Chemical Engineering Lab Assistant Career Training Guide

Question: Recent B.S. in Science Graduate. I now want to pursue Engineering. Should I go back for 2nd B.S. in Engineer? I have recently graduated with a B.S. in General Science. After looking around for a while for jobs I have yet to find one. I have been looking for Associate Research, Research Assistant, Lab Technician, and related jobs with no luck. The main thing I feel is holding me back is that I have no working experience and no internships in my past. I guess I never really realized how important actual experience is in the working world. However, I have begin to realize that I do not want to work in the Lab or become a Science teacher. I am extremely good in Math and Science. I received A's in Statistics, Calculus with Analytical Geometry, Chemistry(both Semesters), Biology(Both semesters), and University Physics(both semesters). I grauduated with a 3.4 GPA. I have been speaking with other family members, which are Engineers, and have been thinking I would like to become an Engineer. I did some research and realized that Chemical or Biomedical Engineering would best compliment my B.S. in Science. Which eliminates the need for taking more core classes and in effect tking more time. I am not sure what to do. Should I go after a Second bachelor's in Chemical Engineering, pursue a Msster's in another interest in which I can use my degree as a prerequisite, or just delve into the search for a content career in Laoratory or teaching? Money is an object, for I already have 20 thousand out in loans so far, and I'm 28 and don't want to spend a great deal of time in school when I could be working toward my career. How can I obtin experience with my Science Degree, with no prior experience, that will be effective on my resume? Lauren...what are you doing in order to obtain work experience while your studying..??..have you looked into any co-op or internships..??..I will definitely make sure I obtain experience while pursuing the degree

Answer: Actually, there are two things holding you back. Your degree and your lack of experience I have no idea what a B.S. in general science would be. Most companies hire B.S. "Chemists" as research assistants and lab technicians. Most companies hire B.S. "Chemical Engineers" as managers (process, project, or development). They look at your school and your grades right out of college. After that, they look at your work history and ignore your grades and which school you went to. So I'll suggest three options for you. 1) hook up with a temporary placement agency. Manpower for example. or autostaffer.com...often times companies hire temporary workers to get a look at them. If they like what they see, maybe you will get a full time job out of it after a few months. 2) go back and get either a B.S. Chemistry or a B.S. Chemical Engineering. Depending on what you want to do in life. Chemistry if you want to work in a lab. Chem engineering if you want to run the company. By the way, you have the first two years down for either B.S. Chem or B.S. Ch.E. two more years and you'll have the right degree. 3) continue on and get a masters or Ph.D. in your general science. Although I wouldn't recommend this because you will have the same problem searching for a job, it certainly is an option. By the way. you haven't taken the core classes for chemical engineering unless you've taken the following: introduction to chemical engineering calculations fluid dynamics for chemical engineers mass transport operations thermodynamics for chemical engineering Unit operations Process controls Process Design Reactor Design Chemical Kinetics Senior project in chemical engineering a few electives IN chemical engineering.. (like advanced fluid dynamics e.g.) plus...you will need to complete the following... differential equations. organic chemistry physical chemistry I and II electives in 300 level chemistry and above.. (e.g. inorganic chem) electives in 300 level math and above..(e.g. linear programming) that's 2 years + a couple of summers I would expect. Maybe 3 years. ********** One of the other answerers suggested getting a masters in chemical engineering. I don't think you're qualified. To get accepted into a masters Ch.E. program, you will need the undergraduate degree in Ch.E. Paul's comment is basically similar to my message here. If you want an MS in Ch.E, you're going to need the undergraduate courses. And there are about 2 years of them. PRIOR to getting into graduate school. I don't know of any University that offers a graduate program in Ch.E to students without those core courses. Most Universities, mine included, wouldn't even accept their own undergraduates into the graduate program. They felt the students would be more well rounded if they changed from one chemical engineering department to another. MIT is an exception to that rule. Anyway...It really irritates me when students find themselves in a position like you're in. I blame that on the counselors and the engineering department. Students go to school with certain expectations that don't materialize. Those people selling "general science" degrees to students are not really telling the whole story. That you will have a very difficult time finding a job in a lab with that degree. good luck to you... ****** Ph.D. Chemical Engineering ps.. David... Ontario rules for PE are a bit relaxed. But they do require 1) a degree in an applied science, 2) 4 years of engineering internship, 3) a professional review of work experience, 4) passing of a licensing exam. The US requires a BS in engineering.. http://theprofessionalengineer.com/requi… regardless. The problem is still the same. Could a person with a BS in general science + a PE license compete with a chemist for a lab job? could they compete with a chemical engineer for a process engineering job? How does one get the work experience in the first place?

Question: Good career move for me? B.S. Chemical Engineering - Pharmacy, Physicians Assistant, or more chem engineering? Hi! I'm ready to make a career move - I have a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and my work experience has been in labs and scientific sales. I'm thinking about going to get my Pharm D to be a pharmacist, or my Masters Degree to be a Physicians Assistant -- or maybe more chemical engineering school to pursue an engineering job.....anyone have any advice? Do you work in any of these fields? Any new ideas? Thanks!

Answer: You're looking at a very wide array of fields, but luckily all of them are in high demand. Being a P.A. seems to be the most different from your education/career and the other possible professions. You really need to look at what you like or dislike about your own job and see how it relates to the other jobs. Do you like working with the public? (PA, Pharm) Do you mind doing LOTS of paper work and making tons of phone calls? (Pharm) Are you willing to be on call and having a lot of legal responsibility? (PA) Do you enjoy working in the lab and all its glory? (engineering) I feel like being a pharmacist is pretty self-explanatory. Fill prescriptions, cross check medications, prepare medications (more in hospitals) You should try to get some first hand experience working with patients before you jump in PA school. Working with patients all day is much different than the average person thinks. You have a much better idea of what being an engineer is than I do.

Question: If I major in chemical engineering and minor in bio in order to work in cloning what happens when I graduate? I'm thinking of majoring in computer science for a second bachelors degree because computers is what I know and what I'm good at, and I want a related job that pays good when I graduate from college. However, I am also interested in cloning. I think there's definitely a future in cloning. If I majored in chemical engineering and minored in bio instead of cs what kind of job would I get out of college? Would it be a good one that pays well, or would I just be some kind of lab assistant? (That sounds interesting, but I heard from some people that its boring).

Answer: Can you clone me a job?

Question: How do I get certified by the ASCP? Have degree in laboratory technology (assoc) plus 3 years chemical engineering and many years lab experience. What classes can I take to fill in the blanks so I can work as a medical lab assistant or MLT. Apparently all these courses are online? a little help please

Answer: If I found myself in that situation, I would go to the ASCP website and send off an email to their contact info, or better yet, give them a call. They may offer a "grandfather" option and simply allow you to take the test.