What does a chemist, development do?
A development chemist is responsible for delivering products that are specially created for a customer. You will be responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for process or quality control. Other tasks that you will perform include researching chemical substances, conducting laboratory experiments, and evaluating the effects of chemical compounds in different situations. Additionally, you will be responsible for determining chemical properties by analyzing compounds and helping resolve quality issues. As a development chemist, you are also responsible for evaluating safety procedures in laboratories and maintaining laboratory equipment.
Chemist, development responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real chemist, development resumes:
- Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
- Involve in FDA, vendor and foreign agencies audits and knowledgeable in USP and GMP regulations.
- Work with analytical instruments such as FTIR, DSC, and TGA.
- Follow all ISO quality and environmental standards as provided in the various procedural manuals.
- Enhance operational performance by training lab technicians and chemists in protein dialysis, HPLC analysis, and formulation process.
- Design, fabricate and operate pilot-scale synthesis and purification equipment for GMP API syntheses (contract and salary).
- Review formulas, ingredient lists, product profiles and artwork for adherence to regulations and to policy under the FDA guidelines.
- Perform analysis on raw material and physical samples base on USP and in-house methods, as well as support formulation projects.
- Validate several instrumentation systems for routine GLP use.
- Receive training and operate GC lab independently to substitute for supervisors vacation time.
- Define new quantitative HPLC methods for large pharmaceutical companies with novel pharmacological drug activities and formulations.
- Perform quality inspections to ensure compliance with FDA regulatory requirements as well as company procedures and policies.
- Perform instrumental and wet chemical analysis of raw materials and finish products for stability and experimental purposes according to USP methods.
- Evaluate efficacy of extraction solvents and dosing methodology for soil degradation studies, determining reduction of chemical compounds in control environment.
- Manufacture development and production oligonucleotides.
Chemist, development skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Chemists, Development are proficient in Laboratory Equipment, Method Development, and R. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Chemists, Development that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Laboratory Equipment, 12%
Coordinated maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment with Quality Assurance.
- Method Development, 11%
Performed supporting chemical analysis for both routine and formulated samples along with test method development.
- R, 10%
Supervised Chemist and lab technicians in R and D Lab.
- Product Development, 7%
Created and/or verified existence of product dossiers/master files for all products during product development.
- HPLC, 6%
Perform Instrument Qualifications, Performance Qualifications, and Operational Qualifications on HPLC and UPLC equipment.
- GMP, 4%
Designed, fabricated and operated pilot-scale synthesis and purification equipment for GMP API syntheses (contract and salaried).
Most chemists, development use their skills in "laboratory equipment," "method development," and "r" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential chemist, development responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a chemist, development to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what chemists, development do because "chemists and materials scientists need to evaluate the results of experiments to ensure accuracy in their research." Additionally, a chemist, development resume shows how chemists, development use analytical skills: "prepared reports supporting fda 483 responses by reviewing historical stability and validation data and lab investigations. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform chemist, development duties is communication skills. Chemists, development responsibilities require that "chemists and materials scientists must be able to convey information clearly in reports and presentations for both technical and nontechnical audiences." Chemists, development also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "investigated interdomain communication in e. coli gmp synthetase. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of chemists, development is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday chemist, development duties, as "chemists and materials scientists regularly use calculus, algebra, statistics, and other math for calculations." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "defined new quantitative hplc methods for large pharmaceutical companies with novel pharmacological drug activities and formulations. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain chemist, development responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a chemist, development rely on this skill, as "chemists’ and materials scientists’ work involves posing questions during research and finding answers through results." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what chemists, development do: "assay, dissolution, disintegration, titration, ) according to analytical test methods to meet strict dead lines. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a chemist, development to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what chemists, development relies on this skill, since "chemists and materials scientists usually need to meet deadlines and must be able to prioritize tasks while maintaining quality." How this skill relates to chemist, development duties can be seen in an example from a chemist, development resume snippet: "received training and operated gc lab independently to substitute for supervisors vacation time. "
The three companies that hire the most chemist, developments are:
- Quaker Houghton9 chemists, development jobs
- AstraZeneca3 chemists, development jobs
- Celanese2 chemists, development jobs
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Compare different chemists, development
Chemist, development vs. Laboratory analyst
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, chemist, development responsibilities require skills like "laboratory equipment," "product development," "technical support," and "analytical procedures." Meanwhile a typical laboratory analyst has skills in areas such as "lab equipment," "laboratory procedures," "test results," and "math." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Laboratory analysts earn the highest salaries when working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average yearly salary of $47,806. On the other hand, chemists, development are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $85,660.laboratory analysts tend to reach lower levels of education than chemists, development. In fact, laboratory analysts are 6.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Chemist, development vs. Quality control analyst
Quality assurance representatives are professionals who are responsible for ensuring the quality of units produced or manufactured is following the standards set by the industry. These representatives supervise the entire production process to identify erroneous methods or tools being used by workers and observing produced for visible defects. They are required to perform various tests to check for the durability of the product and other desirable characteristics. Quality assurance representatives must also collaborate with the manufacturing engineer to implement quality control programs and preparing training manuals and quality guidelines.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that chemist, development responsibilities requires skills like "laboratory equipment," "product development," "gmp," and "technical support." But a quality control analyst might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "qc," "lab equipment," "microbiology," and "test results."
Quality control analysts earn a lower average salary than chemists, development. But quality control analysts earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $62,870. Additionally, chemists, development earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $85,660 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Quality control analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than chemists, development. In fact, they're 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for chemist, developments in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Betsy Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College
Chemist, development vs. Quality control coordinator
A quality control coordinator is in charge of organizing and overseeing an organization's quality control procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They coordinate teams and activities, delegate tasks, conduct audits, set goals, establish guidelines, gather and analyze client feedback, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also conduct inspections to ensure the facility's compliance with state laws and standards. Furthermore, a quality control coordinator must monitor the progress of all operations, resolving issues promptly and efficiently while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a chemist, development is likely to be skilled in "method development," "product development," "technical support," and "analytical procedures," while a typical quality control coordinator is skilled in "patients," "data entry," "quality standards," and "corrective action."
Quality control coordinators earn the best pay in the pharmaceutical industry, where they command an average salary of $69,043. Chemists, development earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $85,660.Most quality control coordinators achieve a similar degree level compared to chemists, development. For example, they're 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Chemist, development vs. Quality control associate
In a manufacturing setting, a quality control associate is in charge of conducting various tests to ensure that the products meet the company's standard criteria. Their responsibilities revolve around inspecting the workforce and workload involved in the production process, identifying errors or inconsistencies, recommending solutions and alterations, and maintaining records and documentation. Furthermore, as a quality control associate, it is essential to coordinate with department staff and produce progress reports, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Types of chemist, development
Updated January 8, 2025
