Careers in Chemical Engineering Research and Development

Research and development (known as R&D) is the lifeblood of an economy. New technologies and new applications of existing technologies lead to expansion and growth. Moreover, each individual in a society can benefit from the efforts of R&D through simplified tasks, improved safety, and increased equipment reliability. Chemical engineers support R&D in a wide variety of industries. Working in R&D gives ChEs the opportunity to create the future.

In the first part of our series on chemical engineering careers, we discussed traditional process engineering jobs. Process engineers working in a plant or design environment often begin their careers after graduating from college. R&D engineers frequently hold advanced degrees and specialize in specific fields, some of which may seem far removed from chemicals. The 2021 AIChE salary survey indicates that 45% of respondents held bachelor’s degrees while 33% held doctorate degrees. Often these PhDs work in R&D.

Corporate R&D

Most large corporations have internal R&D departments to advance technology within their industry. In many cases, chemical engineers work in small “R” and big “D,” meaning they focus mostly on developing, scaling, and implementing applications. In this situation, the technology and formulations may have been originally created by others, such as research personnel at a university. Corporate R&D translates ideas into practical implementations for manufacturing and production.

All oil and gas majors and large petrochemical firms have their own R&D departments. Many corporations have built large, sophisticated labs with very high-tech equipment. Chemical engineers and corporate R&D staff work closely with chemists to create and analyze different formulations and methods of manufacture. Early process designs are also the responsibility of R&D engineers.

As the work moves upstream from development to research, chemical engineers will rely heavily on their skills of analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry. Experiments can take days or weeks to plan and execute, while data analysis takes even longer. Because of the length of time between the inception of an idea and full-scale production, R&D engineers may not be directly involved in the practical commercialization of their inventions.

Corporate R&D labs are also used for trouble-shooting manufacturing issues, such as contamination or unwanted byproducts. Chemical engineers in R&D support many industries, such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and many more. However, after working for a period of time, many R&D engineers become highly specialized within an industry or field of study. These respected experts speak at technical conferences (like AIChE’s Ammonia Safety Conference) and sometimes serve as expert witnesses in court trials.

Startups

R&D is essential in startup ventures. Rather than adapting technologies to a given industry, chemical engineers working in startups are creating new technologies and new applications. While the pay in corporate R&D is predictable, working in a startup can result in variable rewards. If the new technology hits it big, the initial R&D team can reap huge financial rewards. Of course, the opposite is also true.

While R&D engineers work with little supervision of day-to-day work, ChEs working in startups must be self-motivated and willing to work extensive hours (including evenings and weekends). Time pressures are intense to convert the nascent idea to a profitable commercial offering, so R&D and startup engineers must be ready to handle tension and stress. Being able to collaborate with a broad group of people is also important. Startups include technical experts (like ChEs), financial and business analysts, and venture capitalists. In some instances, the startup team fills all these roles with just a few people, so understanding business perspectives can be important for this career pathway.

University research

Many chemical engineers who attend graduate school seek employment at universities conducting fundamental research (big “R”, little “D”). Some universities have few or no requirements for classroom teaching and allow chemical engineers to focus solely on research. Other colleges need ChEs to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses. Teaching is a hugely fulfilling career path on its own, and any chemical engineer seeking to join a university staff should be prepared for the challenges and joys of sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of engineers.

University research, unlike corporate R&D, is typically funded by government grants. ChE researchers at universities therefore spend a lot of time writing and applying for grant money so they can conduct their research. In contrast to corporate R&D, which is very focused on a specific industry or technology, university R&D is more esoteric since it seeks fundamental understandings of how things work. Results are not necessarily implemented in any process for decades and may serve only to build the library of scientific knowledge.

While corporate R&D engineers use trained and salaried technicians to conduct investigations, university researchers rely on unpaid students to design and analyze experiments and data. University professors are mentors for their students and help them develop soft skills, such as speaking and interviewing, as well as learning how to properly conduct research and write academic papers. University research may also include working with incubators that transition fundamental research to development opportunities and startups.

Working in R&D

R&D is varied in scope so chemical engineers can expect that no two days will be the same. Chemical engineers in research and development work with a broad group of people, including chemists, physicists, and lawyers. Documentation of ideas, experimental procedures, and results is crucial to gaining a patent for invention. Patent lawyers with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) must hold a technical degree, so filing claims from R&D work can be detailed and rigorous.

Chemical engineers working in R&D often, but not always, hold advanced degrees and are experts in very narrow areas. They often spend an entire career perfecting a specific chemistry or reaction. R&D engineers must be able to present their technical data in concise and practical terms to maintain funding, regardless of employment in private or public entities. Thus, speaking and writing are critical interpersonal skills for success.

Next in this series, we’ll talk about chemical engineers working as project managers. Whether in a plant environment or at a desk job, chemical engineers contribute to projects large and small.