CAREERS AND CHEMISTRY ALUMNI
Why Study Chemistry?
After you have earned your bachelors in chemistry or biochemistry, what can you do next? Villanova is situated in the center of a large area of chemical industry extending from northern New Jersey to Delaware. Many of our graduates obtain positions with Merck, Glaxo-SmithKline, Pfizer, L’Oreal, or Eurofins, along with many other companies.
Your first job is frequently working as a bench chemist, but might also be in sales, safety, communications, etc.
A number of our graduates continue their education at universities across the US in various areas of chemistry such as medicinal, biochemistry, pharmacology, analytical or inorganic chemistry. Graduate students usually receive stipends and tuition waivers that cover the expenses of a graduate education!
There are also branches of the government that hire chemists, such as the EPA, DEA, agriculture, commerce, and the military.
Each year approximately 15% of our graduating class go to medical school, a few become high school teachers, and a few enter graduate programs or pursue careers outside of the chemistry area.
Professional Development
We address career awareness with our Professional Development Seminar (CHM 1000). In this class we invite chemists and alumni to speak to the students about their jobs and the role of chemistry.
Nova Network
Nova Network is a database available to all Villanova students that provides you with easy access to its thousands of alumni.
There is a specific Nova Network group for Villanova Chemistry students and alumni.
Career Center
The Chemistry Department maintains a list of job opportunities from area companies. In addition, the Villanova University Career Center has a comprehensive program to assist our graduates.
Our students are recruited by the top chemical and pharmaceutical companies in the United States. Villanova is fortunate to be surrounded by many of the best pharmaceutical companies in the nation. These companies find our students to be highly intelligent and possess the skills needed for success in the pharmaceutical industry. Here are some of the employers that have hired our BS graduates since 2015:
- Johnson Matthey Fine Chemicals
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Force Therapeutics
- Wrigley Corporation
- Progenra
- L’Oreal
- COVEX LLC
- The US Air Force
Graduate School
One popular next step after a chemistry or biochemistry BS from Villanova is a PhD program in one of the many subfields of chemistry. Since 2015, our graduates have gone on to pursue a doctorate at the following Universities:
- Emory University
- Florida State University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of California at San Diego
- Duke University
- University of North Carolina
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Oklahoma
- Cambridge University
- Scripps Florida
- Yale University
- Stony Brook University
Villanova students have found that a degree in chemistry or biochemistry impresses many medical school admissions committees, including those at MD/PhD programs! These programs allow highly talented students to develop skills in medical research; students enrolled in these programs do not have to pay tuition, and often receive a stipend to help with living expenses. Here are some of the Medical Schools where our students have attended since 2015:
MD/PhD Programs
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Arizona
Medical Schools
- Northwestern University
- Ross University
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- New York Medical College
- Temple University School of Medicine
- Jefferson University/ Sidney Kimmel Medical College
- Emory University
- American University of the Caribbean
Students with degrees in chemistry or biochemistry have found that they can use their training in a variety of different disciplines. Students with chemistry or biochemistry training are in demand in education, medicine, allied health, law, and other areas. Here are some of the non-chemistry graduate programs that our students have entered since 2015:
- Rutgers University (Dental)
- Drexel University (MS in Drug Discovery and Development)
- John Jay (Criminology)
- Culinary Arts School of New York
- Villanova University (Law)
- Fordham University (Law)
- Syracuse University (JD/MS program)
Alumni News
STEPHANIE SCHALLENHAMMER '18 MS
An analytical project coordinator scientist at Eurofins, Stephanie works to maintain quality control of major market drugs across the world, innovating and developing new drugs to ensure a healthier tomorrow. About her experience at Villanova, Stephanie says, "I discovered that Villanova offered a two-year full-time program that would allow me to do my own research and be a teaching assistant in the laboratories. Villanova entrusted me with a scientific toolbox and skillset that I am constantly building upon in my current role. I am always refining and enhancing the laboratory techniques and skills I learned there and striving to better myself and my work."
ALEX REIF '08 CLAS '10 MS
Alex serves as a Senior Scientist for GlaxoSmithKline — a career he began while obtaining his Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Villanova. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' flexible Master’s program allowed him to work full-time in the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical lab while taking classes. Today, he works in lead optimization of small molecule drug discovery in the global healthcare organization’s cancer epigenetics unit. Alex says, “My work today is different than my research at Villanova, but I use the synthetic toolbox that I acquired at Villanova every day in the lab to design and synthesize small organic molecules.”
