Chemistry co-op

by | Programs

Sample co-op positions and employers

  • Viticulture research assistant – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Formulation and analytical chemist – EcoSafe Natural Products Inc.
  • Process operator – Teck Ltd
  • Outreach instructor – Actua
  • Organics, advanced extractions – ALS Laboratory Group
  • Structure, properties and performance Researcher – Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation
  • Medicinal chemistry researcher – Centre for Drug Research and Development
  • Analytical chemistry student – PBR Laboratories Inc
student wearing a lab coat with equipment

Common types of co-op work

  • Academic research (Theoretical and applied)
  • Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
  • Breweries, wineries and distilleries
  • Computational and Quantum Chemistry
  • Government agencies
  • Food, chemical and equipment manufacturers
  • Natural resources management and research
  • Analytical Chemistry work (QC, R&D)
  • Renewable energy research and production
  • Outreach and education
  • Formulation
student wearing a life jacket and hard hat on a research vessel

What you can learn on your work term

Chemistry knowledge

  • understand the major systems of nomenclature used in chemistry
  • understand bonding and electronic structure and how they relate to the shape and reactivity of chemical compounds
  • understand how bonding and electronic structure impact the chemical, physical and electronic properties of molecules
  • understand thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and reaction mechanisms
  • create new compounds based on your knowledge of inorganic and organic chemical reactions
  • understand how to separate, detect and measure chemical compounds
  • understand how to use quantitative and qualitative evaluations to analyze compounds or materials

Scientific method

  • use experimental techniques to solve problems
  • search and assess scientific literature
  • use inductive reasoning and deductive methods to develop a testable, falsifiable hypothesis and predict expected results
  • design quantitative approaches and experiments to test and evaluate hypotheses
  • gather evidence through observation and experimentation
  • understand research and propose steps to further the goals of an experiment
  • communicate results and ideas in scientific reports, papers and oral presentations

Lab skills

  • use safe and careful practices
  • keep lab records
  • analyze, make, purify, modify and characterize compounds, samples or devices
  • use lab instruments
  • calibrate, maintain and troubleshoot instruments
  • follow standard methods and procedures for lab experiments
  • take accurate measurements and identify potential sources of error
  • troubleshoot and optimize methods and techniques
  • develop methods and procedures
  • assess lab data

Computer skills

  • use scientific software
  • use computer modeling as a proxy for physical experiments
  • create and modify scientific software
  • develop and use computational methods to analyze large data sets

Education and training

  • teach chemistry and science at a level appropriate to the audience
  • assess achievement of learning outcomes
  • train and supervise others to perform scientific or lab procedures

Field work

  • observe behaviour or properties of subjects and phenomena
  • measure subjects or phenomena or their environment
  • identify and collect samples for analysis
  • use field equipment, tools and machinery