Molecular Chemist
As a molecular chemist you use chemistry to understand the world around us. Molecules are made up of atoms and form 92 natural elements that make up Earth, including the soil and atmosphere. You will investigate how molecules are made up to re-create natural processes and help develop solutions to some of the world’s problems.
What the job looks like
Salary expectation
starts at $30,000 up to $139,354+
The good
- Solving problems and questions that have important implications in the real world
- Being the first person to make a discovery
- Potential to travel
- Using advanced laboratory equipment and computer technologies
The not so good
- Waiting long hours for the results of your experiments
- Sometimes working weekends
On a day-to-day basis you could find yourself working in a lab, attending meetings and seminars or writing up your research to present at a conference.
You will work on many different projects as a molecular chemist, depending on your area of interest or who you work for. You might be working on an alternative power solution right through to creating new products like pharmaceuticals or cleaning products.
Understanding chemistry requires lots of mathematics, from ratios and percentages through to statistics, formulas and algebra to understand chemical concepts.
Inquisitiveness and a keen eye for detail are probably the most important traits of a chemist. You need to work as part of a team and present your research at local, national and international meetings, so good teamwork and communication skills are essential.
If you enjoy being part of a team and have an interest in science, then a career as a molecular chemist could be for you.
I love that I can be curious, we hope to use the efficiency of natural systems to better power our world.
Pathways to this career
Subject suggestions for the HSC
Choosing your HSC subjects from this list could really help with your career. Think carefully about what you want to study after school as you might need to choose specific HSC subjects for that course and to count towards your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). An ATAR is your academic rank in relation to other HSC students and helps with University admission.
HSC subjects
Some subjects will count towards your ATAR, others will not. Check with your career advisor before making subject selections.
- English (Advanced or higher)
- Mathematics (2 unit or higher)
- Chemistry
- Physics
What can I do after I have finished school?
University degrees
Studying one of these degrees can help with your career.
- Bachelor of Science
Suggestions
Check out The Royal Australian Chemical Institute for more information
- Study as much as you can at high school and always ask your teachers if you need some extra help understanding something
- Watch lots of chemistry documentaries to improve your knowledge and see if there is an area of chemistry that really interests you
- Research interesting advancements in chemistry for an idea of what you could achieve in the field
- Go to career expos and events like university Open Days to find out more information about what you will study
