What is it like to be a Chemist?

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

I’m writing this because it is something I would have wanted to read when I was 18 years old and thinking about majoring in chemistry. I had originally wanted to be an English major so I could be a writer. I do not regret my decision to go into chemistry, but it has been a journey so far that has been deeply satisfying, terrifying, and frustrating all at the same time. What has been most surprising is that my goal of wanting to be a writer was accomplished in someways. I’ve published plenty of peer reviewed papers, a thesis, patent applications, and I write here on Medium.

This is a story in my PhD in Chemistry series. Check out my other stories such as Pursuing a PhD in Chemistry. I also write frequently about chemistry, the chemical industry, the advances at The Polymerist — a free biweekly newsletter.

What does a Chemist do?

There are two types of Chemists:

1. Chemists on the bench — practicing wet chemistry, making molecules, characterizing things, the scientific method, designing and doing experiments. Creating magic.
2. Chemists off the bench — reading, writing, talking on the phone, going to meetings, traveling, presenting, networking, and telling people to do things for you, or teaching