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- 16 Research Chemist Skills (Plus Primary Duties)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Published March 11, 2022
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
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Understanding the compounds involved in food, water, medical supplements and other items people commonly use is important for both learning about and improving what we use daily. Research chemists work to both understand and improve items and chemical devices we use every day by memorizing chemical makeups and performing research tests. If you're interested in becoming a research chemist, understanding the skills needed for this career can be helpful in determining if this is the right role for you. In this article, we review what a research chemist is and what skills they use frequently.
What is a research chemist?
A research chemist is a professional who specializes in the study of chemical compounds, processes and formulas. They understand how to create and explain the formulas behind medical prescriptions, beverages, food, cosmetics and, in some contexts, electrical goods. A research chemist's job involves gathering and analyzing chemical samples and deriving new concepts from what they find. They use research data to develop new theories, record results and enhance existing products. They may also work in groups within laboratories or by themselves on commission to theorize and improve chemical compounds within products.
Research chemists may become a member of a facility's staff, such as a medical drug pharmacy, where they use their knowledge to improve a specific medicine. Other responsibilities that research chemists may handle include managing chemical databases, such as laboratory information management software (LIMS) systems. An LIMS system records chemistry data, helping chemist teams perform extractions and analyses on medical products or raw materials. A research chemist may either be a permanent employee or an agent who works on commission pay throughout a quarter or set of quarters.
Related: How To Become a Chemist (With Career Options)
What does a research chemist do?
A research chemist conducts studies and experiments with new products. They primarily conduct research on existing products with the goal of improving them. They may also research new products to test for safety concerns, health impacts on a user and chemical reactions within a system. Research chemists analyze chemical samples, conduct tests and develop hypotheses concerning different products. The research findings they discover can help other research chemists create new medicines, lead to innovation in products and enhance existing materials. Research chemists may work in private laboratories or learning institutions such as colleges or high schools.
Research chemists may also work with government agencies, testing project materials for both domestic and foreign use. They might work by themselves or within a team to both manage and record experimental data by using LIMS systems. They may develop particle collection systems to store this data and continue research. Because they may work within government facilities and abide by regulations set by the government, they might conduct stability studies and understand government regulations. Other duties a research chemist may undertake while working include:
Extracting and analyzing raw materials in medical products
Evaluating and validating methods according to governmental protocols
Developing flow kinetic gathering methods
Determining the chemical compounds within a substance
Running equivalency programs to measure different substances
Conducting analyses of two products to create a compound
Developing screening systems in both spreadsheets and particular programs to better understand compounds
Developing analysis methods to further differentiate compounds
Conducting stability tests of projects
Documenting report information
Instructing regarding government regulations within a team
Related: 15 Popular Chemistry Degree Jobs
16 beneficial skills for a research chemist
Here are 16 skills that can help a research chemist accomplish their daily tasks:
1. Analytics
Analytical skills are methods that research chemists use to determine the chemical or physical elements of a substance. They use procedures to determine the relationship between variables, such as two elements or two materials. Research chemists also understand how to analyze the relationship between any two chemicals. Medical chemists can use their analytical skills to evaluate if one medical drug reacts appropriately to another medical drug, or in other context situations, such as chemicals within a car engine.
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2. Laboratory equipment skills
Research chemists understand how to adapt methods that they've studied into applicable routines, which they can then use to operate laboratory equipment. Not only can they operate most laboratory equipment themselves, but they also understand how to teach these principles to others. They understand how to both operate and maintain lab equipment, which includes cleaning upkeep and buying replacement components when necessary. Research chemists can provide other chemistry staff with laboratory and application training in equipment use.
Related: How To Become a Research Scientist
3. Laboratory software skills
Similar to laboratory equipment, research chemists understand how to use laboratory software to accomplish project goals, run simulations and operate tests. Many research chemistry software options include capabilities such as testing and documentation. They also understand how to teach others how to use this software.
4. Chemistry
Chemistry skills involve understanding the composition, structure and properties of the elements within a compound. These processes help researchers understand how a chemical reacts to another, and how a combination of chemicals can affect a human or animal body. Research chemists understand how to develop field-based experimental techniques for measurements of chemistry products, such as explosives and other reactive materials. They also know how to use their broad knowledge of chemistry to create medical applications with chemistry products. They can perform research and conduct experiments to create a technical project from the pilot stages to a final produced product.
5. Procedural skills
Procedural skills are how research chemists perform tasks. This can involve research writing or using chemistry tools, raw material extraction tools and laboratory tools. They understand how to teach others to use these tools and are capable of training and answering the questions of those who are inexperienced with them. They use scientific knowledge and expertise to calculate, document and report test results from an established quality control evaluation. Research chemists understand how to perform extractions and analysis on raw materials and medical products to validate findings and continue to research to get results.
6. Raw materials analysis
Research chemists understand the importance of evaluating raw materials, as it's pertinent to many of their duties. They understand how to develop and revise communications and documentation associated with raw materials and finished projects. Examples of documentation involving raw materials include quality control checks. Research chemists can develop product specifications by using both the physical and chemical properties of different raw materials.
7. Data analysis
Research chemists understand data analysis and conduct lab performance evaluations in both current and aging studies. They understand how to use sensory softener panels and other data analysis performance tools. They also typically understand how to use graphical software tools to perform analysis, as well as how to report results through documentation, presentation and verbal confirmation. These professionals often understand how to both create and modify computer tools and programs for data analysis and data transfer.
8. Sample preparation
Research chemists understand the importance of maintaining and testing samples during their work. Samples can include anything from raw materials to samples of chemicals within isolated environments or dishes. The objective of sample preparation is to create more accurate analytical results without compromising the integrity of the components. For example, if a chemist is evaluating the components of two raw materials when they come into contact with each other, proper sample preparation is important to ensure that each material is pure and unaltered before the study.
9. Research
Research chemists understand how to conduct research in their daily work. They can perform research projects concerning chemical migration, solvent use, instrument tools and method validation. As someone who understands technical operations during research projects, they understand how to monitor chemicals to document and research any changes throughout multiple usage processes. They also understand how to process research projects by creating new formulas and developing new processes to ensure that chemicals meet the environmental standards necessary for research progress.
10. Reporting
Reporting skills involve creating a type of document that encompasses a full summary of events and research. Research chemists understand how to conduct scientific research to evaluate the state of a compound and report its changes and components. Not only do they understand how to process this information, but they also understand how to report it in various contexts so that readers can understand it. A technical report may showcase the report's overall conclusion and may include recommendations on what to do next.
11. Product development
Another skill that research chemists may have is product development. Product development is the complete process of creating a project from conception to release. They understand how to identify a need and create a product that can solve that need and make a profit.
12. Pilot production
Pilot production skills are an employee's capability to begin and administer a project. This could mean production projects where a chemist creates, tests and administers a product. It could also mean a chemist is able to pilot a process project and prove that it's feasible before beginning production. Pilot production skills allow research chemists to make educated guesses concerning hazard identification and usefulness before beginning true production.
13. Chromatography
Chromatography is the skill that chemists use to separate components in a mixture. They use filter paper to introduce a solvent, which encourages the separation of the mixture when the paper comes in contact with the substance. Due to the different components of the mixture, a separation can help chemists better understand the consistency of the mixture by using a solvent.
14. Process validation
Process validation is the accumulation and study of data that starts from pilot theories until it reaches a state where products are the end result. Research chemists understand how to use process validation to create scientific theories. There are three stages of process validation. First is the process design, where chemists define the process of what's occurring. The second is process qualification, where chemists test the processes repeatedly. The third stage is process confirmation, where a conclusion occurs.
15. Teamwork
Research chemists understand the value of teamwork and how it can improve a process from pilot to product, or how effective teamwork can help make process waiting times shorter. Research chemists who work in teams understand how to allocate responsibilities to other team members appropriately, giving only what is appropriate to each team member. They understand how to work with a team, accomplish their most effective tasks and allocate everything else to other team members.
16. Management
Research chemists may sometimes work alone, so they often understand how to manage a department, including all elements of a laboratory, such as cleaning the floor and ensuring the proper operation of equipment. They understand how to train employees, create schedules and allocate tasks. Empathy can also help them better understand what employees think and feel about a subject.
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