Personal profile
How did these brilliant chemists get where they are today?
The nature of the job market means that careers advice can go out of date very rapidly. Please use this information as a guide and bear in mind the publication dates.
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2011
Ally Lewis could probably take apart a gas chromatograph with his eyes closed in the jungle or on a glacier, writes Emma Davies
Profile: Polymer chemist delivers the goods
A career in drug delivery finds polymer chemist Jeff Hrkach working with chemists, biologists, engineers and, ultimately, investors, writes Sarah Houlton
Profile: Chemist on a contract
Emma Blaney joins a growing number of chemists leaving big pharma for careers in contract research organisations (CROs), reports Sarah Houlton
Profile: Career development of a development chemist
Daniel Bayston enjoys a varied career in pre-clinical drug development, writes Bea Perks
Gas technologist John Irven never forgets his first scientific influences, writes Yfke Hager
Profile: Diversity, variety and collaboration
Typecasting has never been a problem for Sally Gras, whose interests have ranged from fluid mechanics and protein misfolding to cheese making, discovers James Mitchell Crow
Profile: Consider the evidence
Forensic analyst Raychelle Burk explains that real-life forensic scientists have rather more paperwork on TV. Bea Perks is relieved to find they don't carry guns, either
Teaching is in Jane Essex's blood. After years teaching in schools, she is now inspiring the next generation of chemistry teachers - and loving it, as she tells Emma Davies
2010
Profile: Keep your options open
Justin Gooding balances his own drive to succeed with the desire to nurture his team, while working to develop new and better biosensors, writes Karen Harries-Rees
Matthew Davidson, professor of sustainable chemical technologies, talks to Sarah Houlton about the University of Bath's new Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies
Profile: Nurturing industrial collaboration
Organic chemist Joe Sweeney is developing a collaborative network with industry that looks set to provide a new model for knowledge and innovation exchange, says Sarah Houlton
Profile: Transatlantic chemist
British chemist Steve Woodhead's career in fragment-based drug discovery has taken him on a fast-paced 6000 mile trip from the UK to the US, reports Yfke Hager
Profile: The chemistry of biological systems
From work on cancer vaccines to the hunt for TB drugs, Richard Payne's life as a medicinal chemist is far from dull, reports Yfke Hager
Stephen Batchelor really can help you achieve a 'whiter wash'. With over 70 patents, he is one of Unilever's top inventors. Manisha Lalloo discovers what inspires him
Glenn Micalizio intended to follow a pharma career but was drawn into academia - with great results, reports Yfke Hager
Vancouver-based chemist Jennifer Love spends her free time kayaking, which helps open her mind to new research ideas, writes Karen Harries-Rees
Entrepreneurial drive led Christopher Pike to success in the world of intellectual property. Helen Carmichael reports
2009
Nicola Razzell left a career in banking to work for the pharmaceutical industry and has never looked back, as she tells Helen Carmichael
Combining know-how from different businesses helped Procter & Gamble win the 2009 RSC Teamwork in innovation award for the development of hair dye product, Perfect 10
Denise Smith heads the food science department at Ohio State University, US. She is thrilled by the large numbers of students switching to food science, as she tells Yfke Hager
A PhD with chemical biologist Jack Baldwin launched Peter Rutledge into antibiotics research. His enthusiasm has taken him far, writes Karen Harries-Rees
Profile: Life, but not as we know it
In Second Life real people live in a virtual world. Joanna Scott has a actual job there, organising scientific events within the online environment, reports Sarah Houlton
Helen Bandey faced choosing between a scientific career and the police force. But then she found the perfect job as a scientist at the Home Office, as she tells Yfke Hager
In just a few short years Karen Bultitude has switched from scientific research to become a sought-after science communicator, writes Helen Carmichael
James Liao was one of the first to mix biology and engineering and he continues to break new ground in his quest for cleaner, greener biofuels, as Yfke Hager finds out
Ian Archer has his dream career as a process chemist. As head of process chemistry at Ingenza, he is now getting involved in technology transfer, as he tells Sarah Houlton
Michael Braungart - an environmentalist, chemist, and businessman - is determined to use science to remove waste from industry, as Ned Stafford finds out
A wealth of skills took Kate Bellingham from a first degree in physics, to careers as a computer programmer, TV presenter, maths teacher, and finally a national champion for career...
US materials scientist Brian Smith got himself an MBA in order to build a business based on his research
A fascination for conducting polymers coupled with an interest in languages prepared Liz Mallen for a successful career with a global silicones supplier, writes Yfke Hager
2008
Elizabeth Blackburn knows that chemistry is the key to understanding life, as she tells Ned Stafford
Profile: Serial entrepreneur in the making
An enthusiasm for 'creating stuff in the lab' coupled with early entrepreneurial promise make these interesting times for recent PhD graduate David Rabuka, writes Emma Davies
Isabelle Cozzarelli uses her knowledge of chemistry to protect and manage water resources. Yfke Hager meets her
Profile: Fellowships on the brain
A series of fellowships in the UK and Germany have given Birgit Liss scientific independence in her research on the brain's dopamine system, writes Ned Stafford
Andy Fowler's experience at the bench and in the factory helps chemists keep their work safe, reports Susan Aldridge
An early fascination with chemistry grew into a remarkable research career for Katherine Holt. Yfke Hager meets her
