About This Career

Conducts chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.

This career is part of the Energy cluster.

A person in this career:

• Conducts chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
• Maintains, cleans, or sterilizes laboratory instruments or equipment.
• Monitors product quality to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
• Prepares chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or creates experimental formulas.
• Sets up and conducts chemical experiments, tests, and analyses, using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical or chemical separation techniques, or microscopy.
• Compiles and interprets results of tests and analyses.
• Provides and maintains a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting laboratory or plant safety audits.
• Provides technical support or assistance to chemists or engineers.
• Develops or conducts programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, or products.
• Trains new employees on topics such as the proper operation of laboratory equipment.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel