What does a senior research chemist do?
Senior research chemist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior research chemist resumes:
- Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
- Conduct HPLC analysis of two main products to support equivalency programs.
- Establish the fast HPLC column screening system and serve as super user.
- Calculate amounts of unknown components of a distillation bottoms mixture using NMR.
- Train over twenty plant operators and scientists to use the FTIR system.
- Act as leading analyst to provide analytical services to several GMP API productions.
- Develop scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and Karl Fischer techniques for routine analyses.
- Ensure that all products comply with current FDA regulations for efficacy and stability.
- Develop chemical syntheses toward the production of API's to support safety assessment and clinical programs.
- Generate precursor's data package such as vapor pressure, TGA, DSC and thermal stress test.
- Analyze SQC parameters from LIMS for top 20 solvents and demonstrate that a key QC instrument need replacing.
- Structure elucidation and spectral assignment by NMR spectroscopy in support of a wide range of pharmaceutical research and development.
- Conduct weekly and monthly departmental GMP audits to make sure all personnel follow written procedures and policies within FDA guidelines.
- Develop procedures to internalize QC procedures
- Follow EPA commercial and contract laboratory protocols.
Senior research chemist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Senior Research Chemists are proficient in R, Chemistry, and Product Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Research Chemists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- R, 16%
Participate in the preparation of deviation reports as necessary for submission to R &D Management.
- Chemistry, 14%
Provided leadership to two recently graduated associate level chemists in the prosecution of medicinal chemistry lead optimization programs.
- Product Development, 8%
Developed materials for application in new products for division and provided technical expertise and consulting for engineering and product development teams.
- Analytical Laboratory, 6%
Directed a research analytical laboratory in support of division research and development and plant organizations.
- Organic Synthesis, 4%
Work under the supervision of a group leader performing complex organic synthesis and research and development work as required.
- Polymer, 4%
Evaluated alternative polymer composites using extrusion, injection, and compression molding for new decorative surface applications.
"r," "chemistry," and "product development" are among the most common skills that senior research chemists use at work. You can find even more senior research chemist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior research chemist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "chemists and materials scientists need to evaluate the results of experiments to ensure accuracy in their research." Additionally, a senior research chemist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "perform analysis to support fda deficiency. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior research chemist duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "chemists and materials scientists typically work on teams and need to be cooperative." According to a senior research chemist resume, here's how senior research chemists can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "demonstrated interpersonal skills by working with medicinal chemists to solve chemistry problems inherent in scale-up of organic reactions. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for senior research chemists to perform their duties. For an example of how senior research chemist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "chemists and materials scientists regularly use calculus, algebra, statistics, and other math for calculations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior research chemist: "do qualitative and quantitative analysis in gc, hplc, gpc, uv. ".
Organizational skills. A big part of what senior research chemists do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to senior research chemist responsibilities because "chemists and materials scientists must document processes carefully when conducting experiments, tracking outcomes, and analyzing results." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior research chemist tasks: "prioritized chemistry research and gave scientific advice in order to improve organizational efficiency. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a senior research chemist to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what senior research chemists relies on this skill, since "chemists’ and materials scientists’ work involves posing questions during research and finding answers through results." How this skill relates to senior research chemist duties can be seen in an example from a senior research chemist resume snippet: "performed water bath based dissolution studies to meet usp and fda requirements. "
Time-management skills. Lastly, "time-management skills" is an important element of what a senior research chemist does. Senior research chemist responsibilities require this skill because "chemists and materials scientists usually need to meet deadlines and must be able to prioritize tasks while maintaining quality." This resume example highlights how senior research chemist duties rely on this skill: "reviewed all analytical data for finished product release in order to meet appropriate shipment deadlines. "
The three companies that hire the most senior research chemists are:
- Church & Dwight Co.8 senior research chemists jobs
- Trellix6 senior research chemists jobs
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals3 senior research chemists jobs
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Compare different senior research chemists
Senior research chemist vs. Chemist, development
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior research chemist are more likely to require skills like "chemistry," "organic synthesis," "polymer," and "analytical techniques." On the other hand, a job as a chemist, development requires skills like "laboratory equipment," "method development," "technical support," and "analytical procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Chemists, development earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $85,660. On the other hand, senior research chemists are paid more in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $95,875.chemists, development tend to reach similar levels of education than senior research chemists. In fact, chemists, development are 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 20.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior research chemist vs. Quality assurance chemist
Quality Assurance Chemists generally offer pay of around $54K per year and require strong skills in analysis and instrumentation and general knowledge of chemistry, attention to detail, and various organizational skills. Also, they must be able to investigate and analyze problems whenever they crop up. This career choice requires a bachelor's or advanced degree in chemistry, depending on the industry, and will often be offered in pharmaceutical fields, where standard duties consist of the measurement and testing of lab materials and products according to industry standards.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior research chemist resumes. While senior research chemist responsibilities can utilize skills like "chemistry," "analytical laboratory," "organic synthesis," and "polymer," quality assurance chemists use skills like "lab equipment," "analytical methods," "test results," and "food safety."
On average, quality assurance chemists earn a lower salary than senior research chemists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, quality assurance chemists earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $84,734. Whereas senior research chemists have higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $95,875.quality assurance chemists earn lower levels of education than senior research chemists in general. They're 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 20.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior research chemists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Betsy Smith
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College
Senior research chemist vs. Quality control chemist
A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior research chemist is likely to be skilled in "chemistry," "product development," "analytical laboratory," and "organic synthesis," while a typical quality control chemist is skilled in "qc," "lab equipment," "analytical methods," and "uv/vis."
Quality control chemists earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $63,570. Senior research chemists earn the highest pay from the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $95,875.Most quality control chemists achieve a similar degree level compared to senior research chemists. For example, they're 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 22.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior research chemist vs. Associate chemist
An Associate Chemist performs and analyzes chemical tests and procedures. They maintain the stock of drugs and ensure that they are stored in a secure place.
Types of senior research chemist
Updated January 8, 2025
