Research and development chemist resume examples from 2026
Land interviews using Zippia's AI-powered resume builder.

All resume examples
Table of content
How to write a research and development chemist resume
Craft a resume summary statement
A resume summary is your opening statement that highlights your strongest skills and top accomplishments. It is your chance to quickly let recruiters know who you are professionally - and why they should hire you for the research and development chemist role.
Step 1: Start with your current job title, or the one you aspire to. Are you a passionate manager? A skilled analyst? It's a good starting point.
Step 2: Next put your years of experience in research and development chemist-related roles.
Step 3: Now is the time to put your biggest accomplishment or something you are professionally proud of.
Step 4: Read over what you have written. It should be 2-4 sentences. Your goal is to summarize your experience, not recite your resume.
These four steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some research and development chemist interviews.Please upload your resume so Zippia’s job hunt AI can draft a summary statement for you.
List the right project manager skills
Your Skills section is an easy way to let recruiters know you have the skills to do the job. Just as importantly, it can help your resume not get filtered out by hiring software. Here is how to make the most of your skills section and make sure you have the right keywords:
- Start with the job listing. Frequently, the keywords looked for by recruiters will be listed. Be careful to include all skills in the job listing you have experience with.
- Consider all the software and tools you use on a daily basis. When in doubt, list them!
- Make sure you use accurate and up to date terms for all the skills listed.
Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on a research and development chemist resume:
- R
- Product Development
- Laboratory Equipment
- Analytical Methods
- HPLC
- Synthesis
- D Chemist
- Method Development
- FDA
- Technical Support
- GMP
- Troubleshoot
- Stability Studies
- GC
- Ms
- UV/Vis
- Test Methods
- ISO
- FTIR
- Data Analysis
- Technical Reports
- Method Validation
- USP
- Test Results
- ICP
- Product Performance
- Product Quality
- Field Testing
- DOE
- Wet Chemistry
Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.
How to structure your work experience
A work experience section is a vital part of your resume because it shows you have the experience to succeed in your next job.
- Put your most recent experience first. Prospective employers care about your most recent accomplishments the most.
- Put the job title, company name, city, and state on the left. Align dates in month and year format on the right-hand side.
- Include only recent, relevant jobs. This means if you're a fairly experienced worker, you might need to leave off that first internship or other positions in favor of highlighting more pertinent positions.
How to write research and development chemist experience bullet points
Your resume is your chance to show your biggest accomplishments. Don't just list your job responsibilities, instead take the opportunity to show why you're really good at what you do. Here is how you do that:
- Start with strong action verbs like managed, spearheaded, created, etc. Your goal is to show what you did and verbs will help demonstrate your contributions.
- Use numbers to quantify your achievements. Did you save time with a new report? Increase revenue? How large was the team you managed?
- Keep it concise. You're highlighting your achievements. Consider if all details you are sharing are relevant, or can be written more efficiently.
Here are great bullet points from research and development chemist resumes:
Work history example #1
Chemist/Laboratory Technician (Part-Time)
Pfizer
- Solved the quality issues with Zithromax SDD extrusion during a systems audit of the start up process, in Vega Baja.
- Utilized Applied Biosystems StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR system, nanodrop spectrometer, microplate readers, and other instrumentation.
- Worked in Discovery Chemistry in the CNS department, my focus was on synthesizing compounds for a schizophrenia project.
- Followed all current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for documentation of data.
- Manufactured and tested in a GMP environment, meeting applicable safety requirements.
Work history example #2
Chemist
Endocyte
- Developed and validated an API and starting material assay/impurity UPLC method for use in leadcompounds in the Endocyte portfolio.
- Received HPLC training with LC Resources.
- Participated in research and development aimed at improving extraction methodologies used in preparation for GCMS analysis.
- Assisted in method development and validation of new assays which decreased instrument run times, and offered clients new testing options.
- Updated a previously poor quality compliance documentation system to exceed good laboratory practice, nearly meeting site GMP quality standard expectations.
Work history example #3
Research And Development Chemist
The Dow Chemical Company
- Conducted HPLC method development with Waters Millennium HPLC system using UV and 14-C radio detectors.
- Performed minor mechanical maintenance using various hand tools and measurements.
- Performed troubleshooting on problems that prevented accurate analyses Remained complaint with all company mandated training Trained employees
- Created Python programs to reformat sample scheduling data into a format more meaningful for laboratory operations.
- Analyzed samples via ICP-OES, ICP-MS, Karl Fischer Titration, and HACH Colorimetric methods.
Work history example #4
Research And Development Chemist
Pfizer
- Presented posters at on-site presentations and attended conferences hosted by New England Association for Pharmaceutical Research.
- Aided other teams in ARD with HPLC, RT-PCR and UV analyses.
- Used DOE, Factorial Designs, with JMP in shake flask studies.
- Reviewed work generated by QC, when required, for full compliance on procedures.
- Developed and instituted new process for releasing API raw materials.
Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.
Add an education section to your resume
- The highest degree you have achieved.
- TWhere you attended school, and the dates (Although if you graduated some time ago, leave the date off to avoid ageism)
- TField of study
- TAny honors, relevant coursework, achievements, or pertinent activities
Here are some examples of good education entries for resumes:
Bachelor's Degree in chemistry
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2011 - 2014
Bachelor's Degree in chemistry
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2011 - 2014
Highlight your research and development chemist certifications on your resume
Certifications are a great way to showcase special expertise or niche skills. Some jobs even require certifications to be hired.
Start simple. Include the full name of the certification. It's also good to mention the organization that issued the certification. Next, specify when you obtained the certification.
If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your research and development chemist resume:
- Certified Chemical Engineer (CCE)
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)