Outcomes and Careers | Department of Chemistry | The University of Vermont(title)

Chemistry is a broadly based technical field that is the central science for many disciplines. Within the field of chemistry, there is substantial overlap with biology, biochemistry, pharmacy, forensics, medicine, materials science, computer science, engineering, physics, and more. As a well-trained, chemistry graduate from UVM, you will be prepared to excel in any technical area. Through our curriculum, you will also develop skills for original thinking, problem solving, and confidence, which will prepare you for any career path.

Combining Chemistry and Public Health

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Lyndelle LeBruin

Lyndelle LeBruin is a UVM Master's in chemistry graduate and now project manager at the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research (LCBR). At the LCBR, Lyndelle and her colleagues focus on understanding risk factors for heart disease, stroke, venous thrombosis, obesity, diabetes, aging, and frailty using a wide variety of assays in population and family-based research settings. Lyndelle reflects on what is most rewarding about her work: "I know that every skill that I learn, and every task that I do, plays an integral role in improving the health of the United States, and by extension global public health."

Launching into Academia

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Justin Pagano

After finishing his undergraduate career, Justin Pagano joined UVM's chemistry Ph.D. program. In 2015, Justin won a Suiter Prize this year to attend the American Chemistry Society (ACS) National Meeting in Dallas, and he was just awarded a prestigious fellowship to conduct research at Los Alamos National Laboratories. He reflects on choosing UVM's graduate program: "I visited a few other schools in addition to UVM, but none could really compare in my mind. Everyone seemed extremely friendly, and the research was top notch coming from everyone I met."

From Academia to Industry

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Dan Depuccio

After finishing up as a chemistry graduate student, Dan Depuccio began his current job as a Materials Scientist at Superior Technical Ceramics in St. Albans, VT. "Learning how to design experiments, research scientific literature, and use a variety of analytical instruments [at UVM] has set me up for a smooth transition from academia to industry. With the skills obtained from my UVM experience, I can use the same approach to answering scientific questions to create better, more consistent products for our customers. That is the best part!"

B.A. in Chemistry
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A B.A. in chemistry is a valuable tool for those interested in obtaining jobs in and out of the chemistry field. Job opportunities in technical writing, patent law, small business, technical-based product sales, high technology manufacturing, government, medicine, and pharmacy are likely for B.A. chemists. A B.A. in chemistry allows the simultaneous pursuit of other undergraduate areas, including premedical training, environmental studies, business, computer science, and bioinformatics, so the number of possible career paths is endless.

B.S. in Chemistry
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The B.S. requires more coursework in chemistry than the B.A. program, so it opens up greater career opportunities in the mainstream of chemical manufacturing and chemical research. High-paying jobs are available in the petroleum and pharmaceutical industries, food chemistry, commodity chemicals, custom synthesis, environmental chemistry, polymers & plastics, and materials sciences. Several chemically based companies are operative in the local area, which allows for the possibility of summer employment, internships, and personal connections for obtaining long-term employment after graduation. The B.S. degree is the traditional training for students preparing to obtain a PhD in chemistry.

What's next?

Connor Payne looking into the future
Connor Payne, a chemistry major in the Honors College, went straight into a Ph.D. program at Harvard in chemical biology.
Amanda Graves smiling for the camera, working diligently in the lab
Amanda Graves graduated from UVM's chemistry graduate program and now works at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida.
Stephen Van Which posing next to his lab equipment
Stephen Van Wyck turned down other top schools to start his Ph.D at Stanford University.