Chemical & Engineering News Chemists get used to being a temp

College Majors Science Majors
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According to a 2011 survey of biotechnology CEOs, a majority of firms in this area plan to increase their workforce over the next two years. However, many of the jobs will be short-term in nature, so chemists may need to get used to the idea of jumping from contract to contract. And while the demand for analytical and quality control chemists is increasing, medicinal chemists still find themselves competing with cheaper, internationally outsourced labor. As a result, many are exploring ways to take their skills from the benchtop and are looking at other career prospects, such as business development. As one says, the switch to a technical sales support role

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<p>So basically either get used to not having benefits, job security, and a middle class income or find a way to leave the field and use your intelligence elsewhere where it will be rewarded rather than exploited.</p>

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<p>I’ve been lurking around this forum lately, and whenever I am on I always see you bashing people for majoring science. Bio/Chem particularly. I’m sorry to say this, but all your posts did not sway me from doing science. Doubt it will ever change…My job experience in biotech/oil industries are not even come close to what you are describing. </p>

<p>First thing first, I can live by 30k/year. Mind you, coming from a family of 3, my family earned 22k last year and we lived happily. That’s said, I should be able to raise my own family with 30k/year. Assuming my future wife don’t work…I can still have my own shelter, food, and clothes.</p>

<p>Last year, the summer right after I graduated high school, I went to Chevron working as a lab tech. I were like many other interns working 40hr/week on their assigned projects. My project was dealing with oil additives, and how does different oil additives will change the amount of soot in diesel engine. “soot” is the black tar in car engines from burning gasoline. Our objectives are to test all the gasoline we used in today’s market, and compare the changes by adding modifier (Chevron patented additives) to lower the soot amount in diesel engines. I found Zinc DDP, full name Zinc alkylaryldithiophosphates, is the most effective additive to reduce the soot formation in our car engines. The point I’m trying to make here, I absolutely LOVED what I was doing. </p>

<p>Although like many other so call “low profile” lab jobs, we were asked to clean testing machines regularly with heptane. We also need to carry chemicals around, forgot how they label chemicals on a risk chart. I forgot what they call it, but heptane should be really low on the chart and thus its safe for H.S. students to handle lol… More importantly, I enjoyed every seconds of my job. Even refilling heptane is fun! So now you see how obsessed I am…</p>

<p>I cannot confirm the salary part, I assume its true. But from my experience, my mentor were making around 80k/year and he has a Ph.D. Yes, it requires an advance degree to be a research scientist. However, with a B.S. in chem I can still do that “low profile” lab jobs. In fact, I have met a recent grab from UC Davis working in the same team. He is able to afford a car and live in a decent area. So, keep your hopes up!</p>

<p>For all the science majors out there, if you think science is your passion, and don’t mind low salary. Please do yourself a favor, just ignore what others say and see for yourself if science grads are actually THAT BAD!!</p>

<p>OP, I will not argue with you whether you agree or not.</p>

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<p>First off i don’t bash people for majoring in science, I warn them to consider the fact that jobs in science are 1. hard to get,2. lacking in benefits, and 3. have pay rates more comensurate with a high school dropout. I bash companies and politicians for paying scientists like that and crying shortage.</p>

<p>Second, sure you can live on 20-30k a year in some places (not the major cities on the E. and W. coasts [unless living in the ghetto is your thing] mainly in less urban areas in the midwest and south). Having health insurance especially with a family is a major concern. Paid time off is also nice. Also those student loans are going to have to be paid back no matter what. Finally, why should you bust your rear spending long hours in the lab and taking difficult courses for a worse standard of living than a HS dropout. It makes no sense. Why should companies be rewarded or enabled for it?</p>

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<p>I was an applied math/computer science major and after 20 years, I do not regret it ONE BIT.</p>

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<p>Yup. Chemist need to leave the field. It is never ending wave after wave after wave of temp jobs. ACS employment data are a joke. It counts low paying post docs and temp jobs as employment. Chemistry is a horrible profession. How in the bloody hell could anyone buy a house or start a family if they have to change jobs every 6 months to a year?</p>

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That’s great, but this thread is about chemists.</p>

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<p>Many many fields are now using temporary contractors. This is happening in IT, in law, consulting, you name it. This is not news.</p>

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After scrolling through pessimistic posts about Chemistry u just popped up on my screen,I’m just happy to see a successful chemist who actually loves what he does.im studying applied Chemistry and am currently in 3rd semester.
I really do love what I’m studying, i was accepted from medicine! But i didn’t take it only cuz i didn’t like it.
I believe i should follow my passion in life and at the end of the day that’s what matters the most,to do what u love!
Im not very concerned about the salary part in future as i can do other jobs as well.
Im looking forward to be a university professor :slight_smile:
Thank you for reading this,i would also appreciate it if u could give me some tips about how to be more successful in this matter.
At the end i think science part needs more people like you. :slight_smile: