Career Options for Graduates

The professional fields for the chemist include a variety of options. Quite a few will be doing research, where a Ph.D. degree is usually a prerequisite.
In basic research, which is carried on mainly at universities and research institutes like the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and other big research institutions, the chemists may widely direct the topics themselves.
In industry, applied research has priority. Economic and environmental aspects play an important role.
More job opportunities outside the research are provided in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, sales, analytical control, environmental protection, management, patents and publishing. Increasingly, medium and small companies need the experience of a chemist.
The study of food chemistry along with the final state exam opens up career prospects in the food inspection, food industry and the environmental control.