pharmaceutical companies

• Municipal, regional and federal government agencies

• Universities, colleges and schools

• Hospitals & other medical organizations

• Magazines and newspapers

• Environment and pollution control firms

• Fine and heavy chemical manufacturing companies

• Food and beverage production companies

• Mining and metallurgy companies

• Law Firms

• Oil and gas companies

• Plastic manufacturing companies

• Engineering firms

• Industrial inspection firms

• Scientific research and development companies

Transferable Skills You Can Learn

Apart from the technical skills that are specific to a chemistry degree, you will also develop fundamental professional skills through your studies. You can apply these skills to many careers not directly related to the field. These skills include:

• Effective listening skills

• Presentation skills

• Data recording and analysis skills

• Competitive leadership skills

• Ability to work efficiently independently or in a team

• Organizational communication fluidity

What Can I Do with These Skills?

You could apply these skills to a career as a lawyer, a sales representative, a research chef, a small business owner, an advertising consultant…and the list goes on and on! There are virtually no limits to the type of career you can pursue!

While these skills may not “get you a job” in a field outside of chemistry, they will serve as an excellent foundation for gaining the required education, training or experience you will need to pursue these careers.

For example, simply putting “Data recording and analysis skills” on your resume will probably not be enough to land you a high-powered job in corporate law. On the other hand, having that skill and applying it to studying for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), will help you succeed at that test, and eventually become a lawyer.

Average Salary Levels of Chemistry Graduates

The salary you could earn with a chemistry degree varies based on a wide variety of factors, such as:

• The type, size, and budget of your employer

• The discretion of your employer • Your level of education and experience • Your level of certification (if applicable) • The region in which you work  • How much overtime you are able to work (if applicable) • The amount of responsibility inherent in your position • Your level of experience (it’s worth noting that people with several years worth of experience can often earn substantially in their profession more than what’s listed below)

The salary you could earn is also highly dependent on the career field you enter. Below is an overview of the average earnings of people in a few career fields that are relevant to a degree in chemistry. Please note however, that the salary information listed below is meant only to serve as a guideline. In many cases, workers in these fields can earn a much lower, or much higher salary, than what is listed below.

Agricultural Chemist (See “Chemist”)

Air Pollution Monitor (See “Chemical Technician”)

Brewmaster Alberta: N/A Canada: $50,825 (Canada) United States: N/A

Chemical Analyst (See “Chemist”)

Chemical Engineer Alberta: $107,372 (ALIS) Canada: $83,599 (indeed) United States: $86,872

Chemical Oceanographer Alberta: $128,940 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $101,541 (Glassdoor)

Chemical Safety Officer (See “Chemical Technician”)

Chemical Technician Alberta: $62,913 (ALIS) Canada: $45,397 (PayScale) United States: $35,280 (indeed)

Chemist Alberta: $79,450 (ALIS) Canada: $52,160 (indeed) United States: $62,640 (indeed)

Clinical Chemist (See “Chemist”)

Clinical Data Analyst Alberta: $64,360 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $75,687 (Glassdoor)

Clinical Technician Alberta: $77,398 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $51,770 (BLS)

Crime Lab Assistant Alberta: $62,913 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $57,850 (BLS)

Dentist Alberta: $154,564 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $158,120 (BLS)

DNA Analyst Alberta: $62,913 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $57,850 (BLS)

Energy Engineer Alberta: N/A Canada: $91,799 (indeed) United States:$82,839 (indeed)

Energy Policy Analyst Alberta: N/A Canada: $58,882 (PayScale) United States: $65,000 (Glassdoor)

Environmental Chemist (See “Chemist”)

Flavorist Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A/ United States: $63,545 (indeed)

Food Chemist Alberta: $80,949 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $71,780 (BLS)

Food Safety Auditor Alberta: $80,949 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $71,780 (BLS)

Forensic Lab Analyst Alberta: $62,913 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $57,850 (BLS)

High School Teacher Alberta: $73,966 (ALIS) Canada: $58,000 (PayScale) United States: $59,170 (BLS)

Industrial Chemist (See “Chemist”)

Laboratory Manager Alberta: N/A Canada: $63,590 (PayScale) United States: $60,174 (indeed)

Materials Scientist Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $101,910 (BLS)

Medical Laboratory Technologist Alberta: $77,398 (ALIS) Canada: $67,160 (Glassdoor) United States: $51,770 (BLS)

New Food Product Developer Alberta: N/A Canada: $48,609 (PayScale) United States: $72,294 (Glassdoor)

Patent Agent Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $116,000 (BLS)

Perfumer Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $122,084 (PayScale)

Petroleum Chemist Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $89,142 (Glassdoor)

Pharmacist Alberta: $98,037 (ALIS) Canada: $103,926 (Glassdoor) United States: $124,170 (BLS)

Pharmacologist Alberta: $84,998 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $82,090 (BLS)

Regulatory Affairs Manager Alberta: N/A Canada: $82,478 (indeed) United States: $105,290 (Glassdoor)

Research Chef Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $54,443 (Glassdoor)

Sales Representative Alberta: $62,683 (ALIS) Canada: $61,624 (indeed) United Sates: $60,340 (BLS)

Science Writer Alberta: $58,979 (ALIS) Canada: $56,634 (PayScale) United States: $57,549 (BLS)

Textile Chemist (See “Chemist”)

Toxicologist Alberta: $84,998 (ALIS) Canada: N/A United States: $74,631 (indeed)

Wastewater Operator Alberta: $63,721 (ALIS) Canada: $69,245 (PayScale) United States: $69,444 (Glassdoor)

Water Quality Analyst Alberta: N/A Canada: N/A United States: $53,460 (PayScale)

Salary Data Reference Information

ALIS: Alberta Learning and Information Service (alis.alberta.ca), sponsored by the Government of Alberta. For an overview of their salary survey methodology, please visit here . PayScale: Private organization owned by PayScale Incorporated (payscale.com). For an overview of their salary survey methodology, please visit here . BLS: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), sponsored by the federal government of the United States of America. For details regarding their salary survey methodology, please visit here . Glassdoor: Glassdoor is a private organization owned by Glassdoor incorporated (glassdoor.com). For an overview of their salary survey methodology, please visit here . Canadian Food Inspection Agency: For the career profile of “ Food & Drug Inspector ” 

Chemistry Scholarships

If you’re a chemistry major looking for help in paying for school, then you’re in luck! Our scholarships database has Canadian and American scholarships that are specific to chemistry , scholarships for science students in general, and scholarships that are open to any field of study.

Professional Associations for Careers in the Field

To find out more about careers directly related to your chemistry degree, consult the following professional association websites. They offer career-related information, and many have opportunities for student membership, as well as job placement and mentoring opportunities.

Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

Chemical Institute of Canada

United States

American Chemical Society

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

The American Institute of Chemists

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Impatient for change, Rainbow Lo joined Paris-based sustainable ‘deep tech’ agency Hello Tomorrow

Source: © Joshi Batten

Rainbow Lo uses her chemistry and materials expertise to assess the key technologies for transitioning to a more sustainable future

One of the most influential events in Rainbow Lo’s professional development occurred when she was 17. During her A-levels, she won a national science competition to join a group of astrobiologists and amateur rocket scientists on an expedition. The group headed to the Black Rocks desert in Nevada, US, to launch a device that would capture and detect extremophiles if present in the upper atmosphere. ‘I remember learning that science is not one straight line from A to B, it involves a lot of pivoting when things don’t go as planned. That set me up quite well for going into university and then beyond that, really for life,’ she says.

Now, after her interdisciplinary doctoral studies that encompassed chemical synthesis, cancer imaging and green energy production, Lo is a chemistry and materials expert for Paris-based ‘deep-tech’ evangelists and innovation consultancy, Hello Tomorrow, which specialises in accelerating startups investing in R&D intensive technologies that aim to solve substantial societal challenges.

Change the world

Lo grew up in London and remained there for her studies, finishing with a PhD in cancer biology and imaging sciences jointly supervised out of King’s College London and Imperial College London. But she already had itchy feet and took a secondment in Hong Kong, and then another with the Universities Space Research Organisation in California, US. There she worked on sustainable energy solutions for space with Lynn Rothschild from Nasa Ames, one of the astrobiologists she met when searching for microbes at 17.

While her stay in the US was curtailed by Covid-19, in 2021 Lo took up a postdoctoral research position at the Institut Curie research centre in Paris, France. During this time she started to think about her future, asking herself: ‘What do I want to do with my career? How can I have a big impact? What are the things that I can do to change the world for the better?’

The slow and uncertain pace of academic research did not satisfy Lo’s ambition to work for change, particularly in the area of sustainability and creating a more circular, less wasteful economy. ‘There are so many new technologies that are coming out, and it’s important for us as a society to find a way to develop and scale these new solutions,’ says Lo. When she read the description of her current job with Hello Tomorrow, she says she instantly knew ‘this is me’. Luckily the company agreed.

Hello Tomorrow is best-known for its Global Challenge competition, which provides a no strings attached €100,000 (£85,500) Grand Prize for early-stage deep tech startups, as well as smaller prizes and opportunities for coaching and other forms of support. Part of Lo’s role is to analyse the trends from the submissions to provide insights into the state of deep tech.

Lo also provides technical expertise in chemistry and materials to support Hello Tomorrow’s consultancy team, which works with clients across the chemical, polymer, construction and biotech industries. For instance, a client in the chemical manufacturing space could request help in becoming more sustainable and want to know the key technologies and partners they need to work with to make this a reality. ‘It’s honestly really impressive to see the technologies that are out there, and how much good you can do by connecting and facilitating these introductions,’ says Lo.

Lo’s role also involves a great deal of horizon scanning. ‘I can clearly see that green chemistry is increasing massively,’ she says, ‘you can see that from the money that people are investing [and] by the number of companies that apply to the early stage, deep tech competition.’

Curiouser and curiouser

Another big part of her role is communicating these trends and spreading the message through the webinars her company produces, such as a recent one she co-hosted on how AI might transform the chemical and manufacturing industries. ‘For me, that was one of the best examples of why I love my role so much – being able to work actively in this environment, and adding value and seeing that value have a tangible impact is the key thing that I’ve been aiming for.’

Lo says her ‘guiding light’ so far in her career has been to follow her curiosity and worked towards goals that stem from this. ‘I think having a passion, and seeing what clearly speaks to you is one of the most fundamental things … find out what motivates you [and] from there, you will be able to find fantastic experiences that will lead you to the destination.’

Her immediate goal is to improve her French, but longer term Lo wants to continue to dedicate her career to creating a more sustainable world. Moving into the future she says she ‘has no idea what role that would be, but I know whatever roles I’m going to move into, I’ll be able to apply my expertise and knowledge, add value to the institution, and have a huge impact’.

Rainbow Lo’s career path

2022–present: Expertise manager and deep tech lead, Hello Tomorrow, France

2021–2022: Senior scientist, Institut Curie, France

2020–2021: Scientist, USRA (Universities Space Research Organisation), based at the NASA Ames Research Centre, US and remote

2018–2019: Scientist (secondment), The University of Hong Kong

2016–2021: PhD in cancer biology and imaging sciences, jointly between Imperial College London and King’s College London, UK 

2015–2016: MRes Medical Imaging, King’s College London, UK

2011–2015: MSci Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University College London, UK

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Director of Development, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

🔍 graduate school of education, stanford, california, united states.

Main Work Location : Stanford Main Historical Campus.  Schedule: Hybrid work schedule (at least 2 days per week on-site).

To Apply:  Please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.

The Stanford University Graduate School of Education (GSE) is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work with the Associate Dean for External Relations to lead development efforts and execution of campaign activities and fundraising goals for the school. The Director of Development will oversee major gifts and lead the team of gift officers supporting corporate and foundation relations, planned giving and leadership annual giving.

The Stanford University Graduate School of Education (GSE) is dedicated to solving education's greatest challenges. Through rigorous research, model training programs and partnerships with educators worldwide, we're pursuing equitable, accessible and effective learning for all.

The GSE is a top-ranked school of education, known for its prestigious faculty, rigorous graduate degree programs, and its impact on the quality of education across the world. The GSE is committed to developing leaders in education research, practice and policy. Our community includes over 60 faculty, 400 students, 200 staff, 14,000 alumni and countless people from the local and global communities we work with and impact. 

The GSE’s External Relations team promotes the people, places, and pursuits of the Graduate School of Education by illuminating the achievements and goals of the school; engaging supporters in philanthropic opportunities; and facilitating participation by alums, donors, and friends in the life of the GSE. The Director of Development is a member of External Relations’ senior leadership team and is vital in connecting the Graduate School of Education with Stanford University and beyond.  

POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Associate Dean for External Relations, the Director for Development will develop and execute major gift fundraising strategies and accomplish the GSE’s capital campaign and ongoing fundraising goals. This position will manage a portfolio of major gift donors while overseeing a team of gift officers whose portfolios are integral to the success of school-wide major giving. The Director of Development also will engage the school’s alumni by seeking their participation as volunteers, advocates and donors. 

In this role, you will: 

• Manage a major gift portfolio and direct the efforts of major and leadership annual gifts officers.
• Plan and implement the GSE’s major gift fundraising plans and strategies.
• Work with volunteers and faculty to develop goals and fundraising activities.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth focusing on retention to increase capacity and stability of the team.
• Inspire and motivate staff by fostering a work environment that encourages new ideas, risk-taking, team-based efforts, celebrating current achievements and setting/meeting philanthropic goals.
• Hire and retain staff, offer career coaching, encourage professional development and guide performance of direct reports.
• Ensure appropriate resources are allocated towards programs, and resolve internal allocation issues. 

Additional responsibilities include: 

• Personally manage a portfolio of high potential individual prospects through the discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in Stanford that will lead to gifts in the seven- and eight-figure range.
• Provide strategic fundraising support to the Dean of the GSE and Associate Dean for External Relations and faculty leaders as appropriate.
• Supervise GSE’s development officers who focus on individual, planned giving, and corporate and foundation fundraising; lead staff to advance GSE relationships and solicitations, develop and support gift officer’s achievement of annual fundraising goals; leverage and ensure alignment of fundraising activities by gift officers.
• Convene regular team meetings and organize team-building activities to encourage collaboration and open communication; create a culture of celebration where accomplishments such as meeting fundraising goals are consistently acknowledged and celebrated.
• Monitor performance and offer mentoring and coaching options as requested by team members or suggested by the Associate Dean for External Relations.
• Facilitate and support capital campaign and fundraising activities by the GSE Advisory Council; facilitate relationships between potential and current GSE donors and volunteers; work closely with faculty leadership to build relationships between potential donors and faculty.
• Collaborate with other staff, academic leaders, and faculty to develop gift ideas and strategies and to foster relationships that will be productive for Stanford.
• Maintain a current body of knowledge about GSE priorities, particularly those elevated by the dean and faculty leaders.
• Become a go-to context expert on the GSE and its initiatives and serve as first author and strategist on complex, lead gifts.
• Other duties may also be assigned.

Preferred qualifications

• Ability to develop long-term relationships with major level donors and prospects, as well as a proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding seven- and eight-figure gifts.
• Creative problem-solving with strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to achieve results working through others – facilitating and enabling others to act will be as important as actions taken directly.
• The credibility, sound judgment and capacity to engage, inspire and persuade faculty, university administrators, donors, volunteers and colleagues.
• Proven skills in managing several competing priorities and complex issues creatively and effectively. This may include long-range strategic fundraising, donor development, and volunteer engagement with the day-to-day operations.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and motivating groups of diverse individuals.
• Ability to meet deadlines and function effectively in an environment demanding a high energy level, discretion, flexibility, and superior work.
• Proven ability to make independent decisions.
• Experience working in an academic environment and staffing senior academic leaders on donor calls as well as at volunteer meetings and events is desirable.
• Previous experience in a campaign is also highly desirable.

The expected pay range for this position is $147,000 to $218,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

WHY STANFORD IS FOR YOU:  Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enriches the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

• Freedom to grow . We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit courses. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
• A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
• A healthier you . Climb our rock wall or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
• Discovery and fun . Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
• Enviable resources.  Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at [email protected]. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form .

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• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 4296
• Employee Status: Regular
• Requisition ID: 103374
• Work Arrangement : Hybrid Eligible

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In collaboration with UPS and the UCLA Career Center join our program and our panel which consists  of current graduate students who will provide their insight into applying to graduate school.  Gather insight into how they have been able to fund their programs and overall experience navigating graduate school or professional degrees. Participating Panelists: Luis Garcia Chavez, 1st year Master of City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning (MURP) Candidate Maria Villarreal, 1st year Master of Public Policy (MPP) Candidate Karen Magana, 4th year PhD in Education Candidate (Virtual panelist) Esteban Arellano, 2nd year Master of Social Welfare (MSW) Candidate

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Beth Osia, who earned her Ph.D. in Integrated Biology in 2020 under the mentorship of Anna Malkova , will be giving a Career Development Series talk entitled, “Career Transition as a T32 Postdoc at a Cancer Research and Treatment Center,” on Tuesday, June 25 at 11:30am via Zoom. If interested in attending, email [email protected] for the Zoom link. The Career Development Series talks are hosted by the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. See additional details below.

Normandy High School graduate enjoying life as Secret Service special agent

• Updated: May. 17, 2024, 12:51 p.m. |
• Published: May. 17, 2024, 8:10 a.m.

Corina Pavel is a 2014 Normandy High School graduate who currently works as a Secret Service special agent. Courtesy of Corina Pavel

• John Benson, special to cleveland.com

PARMA, Ohio -- Parma native Corina Pavel never expected to pursue a career in law enforcement.

However, the 2014 Normandy High School graduate -- and current Secret Service special agent -- did recognize early on that a desk job wasn’t going to work for her.

“During high school, one thing I was certain about is that I could never have a career where it is the same daily, mundane operations,” said Pavel, who works out of the Philadelphia field office.

“I need to be challenged -- a basic 9-to-5 job would never work out for me.

“I have always had a strong desire to travel, to experience and learn about different cultures and languages,” she said.

“My goal was to eventually land a career that allowed me to travel the globe, which has worked out for me. With the Secret Service, we travel all over the United States and the world on protection and investigative missions.”

Born in Romania, Pavel moved stateside when she was a child.

Looking back at her days at Normandy High School, the special agent said that through academics and sports, she learned the importance of teamwork and communication, which led to self-confidence.

After high school, she attended Baldwin Wallace University, where she had a life-changing experience.

“My adviser/professor had a Secret Service agent come speak to my class,” she said.

“It really caught my interest and I never forgot about it. I still have my class notes from the agent’s class presentation.”

After graduating in 2018, Pavel earned a master’s degree from Mercyhurst University before applying to the Secret Service.

She was hired as a dual citizen Secret Service special agent.

One thing Pavel has discovered in the Secret Service is that the public generally has misconceptions about the ins and outs of the job.

“Most people assume that all I do is work presidential visits and fly around on Air Force One,” she said.

“Although I frequently support and work with the presidential detail, there are many layers and complexities in the work we do to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s leaders.”

The Secret Service boasts a mission of protecting the president and vice president and their families, as well as foreign heads of state and others.

However, the agency also investigates crimes against the financial infrastructure of the United States.

“While I’m assigned to work various protection visits, I also have active criminal investigations I’m the primary case agent on,” she said.

“As case agents, we make federal arrests, execute warrants, serve subpoenas, analyze records and so on.

“The Secret Service has a large selection of specialized assignments throughout the world and is a lot more than agents in dark suits, earpieces and Ray-Ban sunglasses.”

That said, Pavel acknowledged that she was just as surprised by her career path as her unsuspecting Invader classmates.

“A career in law enforcement was not something that I considered until I began my collegiate studies,” she said.

“Other than watching action movies, I was never exposed to anything law enforcement related.

“I’m unsure if any of my former classmates know that I’m a special agent. Chances are that this article will be how most people learn what I do for a career.”

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