Shane McGrath '11
Associate Direction of Engineering Services, Corium Innovations
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
Tony Schultz '07
Tony Schultz, Research Engineer, 3M
Laura Kirby '13
Laura Kirby, Bio-Rad
Mary Fergus '23
Mary Fergus, Graduate student, University of North Carolina
Amanda Hanks, '10
Oncology Investigational Drug Pharmacist, UCSF Medical Center
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
GVSU Fall 2026 Career and Internship Fair
October 13, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Fall 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 of...
Graduate School Fair 2026
October 21, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Explore your future at the annual GVSU Graduate School Fair hosted by the GVSU Career Center on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 12pm - 2pm in the Henry Hall Atrium on the Allendale...
State of Michigan Information Session & Networking Event
October 28, 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Did you know the State of Michigan is the largest employer in the state? And did you know that applying for a position with the State of Michigan can look a little different from a typical job application? Join...
Community, Connections, and Careers in Northern Michigan
October 29, 2026 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Connect with leading employers from the greater Traverse City area to explore internships, entry-level positions, and career opportunities across a variety of industries. Learn what makes Northern...
Careers in a Lab
November 16, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 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...
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.