Your major is just the beginning...
Your major helps you develop knowledge, skills and abilities that employers seek.
To identify additional skills and abilities you have developed through your coursework, activities and work, consider using the reflection worksheets (accessible via B.hired > Resources) and/or Type Focus (accessible via B.hired > Resources).
Internships
The Brandeis Internship Exchange is a convenient online tool to find and share internship opportunities.
Just log on with your UNET ID and use the advanced search to search internships by major.
Chemistry
- Overview
- First Destination Data
- Alumni Career Paths
- Internships
- What to Do with a Degree in Chemistry (.pdf)
- Sample Occupations
- Skills, Abilities & Knowledge
- Chemistry Web Sites
Overview
The undergraduate program in Chemistry is research-based and is supported by coursework in the major subfields of biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Chemistry graduates are well prepared to go on to professional work in chemistry or allied fields such as environmental science, polymer and materials science, biochemistry and biotechnology, or to continue their education in graduate, medical or other professional schools.
The Chemistry major offers broad training in modern chemistry, covering the major subfields—biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical—and at the same time allows students to pursue their own special interest(s). Chemistry is the central science studied and the chemistry major provides a solid preparation for professional work in chemistry and allied fields; for study at the graduate level in chemistry and in other related fields (biochemistry, environmental science, pharmacology, polymer science, etc.); for professional schools (medicine, dentistry); and for developing an understanding of the technological and scientific issues challenging our society today—useful professionally in law and business, as well as in everyday life.
First Destination Data
The Hiatt Center is pleased to provide a list of organizations, titles and fields of alumni who majored in your discipline. Click here to download a sortable excel spreadsheet listing the first destination graduate programs and employment opportunities that Chemistry alumni from the classes of 2008-2012 secured within six months of graduation.
The diverse list is indicative of the wealth of transferable skills students cultivate as a Chemistry major at Brandeis.
Chemistry Alumni
The Hiatt Center is pleased to provide a list of organizations, titles and fields of alumni who majored in your discipline. The list represents a wide array of professions, which is indicative of the wealth of transferable skills students cultivate as a Chemistry major at Brandeis.
| Year | Company | Title | Industry |
| 2011 | Boston Foundation for Sight | Clinical Research Assistant | Healthcare |
| 2008 | NYC Department of Education | Science Outreach, College Advising, and Post-Secondary Counselor | Education |
| 1999 | AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc | Operations Manager | Biotechnology/ Pharmaceuticals |
| 2010 | Broad Institute | Process Development Associate | Research |
| 1983 | C. S. Draper Lab | Member of Technical Staff | Aerospace, Aviation, Defense |
| 2002 | South Coast Ait Quality Management District | Law Clerk | Law |
| 1981 | Eloret Corporation | Senior Research Scientist/Task Manager | Scientific Research |
| 1977 | Hackensack Digestive Disease Associates | Physician, Castroenterologist | Health Care |
| 2003 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Ph.D. Candidate | Scientific Research |
| 1998 | PerkinElmer Life Science | Technical Support Specialist | Research |
| 1984 | Self | Plastic Surgeon | Health Care |
| 1995 | American Radiology | Radiologist | Health Care |
| 1982 | Philips Healthcare | Senior Manager | Information Technology |
| 1974 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Chief Newborn Medicine | Health Care |
| 1981 | Riverside Pediatrics | Attending Physician | Health Care |
| 1984 | Panospin Studios | Producer/Photographer | Arts/Media |
| 1995 | UnitedHealth Group | Director, Strategic Marketing | Health Care Administration |
Internships
In addition to you coursework, internships can be extremely beneficial as you develop academic and professional skills. The Brandeis Internship Exchange is an easy and convenient online tool for you to find and share real internship opportunities. Just log on with your UNET ID and use the advanced search to identify Chemistry majors' internships.
What to Do with a Degree in Chemistry (.pdf)
Sample Occupations
|
Agricultural Scientist |
Industrial Hygienist |
1 Excerpted from O*Net OnLine, US Department of Labor by the National Center for O*Net Development
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Skills1
- Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Knowledge
- Chemistry — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Computers and Electronics —Knowledge of electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
1 Excerpted from O*Net OnLine, US Department of Labor by the National Center for O*Net Development
Chemistry Websites
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Career Planning Links
- Professional Associations