|
 Physical
Chemistry
Physical
chemists seek to unravel such varied mysteries as how proteins fold into
their active state, how complex nanostructures can be formed and behave,
how biomolecular motors work, and how global phenomena such as the
stratospheric ozone hole originated. They develop theories about these
properties, analyze materials, and discover potential uses for
materials. Physical chemists work extensively with sophisticated
instrumentation and equipment as well as state-of-the-art computers.
When you walk into a physical chemistry lab, for example, it is bound to
be packed with computers and large instruments, including lasers, mass
spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, and a
variety of microscopes that can see and follow molecules at atomic
resolution.
Polymer
Chemistry
A polymer is a chain of small
molecules joined together in a repeating fashion to form a single layer
molecule. Chemists develop polymers so they can be used to make
ingredients for products with unique physical and chemical properties.
They manipulate large, complex molecules and capitalize on the connections
between their molecular structure and the properties that make them
useful. Polymer products can be lightweight, hard, strong, and flexible
and have special thermal, electrical, and optical characteristics; they
include products from the fiber, communication, packaging, and
transportation industries. The big boom in polymer chemistry occurred
largely in the first part of the twentieth century with the advent of
polymer materials such as nylon and Kevlar. Today, most work with polymers
focuses on improving and fine-tuning existing technologies. Still, there
are opportunities ahead for polymer chemists. They work in many
industries, creating a variety of synthetic polymers such as Teflon and
special application plastics and developing new polymers that are less
expensive or that outperform traditional materials and replace those that
are scarce.
Pulp
and Paper Chemistry
Pulp chemistry and paper
chemistry are integrated processes, but each is carried out somewhat
separately. Chemists in the paper-making business tend to gain experience
with both pulp and paper science, because knowledge of both is integral to
the smooth running of a paper mill. Pulping is a process of
delignification-removing lignin from wood while leaving cellulose fibers
intact. Most pulping is done through a "Kraft" delignification process,
which uses sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide to chemically remove
lignin. After delignification, the color of the pulp is dark brown. If
white paper is desired, the pulp is bleached. Delignified, bleached pulp
is fed into paper machines after undergoing other chemical processes that
produce the desired quality and characteristics for the paper. "Sizing"
chemistry gives the paper resistance to moisture; "retention" chemistry
binds fillers and shorter fibers into the paper; and "wet strength"
chemistry ensures that products like paper towels will not disintegrate in
water.
R&D
Management
The R&D manager must have a
strong foundation in his or her scientific discipline as well as the
ability to understand and work with scientists in other disciplines. A project manager's job is to take broad
responsibility for the scientific aspects of a research project or
research team and marry its efforts with the strategic and business goals
of his or her company. Time is spent working with other scientists in the
lab, planning directions for research, putting together self-directed
teams of scientists, obtaining in and allocating monies, and meeting with
business managers. Few chemists go to school to
become R&D managers, but many receive management training through their
employers. R&D management is a position scientists move into over the
course of their careers. The R&D manager must have a strong foundation
in his or her scientific discipline as well as the ability to understand
and work with scientists in other disciplines.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by
the American Chemical Society and the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
