Expert: Daniel Mazur - 2/13/2009

Question
I am a 39 year old sophmore about to transfer from a junior college to a university. I want to major in chemistry or chemical engineering. Can you suggest some types of companies to apply to with Baccauleate degree in chemical engineering. I have some ideas, such as oil refineries, drug and cosmetic manufacturers, but I am unsure about some others, such as water treatment facilities. Can you offer other suggestions? Also is this a promising field for market availablility or would a degree in regular chemistry be more advantageous.

Answer
Dear Catso,

I am a physicist, but will try to help you. Generally engineering degrees have a larger job market and higher salaries (on average) than "regular" (i.e. scientific) degree in the same area. The "regular" chemistry degree will largely prepare you to take on a Masters in chemistry, but less to get a job in chemical industry right after a Bachelor. I can definitely recommend an engineering chemistry Bc. to a scientific chemistry Bc., if you are not interested in staying at school all the way up to Master's or a PhD.

Regarding the question, what types of companies to apply for a job with, I think you have it about right. There are manufacturing plants of general chemical production - detergents, lab and industrial chemicals, specialty organics, fuels, explosives, rubber and plastics... Honestly, you will probably have many more opportunities than I do with a PhD in scientific physics or than you could have with a Masters or PhD in scientific chemistry. It is my perception that the above-mentioned factories do not need even an engineer to produce; the recipe is known and refined over decades, the plant was built years ago, it just needs the directorate, marketing and loads of cheap unqualified labor to open and close the valves... But in reality, even the best known processed are being improved (e.g. by advances in construction of suitable tubing, valves and pumps), so all the factories need a chemical engineer on their team for rebuilding, where their equipment grows too old, for doing their R&D in chemical production or just for catching up with competition that does do R&D... I think that globally speaking, there will always be plethora of job openings for a Chemical Engineer with a Bc. It will be you, eventually, who will decide on things, whether you are willing to move to another state, another country, whether you are willing to learn a new language... For example, I am sure there are job openings at this moment in Iraq, but few non-Iraqis would consider them. If you limit your search to a single city or state, you may face problems. If your scope will be the whole USA or Northern Africa or Europe... then you will be fine, just fine.

I wish you luck and all best in your studies.
Cheers,
Daniel