NO PH.D.? NO PROBLEM
Not having a doctoral degree hasn’t held these chemists back from rewarding careers

There are plenty of opportunities in both the public and private sector for non-Ph.D. chemists because the greatest advantage of a chemistry degree is its flexibility and adaptability. Many bachelor's and master's degree holders branch out into other occupations where they're still able to use a lot of the skills they learned as part of their chemistry education, often combining their chemistry background with another area of interest.

CHANGING LANES Chemists such as DePaul are using their chemistry skills to work in diverse industries. PHOTO BY RICH GROGAN

Nichole DePaul, a 2000 graduate of Illinois State University, is a research engineer with Bowling Headquarters, which is a shared provider for the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling.

There is a lot of science behind the sport of bowling. Bowling balls, lane surfaces, lane oils, and bowling pins contain plastics, polyurethanes, plasticizers, or other organic compounds. For example, a bowling ball is composed of a urethane shell around a composite core containing calcium carbonate or barium sulfate.

"We test a variety of dynamics of a bowling ball," DePaul says. One such test is a radius of gyration, which measures where the weight is located inside a ball relative to the center and how easily the ball rotates down the lane. Other tests determine the amount of friction generated as the ball rolls down the lane, how the ball spins on its axis, and the physical properties of the ball such as hardness and roundness.

Bowling lanes are coated with oil to reduce friction, which allows the ball to retain its initial velocity longer. DePaul tests lane oils for ultraviolet additives to measure the amount of oil being used and how it is distributed across the width of the bowling lane.

Like many undergraduates, DePaul was not sure if she should get a master's or Ph.D., although many of the jobs she looked at specifically stated that an M.S. or a Ph.D. was preferred. After much reflection, she decided to apply to medical school instead. DePaul, who is an amateur bowler, found her current job while searching online for bowling information. She took the job instead of moving to California to attend medical school.

"I love my job. I use a lot of my analytical chemistry background, math skills, writing skills--practically everything I can," she says. "I took it because it uses my degree and my love of bowling. I had heard as an undergraduate that I couldn't get a job without a Ph.D. in chemistry, but I still use my chemistry, and I use it with something that I love to do. I know a lot of people who can't say that."

Even though her job opportunities don't depend on it, DePaul plans to earn another bachelor's degree--a double major in mechnical and materials engineering--to broaden her skills.

ACS data show that only 6% of all 2001–02 graduates found full-time employment in the chemical and related industries; the pharmaceutical industry provided jobs to 23% of these graduates, and 17% found full-time jobs in analytical and research services. A little creative thinking can lead to opportunities in areas not generally considered part of the traditional chemical industry.

Michael Rupinen received his B.S. chemistry degree in 1988 from Niagara University and works as a senior corporate chemist for LG&E Energy, a subsidiary of E.ON, in Lexington, Ky. He works with each plant chemist to set corporate chemistry policy and to oversee boiler water chemistry, cooling water chemistry, wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, and engineering projects. In addition, he is the buyer for all specialty and commodity chemicals purchased for all seven plants--and he's survived three mergers during his career with the utility.

"I get to spend time out in the field, working in labs, and doing engineering projects at different plant locations," he says. "Being behind a desk or lab bench all the time just did not appeal to me; I like handling multiple projects at the same time. I've always loved chemistry and been fascinated by figuring out what is going on even though you can't see it. 

"I had heard as an undergraduate that I couldn't get a job without a Ph.D. in chemistry, but I still use my chemistry, and I use it with something that I love to do."

"ONE OF MY BIGGEST research projects has been working on feed water corrosion rates," he says. "The nuclear industry has been using integrated corrosion samplers for years, but they've only come over to the fossil fuel industry in the past 10 years. We take integrated samples and analyze them to see how much iron and copper is moving through the system--the corrosion rate. I've been able to drop the amount by 66% as a result. This project has allowed us to triple the time between chemical cleans and saved us over a half a million dollars. We now monitor all of our units and have optimized the pH on more than seven units."

Rupinen says that being adaptable and flexible and learning continuously are assets in the utility industry. His management believes in continuing education so employees can stay abreast of changes in the industry, because the industry is changing so fast. He's also been able to write and publish a number of papers in power plant chemistry journals and at conferences.

"Your first foundation has to be a good understanding of chemistry and how it works," he says. "You need to be able to take it beyond the books and make it practical, which is the hard part. For example, I ask myself how I can use my understanding of pH to get the best performance and longevity out of our boiler system. It's amazing to realize that a pH change of 0.1–0.2 units can add years to a system. I am fortunate to work for a company that understands how important chemistry is, because if one of our chemists wasn't doing their job correctly, it could cost us millions of dollars."

His career advice for B.S. and M.S. chemists? "While we need academic and research chemists, we also need chemists in the 'trenches' applying that knowledge and reaping the benefits of that information by putting it into practice. There are opportunities outside the Ph.D. that are interesting, challenging, and push you to think outside the box," he says. "I can't imagine being a chemist in any other way. I am well paid for what I do, and I enjoy going to work every day."

Edine Heinig will tell you that you don't have to work in a lab or wear a white coat to be a chemist. Heinig received a B.A. in chemistry from Drake University, Des Moines, and works as a manager of materials development at Cooper Power Systems in Wisconsin. Cooper Power Systems manufactures equipment for use by electric utilities. Heinig's lab performs a range of applied R&D work such as conducting quality control testing, supporting the production part of the plant, and working on developing new rubber materials to improve products and processes.

"My entire career has been in the rubber industry," she says. "My plan was always to work in industry. I had the opportunity to do some research through the National Science Foundation while I was in high school and didn't really enjoy it.

"I started at Firestone Tire & Rubber in 1977," she continues. "The economy was shaky and there weren't a lot of jobs. I thought it was as good a place to start as any and ended up staying for eight-and-a-half years. I worked the back shifts for years, mostly monitoring production problems and learning to solve problems with a little analytical chemistry thrown in. It turned into a process engineering job." Heinig has worked for five different companies since Firestone in plants that served automotive, consumer goods, appliance, oil and gas, and electrical industries. She holds two patents.

"Most of my work involves more engineering and design than wet chemistry," she says, "but it is my understanding of the chemistry behind the materials that has made me successful."

As for the skills and characteristics that have contributed to her success on the job, Heinig says, "Excellent problem-solving skills are the most important. You need lots of different ways to approach problems and find solutions. You have to be willing to listen to everybody, including the guy who runs the machine on the floor, because they have insight into the process.

"You also have to be interested in learning all you can about what is going on," she adds. "Be willing to stretch what kind of job you want to do. I liked the engineering aspect of my job and made a point to understand why parts were made the shape they were and why certain properties were selected."

Heinig notes that chemists are in short supply in the rubber industry. Companies are willing to bring someone in with less experience and then train him or her. "Rubber is a pretty mature industry," she says, "but there are opportunities because it is so chemistry- and materials-based."

Public-sector employment often takes a backseat to employment in industry and academia; however, there are opportunities available to chemists in state and federal government in, for example, public safety, homeland security, environmental enforcement, and law enforcement forensic and crime laboratories.

EVIDENCE Moorehead's chemistry skills are relevant in forensics. PHOTO BY LISA BAKER

Wayne Moorehead has been a forensic scientist for more than 25 years, and though he started out as a chemistry major, he has both B.S. and M.S. degrees in criminalistics. Chemistry is particularly relevant to forensic science, Moorehead believes, because much of the work involves analytical chemistry.

"Most of the forensic scientists have a degree in chemistry or biology," he says, "but because of the requirements of the DNA Advisory Board, the graduating molecular biologist or biochemist is more suited to DNA analysis. Chemistry provides an excellent background because most sections in the crime laboratory use techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

"There are lots of areas other than DNA analysis where chemists' talents would be valuable," he continues. "For example, drug analysis, toxicology, and trace evidence analysis [TEA]." Moorehead says the "Big five" of TEA are hair, fiber, soil, glass, and paint but can also include gunshot residue, explosives, and fire debris analysis. TEA uses chemical microscopy to identify materials based on their optical and physical properties as well as qualitative chemical analysis using chemical reagents.

In addition to a chemistry background, Moorehead says that good communication skills are also essential, since criminalists are called upon to testify in court. "Testifying is enjoyable because you have to teach the jurors about these sophisticated methods and interpret those results into terms that they can understand," he says.

The success of television shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" have raised the profile of forensic science as a career. Although art doesn't imitate life, says Moorehead, "if you have a bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry and are looking for a profession that challenges your analytical skills, uses classroom theory in practical applications, utilizes a wide variety of instrumentation and microscopy, permits research into nearly anything in your physical environment that may be scientific evidence, and assists in determining crime scene events, then you want employment in criminalistics."

Chemistry majors are well positioned in the job market because they possess other acquired skills that have broader applications: problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills, analytical skills, communication skills, team-related skills, and computer skills. The ability to find employment as a B.S. or M.S. chemist outside the traditional bounds of chemistry means emphasizing these complementary skills, not just your technical competence.

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