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What is a senior formulation scientist and how to become one
A lot goes in to getting that pill or medicine just right so that it can treat your illness. Formulation scientists play an important role in finding that special formula. They contribute to the drug development process by determining the proper combination of ingredients, while balancing product quality, stability, and cost.
Senior formulation scientist troubleshoots formulation issues that occur during product development and scale-ups. They must evaluate product testing results, and provide next steps for continued development.
Some of their other duties include analyzing results of preformulation studies, modifying inactive ingredients used in drug formulations, assisting in creation of final medical product, and evaluating the product's safety and efficacy. As senior-level scientists, they are also expected to provide mentoring to other formulation scientists.
To become a senior formulation scientist, you'll need a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry or chemical engineering. Experience with generic drug development is also a plus.
What general advice would you give to a senior formulation scientist?
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.
Instructor, University of Nebraska - Omaha
Avg. Salary $102,574
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 17%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%
Asian 26.40%
Black or African American 6.35%
Hispanic or Latino 9.58%
Unknown 4.10%
White 53.42%
Genderfemale 18.81%
male 81.19%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Senior formulation scientist career paths
Key steps to become a senior formulation scientist
Explore senior formulation scientist education requirements
Start to develop specific senior formulation scientist skills
Skills Percentages Dosage Forms 14.68% Scale-Up 10.20% Formulation Development 9.86% GMP 6.94% CMC 3.78% Complete relevant senior formulation scientist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior formulation scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior formulation scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior formulation scientist resumes.Research senior formulation scientist duties and responsibilities
- Identify 10 leads with IC50 o MOA study reveal non-genomic effect though PPAR.
- Forge and manage collaborative relationships with DoD and academia.
- Manufacture of supplies for animal bio-studies and GMP supplies for clinical trials.
- Provide scale-up and tech transfer support to commercial manufacturing facilities through process validation and subsequent manufacturing activities.
Get senior formulation scientist experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior formulation scientist. The most common roles before becoming a senior formulation scientist include formulation scientist, research scientist team lead and scientist.Prepare your senior formulation scientist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior formulation scientist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior formulation scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Apply for senior formulation scientist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior formulation scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average senior formulation scientist salary
The average senior formulation scientist salary in the United States is $102,574 per year or $49 per hour. Senior formulation scientist salaries range between $74,000 and $141,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
