Shea Siwik '20
Graduate student, University of Colorado, Boulder
Chemistry Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore Chemistry academic resources designed to support your academic goals.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Chemistry! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Chemistry Internship Sites
Internships provide an environment for you to gain hands-on, supervised experience. You'll apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment while boosting your resume! Past internship sites include:
Join a Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider elective courses and certificates that pair with their major to gain additional skills.
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Chemistry Study Abroad
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Borders are virtually meaningless in this early 21st century global economy. As a future graduate with a Chemistry major or minor degree, you will be confronting global issues and will work in internationally-operated companies. "Wake up and face the earth!" T. Friedman advised us in his bestseller ‘The World is Flat’.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Chemistry Career Spotlights
Chemistry Alumni in Action
Kelsey Perry '16
Instructor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Beth Lowe '12
Technical Transfer Specialist - New Products to Launch, Fortis Life Sciences
Alex Wong '17
Alex Wong, Process Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow, J&J Vision
Paul Morse '15
MD/PhD, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Quality Control – PPG Industries
- Material Chemist – Steelcase
- Product Quality Auditor – Tekton Inc
- Quality Technician – Amway
- Pharmacy Operations Manager – Priority Health
- Research Assistant – Spectrum Health
- Analytical Chemist – Perrigo
- Physician Assistant – Spectrum Health
- Quality Operations Specialist – Pfizer
- New Business Development Manager – Dow Chemical
- Customer Service Manager – Consumer Energy
- Volatile Organics Lab Tech – ALS Environmental
- Sales Rep – Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
- Product Developer – Tesa Tape
- Middle School Teacher – Zeeland Public School
- Sales Support – Aal Chem
- Medical Student – Michigan State University
- Brewer/Cellarman – New Holland Brewing
- Senior Patent Agent – McGarry Bain PC
- Metallurgical Lab Tech – Jedco Company Aerospace Engineering
Attend Events
Career Community - Science and Research
JCPenney Suit Up - Winter 2026
February 1, 2026 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
Careers in Lab Sciences
February 3, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Join us to explore part-time and full-time job opportunities in the Lab Sciences field! This event provides students the chance to hear from various employers in the Lab Sciences industry. You'll...
Prepare for the Career Fair (City)
February 9, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
Prepare for the Career Fair (Valley)
February 11, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
GVSU Winter 2026 Career and Internship Fair
February 19, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Winter Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni...
Consider joining the Science & Research Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
Students with a Chemistry degree may continue on to a variety of graduate programs. Here are some examples of pathways students may pursue:
- Physical Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Forensic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Quality Control Chemistry
- Chemical Analysis
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos of Professionals Working in this Field
Check Out our Podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.