Chemistry Jobs
Chemistry is the science that looks at what substances are made of, their structure and how they work, including how they react to different conditions.
Analytical Chemist
Analytical chemists investigate substances to see which chemicals they contain.
Their findings help to ensure the safety and quality of food and drink, develop drugs and medicines, monitor and protect public safety and the environment, diagnose disease, and increase the efficiency and safety of manufacturing processes.
Analytical chemists use a wide variety of methods and technologies in their analyses. For some tests, they can use automated testing machines to analyse hundreds of samples at once.
Other tests are more time-consuming, eg, using gas chromatography to separate compounds in a sample.
Colour Technologist
Colour technologists research, develop and manage the production and application of dyes and pigments.
They may research and develop the colorants themselves or work on the coloration of a wide range of materials, including fibres, textiles, paints, printing inks, soaps and detergents.
Recent areas of research and development include colour liquid crystal displays, the use of dyes in hospitals to diagnose illnesses, and colour use in the prevention of fraud.
Before a colour technologist can develop a new process or product, they must take into account safety, cost, manufacturing techniques and marketability.
In quality control, for example, they ensure that the dyes and pigments they work on are colour-fast.
Pharmacologist
Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs and medicines on humans and other animals. They research new medicines to treat or prevent disease, and then develop them through a process of experiments and analyses.
On average, it takes about 12 years to develop a new medicine, from the filing of a patent to the medicine’s launch and full availability.
Pharmacologists may be involved at any stage of the process, from research through to testing, and then producing the medical information needed to guide users of the new medicine.