RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CHEMIST
function in a professional context:
Role
The research and development chemist deals with innovation in the synthesis, analysis and characterisation of industrial products and processes. Research may also be performed in universities and public research centres, generally following a PhD path or appropriate professional internships.
Functions:
The research and development chemist performs the following functions:
- Designer of innovative products (molecular designer), which also take into account environmental and climate impact criteria, life cycle analyses and international legislation (REACH);
- Total synthesis designer compliant with economic, environmental sustainability and safety criteria;
- Computational chemist for the design, forecast and verification of product properties;
- Process technician, solving problems related to industrial scale-up;
- Computer chemist, working in the statistical optimisation of experiments;
- Analytical chemist, working in the development, identification and optimisation of the most suitable analytical methods and techniques to determine the purity of products and their toxicological and environmental impacts.
Finally, Chemistry graduates may progress in their professional careers to hold management posts, e.g. Head of Department, Research and Development Services Manager.
competencies associated to the function:
Research and development chemists must possess the following competencies and skills:
- Ability to design new molecular structures based on structure-property relationships satisfying the application needs of industrial products;
- Ability to use computational methods to forecast product properties and verify them through experiments;
- Ability to design and produce a total synthesis selecting the most suitable solution according to economic, environmental sustainability and safety criteria;
- Ability to optimise processes using statistical methods in both research and industrial development;
- Ability to assess the best analytical technique according to the chosen product and process and optimise its application.
In addition to the above-described competencies, Chemists also possess:
- Creativity, a spirit of initiative and autonomy in the performance of their activities;
- Attention to detail and rigour in complying with environmental and safety requirements;
- Group working and interdisciplinary skills, the ability to work by objectives, strong communication skills;
- Curiosity and a disposition for lifelong learning of technical knowledge;
- Strong organisational skills;
- The ability to adapt to different situations, analytical skills and a proactive approach;
- Effective organisational skills, establishing priorities and efficient time management;
- Strong interpersonal skills, to collaborate and work with experts from different disciplines, inside and outside of the specific working context;
- Ability to work in an international context and relate to people from different cultural backgrounds.
career opportunities:
- Universities, Research bodies, Public authorities and Supervisory agencies (e.g: ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.)
- Industrial and applied research centres;
- Companies working in the following highly international sectors of activity: basic and fine chemical industries; cosmetics, detergents, food processing, textile fibres; pharmaceutical industry; industrial activities for the development of new energy resources or new products with low environmental impact.
ANALYTICAL AND QUALITY CONTROL CHEMIST
function in a professional context:
Role
Analytical and quality control chemists work in industrial fields, dealing with aspects linked to quality control of incoming (Purchasing) and outgoing products (Sales, Marketing) in a wide range of goods sectors. The most important types of companies requiring the above described competencies run from basic chemical industries (petrochemicals, plastics, fibres, etc.) to fine chemicals and specialities, to formulation chemistry, household and hygiene products, cosmetics, to companies producing active ingredients and intermediate substances for the food processing, pharmaceutical sectors, etc. They may also play an important role in research, environmental control and conservation of the cultural heritage.
Functions:
The analytical and quality control chemist performs the following functions:
- Quality control laboratory manager/technician;
- Person responsible for the application and interpretation of the principles governing ISO9001 quality systems and REACH;
- Environmental and toxicological control technician;
- Safety, environmental protection and industrial quality technician.
Finally, Chemistry graduates may progress in their professional careers to hold management posts, e.g. Head of Department, Research and Development Services Manager.
competencies associated to the function:
Analytical and quality control chemists must possess the following competencies and skills:
- Solid, broad skill base in the field of instrumental analytical chemistry;
- Expertise in chemometric analyses and in the applications of chemical analysis in specialist fields, going from food processing to environmental problems, to the investigation of the state of conservation of the cultural heritage, to forensic and biomedical chemistry;
- Knowledge of regulations concerning the safety and hazardousness of chemical compounds;
- Knowledge of the main environmental processes in the soil/water/air and waste recycling fields, being able to assess the best analytical techniques to control pollution.
In addition to the above-described competencies, Chemists also possess:
- Creativity, initiative and autonomy in the performance of their activities;
- Attention to detail and rigour in complying with environmental and safety requirements;
- Group working skills, the ability to work by objectives, strong communication skills;
- Curiosity and a disposition for lifelong learning of technical knowledge;
- Strong organisational skills;
- The ability to adapt to different situations, to analyze problems, and proactiveness;
- Effective organisational skills, establishing priorities and efficient time management;
- Good interpersonal relationships, to collaborate and work with experts from different disciplines, inside and outside of the specific working context;
- Attitude to work in an international context and to relate to people with different cultural backgrounds.
career opportunities:
- Chemical companies working in highly international sectors in the field of basic and fine chemistry, and speciality chemicals; cosmetics, detergents, food processing, textile fibres and the pharmaceutical industry;
- All types of industry, as all production fields have an intrinsic need for quality assurance;
- Agencies such as ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Health Institutes, Civil Defence, Forensic Police, etc.
- Service companies (business consulting, environmental control, restoration, forensic chemistry, etc.).
CHEMIST IN A MANAGERIAL ROLE (ALSO IN A FREELANCE CAPACITY)
Freelance professionals must pass the state exam and register with the Chemists' Association. The activities and functions of members of section A of the Chemists Association are laid down in Presidential Decree (D.P.R.) no. 328 of 5 June 2001 (published in the Official Journal no. 190, S.O. on 17 August 2001).
function in a professional context:
Role
Chemists in a managerial role coordinate and manage business systems, dealing with aspects linked to production, management of patents and intellectual property and are in charge of prevention and safety and environmental protection, complying with the increasingly strict laws on chemical compounds. Particularly concerning this aspect, chemists in a managerial role may work in a freelance capacity, registering with section A of the Chemists' Association.
Functions:
The chemist in a managerial role performs the following functions:
- Performance of forensic investigations;
- Business consultant in the field of environmental protection and safety, hygiene, issuing certificates and declarations of conformity;
- Expert in environmental impact, integrated environmental authorisation and strategic environmental assessment procedures;
- Chemical risk assessor (REACH);
- Manager of the intellectual property of a company, performing clearance searches and supporting the drafting of technical dossiers for the submission of patent applications;
- Chemical sales representative;
- With specific training, they may cover functional roles in business areas other than production, dealing with quality control of incoming and outgoing goods; in sales and marketing they can present and promote the company products among customers, and in research and development areas they contribute to orienting the choice and development of products to meet customer needs; in purchasing, they manage the quality control of the procured goods and services.
competencies associated to the function:
Chemists in a managerial role must possess the following competencies and skills:
- Knowledge of national and international legislation on the manufacture, management and disposal of chemicals, on the hazardousness of chemical substances and on environmental assessments;
- Ability to manage industrial quality control and environmental quality systems to control and monitor air, water and wastes;
- Ability to plan production cycles and to contribute to the production developments;
In addition to the above-described competencies, Chemists also possess:
- Creativity, initiative and autonomy in the performance of their activities;
- Attention to detail and rigour in complying with environmental and safety requirements;
- Group working skills, the ability to work by objectives, strong communication skills;
- Curiosity and a leaning for lifelong learning of technical knowledge;
- Strong organisational skills;
- The ability to adapt to different situations, to analyze problems, and proactiveness;
- Effective organisational skills, establishing priorities and efficient time management;
- Good interpersonal relationships, to collaborate and work with experts from different disciplines, inside and outside of the specific working context;
- Attitude to work in an international context and relate to people with different cultural backgrounds.
career opportunities:
National Council of Chemists
- Chemists' Association
- Chemical consulting firms
- Chemical or similar companies whose production has potential environmental impacts.
