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Earn A Government Job With A Degree In Science!

by MichelleConner

Students who are pursuing a degree in chemistry or biology can look forward to having a wide selection of career options available in nearly every industry, business, and government sector in operation. Both are general sciences, so the career paths are endless. A chemistry or biology degree can lead to careers in investigation, teaching, and research. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is one of the largest government agencies that employ professionals with biology and chemical backgrounds.

Chemists were considered one of the "critical" job positions in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2010 hiring initiative. Academic credentials plus practical experience always enhances a person's chance for employment; many of the chemists' positions at the FDA do not emphasize experience. They do, however, stress the importance of education credentials and proof of specialized coursework prior to filling out an application. There is much more to be learned about accredited online universities and it will all be of great use to you!

General duties performed by FDA chemists require analytical, evaluation, research, and investigation skills. Chemists may be involved with conducting research projects that study the effects of food components and dietary supplements. Investigation projects might include the effects of drugs and/or agricultural chemicals on domestic, livestock, or laboratory animals. Evaluation duties may come in the form of determining the adequacy of methods, facilities, and controls used to manufacture drugs.

An example of a chemist position at the FDA is the "interdisciplinary chemist." In this capacity, the chemist might be a project manager who is in charge of the coordination of various regulatory and scientific projects that could be related to biological, radiological, chemical, and nuclear preparedness. As a project manager, the chemists act as an FDA representative, interacting with FDA constituents, outside organizations, and federal agencies.

The FDA interdisciplinary chemist position requires a degree in physical or life science or in engineering. In addition to the degree, the applicant must have six semester hours in physics and 30 hours in chemistry in addition to substantial coursework in mathematics; calculus is beneficial. This position can garner an annual salary of well over $105,000. If you are interested in online college degree programs then you should do some more research.

The Food and Drug Administration also list biologists as another "critical" hire. These professionals must also have a high aptitude for analysis and research. Research proficiencies might used to explore and discover original means to prepare and preserve blood and blood components. Analytical skills might include examining the biological effects of food additives or contaminants. Biologists may be needed to review clinical data, assessing the effectiveness and safety of variety of medical equipment.

Basic education requirements for a FDA biologist include a degree in biological science, chemistry, agriculture, or natural resource management. Math and other science related courses are beneficial too. For biologists, the more experience and/or specialized education, the higher the level of the position one can achieve.

About the Author: Frank Cole

The U.S. Government has a variety of career opportunities available for chemistry and biology majors taking online classes. The Food and Drug Administration is just one of the many government agencies that have a high demand for this profession. Log onto eLearners.com and see what else there is to learn.

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Earn A Government Job With A Degree In Science!