National Occupation Code (NOC): 21101

Chemists conduct research and analysis in support of industrial operations, product and process development, quality control, environmental control, medical diagnosis and treatment, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other applications. They also conduct theoretical, experimental and applied research into basic chemical and biochemical processes to create or synthesize new products and processes. They are employed in research, development and quality control laboratories; chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries; mineral, metal and pulp and paper industries; and a wide variety of manufacturing, utility, health, educational and government establishments.

Follow This Occupation Share

Job Duties for Chemists

• Analyze, synthesize, purify, modify and characterize chemical or biochemical compounds
• Develop and conduct programs of analysis to ensure quality control of raw materials, chemical intermediates or final products
• Conduct programs of sample and data collection and analysis to identify and quantify environmental toxicants
• Conduct research to develop new chemical formulations and processes and devise new technical applications of industrial chemicals and compounds
• Conduct research to discover, develop, refine and evaluate new products such as those used in nanomedicine, nanoelectronics and other applications of chemistry
• Conduct fundamental and applied research into the synthesis and properties of chemical compounds and the mechanisms of chemical reactions
• Investigate chemical aspects of the mechanisms of drug action, the diagnosis and treatment of disease, organ function and the assessment of health
• Participate in interdisciplinary research and development projects working with chemical engineers, biologists, microbiologists, agronomists, geologists or other professionals
• Act as technical consultant in a particular field of expertise
• May participate in the commercialization of new products
• May supervise other chemists and chemical technicians and technologists.

Employment Requirements for Chemists

• A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related discipline is required.
• A master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research chemist.
• Licensing by a provincial association of chemists is required in Quebec and available but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Alternate Job Titles

• Agricultural Chemist
• Agrochemist
• Analytical Biochemist
• Analytical Chemist
• Atmospheric Chemist
• Bioanalytical Chemist
• Biochemist
• Biochemistry Research Scientist
• Biological Chemist
• Chemical Spectroscopist
• Chemist
• Chemist - Biomolecular Assembly
• Chemistry Research Scientist
• Chemistry Researcher
• Clinical Chemist
• Coatings Chemist
• Control Chemist
• Dairy Chemist
• Detergent Chemist
• Dye Chemist
• Electrochemist
• Environmental Chemist
• Enzyme Chemist
• Fermentologist
• Food Chemist
• Forensic Chemist
• Glass Chemist
• Hydrochemist
• Industrial Chemist
• Inorganic Chemist
• Laboratory Chemist
• Leather Chemist
• Medical Biochemist
• Medical Chemist
• Medicinal Chemist
• Nanochemist
• Nuclear Chemist
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopist
• Nutritional Chemist
• Oceanographic Chemist
• Optical Spectroscopist
• Organic Chemist
• Organic Mass Spectrometrist
• Organometallic Chemist
• Petroleum Chemist
• Pharmaceutical Chemist
• Pharmacological Chemist
• Physical Chemist
• Physical Research Chemist
• Physiological Chemist
• Plastics And Resins Chemist
• Polymer Chemist
• Process Control Chemist
• Protective Coatings Chemist
• Protein Chemist
• Quality Control Chemist
• Research Chemist
• Soil Chemist
• Standards Chemist
• Textile Chemist
• Theoretical Chemist
• Water Chemist
• Water Purification Chemist
• Wood Chemist