If you have studied in a Singaporean university and earned a chemistry degree, and are wondering what kind of chemistry degree jobs are available, then you have come to the right place. Studying chemistry is a versatile field that finds applications in several industries like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy sectors, and biotechnology, making it a strong career choice.
If you are interested in pursuing a successful career as a chemist or research associate, you have come to the right place to explore successful job opportunities. In this article, we will explore possible professions and chemistry degree jobs with excellent salary prospects that you can get in Singapore with a chemistry degree.
Read on to learn more!
Types of Chemistry Degree
Chemistry is a highly practical and hands-on degree, with a significant amount of time spent in laboratories, carrying out meticulously planned experiments using complicated techniques. The minimum prerequisite to beginning a career in chemistry is a Bachelor of Science degree, which typically takes three years to complete in Singapore.
Bachelor of Science
In a chemistry undergraduate degree, you will learn core modules covering the basics, such as the difference between organic and inorganic chemistry, types of chemical bonds, and grasp concepts such as quantum mechanics, which explains the behaviour of molecules across the universe.
As students progress through their chemistry degree, they master a wide range of will perform more open-ended experiments using different laboratory methods and techniques to solve chemistry problems.
Students master a wide range of analytical and research techniques, ranging from spectroscopy (analysing the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, most often light) to chromatography (separating chemical compounds depending on their physical properties). These skills are essential for any aspiring research associate, chemist, or scientist looking to land competitive chemistry jobs.
Master’s Degree
You can earn your master’s degree in chemistry by studying for two additional years after completing your bachelor's degree. In a master’s degree, you will specialise in a specific area of chemistry and read more specialised options.
Depending on your interests and career goals, you may also choose elective coursework such as molecular biochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, biomedical engineering or environmental chemistry. These study modules will increase your salary potential and pave the way for an exciting career as a chemist, scientist, or research associate with a competitive pay structure.
PhD Doctorate
At the PhD doctorate level, students specialise in a particular domain under the guidance of a faculty member. The doctorate usually lasts from three to five years, and studies culminate in a written thesis that students must present before an invigilator.
Most degrees also require the completion of an internship or a semester-long research project to build experience.
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Career Paths in Chemistry: Top Chemistry Degree Jobs in Singapore
1. Protect The Planet And Become An Environmentalist
As an environmental chemist, your main job will be to monitor air, water and soil quality, studying how chemicals end up in the environment, their effect and how human activities affect the planet.
You will identify sources of contamination that may pose a risk to human health. Your role will also include encouraging and improving sustainability, conservation and protection by creating or following environmentally friendly initiatives.
This is a very hands-on job, most likely involving on-the-ground sample taking and analytical testing, especially in the case of a pollution crisis such as an oil spill or aquifer contamination.
However, you will also have to study and keep up to date with health and safety regulations and local or national government laws. More importantly, environmental chemists have to work at the intersections between many different sciences, including biology, geology, ecology, sedimentology, mineralogy, genetics, soil and water chemistry, hydrology, toxicology, mathematics and engineering.
2. Solve Crimes And Save Lives, Become A Toxicologist
The line between forensic chemistry and toxicology is very thin, with the qualifications required for either position being very similar.
As a forensic chemist, you will analyse physical evidence and samples provided by law enforcement agencies to solve crimes. Popular series such as CSI, Dexter or Bones have glamorised the fieldmaking forensics a trendy field to study, increasing the competition to get into specific courses or to find a job once you graduate.
Similarly, toxicologists are not running out of work anytime soon. As a toxicologist, your main job will be to study the safety and biological effects of drugs, chemicals, agents, and other substances on living organisms. Once again, this field is interdisciplinary and will require you to be comfortable with other sciences such as biology, biochemistry or organic chemistry.
Having a cool job is only one of the reasons to study chemistry—you’re going to contribute directly to public health and safety.
3. At The Crossroads Between Chemistry and Biology: Biotechnology
If you are interested in both biology and chemistry, you will not have to compromise: just specialise in biotechnology.
This field comprises the study and use of living organisms or cells to make useful products. As a biotechnologist, you will design and synthesise new drugs, improve crop resilience, advance agriculture and protect the environment. One of the earliest breakthroughs of biotechnology was the industrial production of insulin, necessary to treat millions of diabetic people.
Fresh graduates can expect an average salary range between SGD 53,578 and SGD 93,896. After a few years of experience, senior biotechnologists can expect to earn approximately $105,000 SGD, but this will vary by experience and role.
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4. Become A Chemical Engineer
The role of a chemical engineer is to find ways to translate chemical reactions naturally occurring in nature or developed in labs into practical applications for the production of chemicals or compounds in large-scale industries. Their work is to improve these processes, either by making them more cost-efficient or less damaging to the environment.
Chemical engineers work across diverse industries, right from aerospace and automotive to environmental and medical companies. In recent years, chemical engineers have played a growing role in improving the sustainability of very polluting industries like fashion and automobile manufacturing.
One of the biggest challenges today is the plastic crisis, polluting our oceans, making its way into our food and ultimately harming us. Chemical engineers, who once helped fuel the plastic boom following WWII, will have to find new ways to recycle and reuse plastics, transforming those into fabrics, construction materials or creating plastic-eating bacteria that could save our planet.
With an average base salary of chemical engineers in Singapore being $118,109 (SGD)/yr, this profession is amongst the best-paid chemistry jobs you can land once you've successfully graduated.
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5. Become a Research Scientist
Becoming a research scientist is another highly rewarding career you can take up if you study chemistry. Research scientists work on researching and developing new methodologies and presenting them before a knowledgeable scientific audience. It is the research done by research scientists that serves as the bedrock of future innovation, leading to groundbreaking discoveries across industries.
In Singapore, research scientists earn approximately $47,880 to $67,000 per year, making it not only fulfilling but also a financially profitable career to have.
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Tips for Chemistry Degree Graduates Starting Their Chemistry Jobs in Singapore
Starting a chemistry job in Singapore can be challenging and exciting at the same time. The country is a hub of pharmaceuticals, environmental science, biotechnology, and materials research companies offering chemistry graduates a wide range of job opportunities.
- Build experience through internships
Several Singaporean companies offer internship opportunities to chemistry graduates. This not only sharpens their technical skills but also familiarises them with industrial work culture, safety protocols, and provides valuable insights into equipment handling.
- Network with professionals
Networking with professionals in your field is crucial for career growth. Consider joining professional bodies like the IMRE or SNIC to meet and interact with peers and industry leaders. Take advantage of these industry bodies and networking platforms like LinkedIn to keep up with industry news and stay in touch with industry professionals.
- Get certifications
Obtaining professional certifications will further enhance your career prospects. You can get certifications by attending webinars or short courses.
Conclusion: Is a Chemistry Degree Worth It in Singapore?
Do you know that a chemistry degree opens the doors to a range of well-paid career options? Whether you want to manufacture new medicines, save the environment, or work in high-tech manufacturing, there is a place for every chemistry student in Singapore’s science and manufacturing sector.
If you are still studying chemistry, getting help from a qualified tutor will help you achieve success easily. Online learning platforms like Superprof connect you with experienced tutors who can guide you through complex topics like inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry, or pharmaceutical chemistry and help you land your dream chemistry jobs in Singapore. To expedite your job hunting process, you can set up a job alert and receive email notifications about upcoming research associate and chemist jobs in Singapore.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your job alert today and move on to a rewarding science career with a great, competitive salary per annum. Sign up today at Superprof and land that dream job.
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