Resume

Polymer Chemist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Polymer Chemist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Polymer chemists study the synthesis, structure, properties, and applications of polymers—a broad class of materials made from molecules that are repeated over and over again. They work in labs, research facilities, and industrial settings, using sophisticated equipment to create new polymers and identify ways to optimize existing ones.

If you’re interested in working with cutting-edge technologies, collaborating with other scientists and engineers, and helping to develop new products and processes, this could be the right career choice for you. Here are some tips and an example to help you write a resume that hiring managers will love.

James Smith
Phoenix, AZ | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Driven polymer chemist with experience in both academic and industrial research environments. Proven ability to develop novel polymer materials for a variety of applications, including energy storage and conversion, optoelectronics, and biomedical devices. Seeking an opportunity to continue developing innovative materials and contributing to the advancement of next-generation technologies.

Education
University of Arizona Jun '10
Ph.D. in Chemistry
University of Arizona Jun '06
B.S. in Chemistry
Experience
Company A, Polymer Chemist Jan '17 – Current
  • Developed and optimized polymerization reactions for the synthesis of new polymers using a wide range of monomers including styrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and others.
  • Conducted experiments to optimize reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure, catalyst loading etc., in order to achieve high yields with minimal byproducts.
  • Analyzed product properties such as molecular weight distribution via gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
  • Assisted in troubleshooting problems during manufacturing processes and formulated solutions based on analytical data collected from lab equipment such as viscometers and spectrometers.
  • Performed routine maintenance on laboratory instruments and prepared reports summarizing experimental results for presentation at internal meetings or external conferences/presentations.
Company B, Polymer Chemist Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Developed new polymers for use in medical devices, increasing the lifespan of products by 25%
  • Conducted quality control testing on all polymer production runs to ensure safety and consistency
  • Worked with a team of chemists to develop innovative solutions for manufacturing problems
  • Collaborated with other departments (R&D, marketing, sales) to determine optimal uses for each product
  • Analyzed data from experiments using scientific instruments such as FTIR spectrometers and HPLC machines
Company C, Research Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Conducted research on assigned topics using online databases, library resources, and other available materials.
  • Evaluated and synthesized information from a variety of sources to produce well-supported research reports.
  • Presented findings to research team and made recommendations for further action based on results.
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Polymer Chemistry, Synthesis, Degradation, Thermal Analysis, Mechanical Testing, Mass Spectrometry
Technical Skills: NMR, Infrared Spectroscopy, UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Gel Permeation Chromatography, Viscometry, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis
Soft Skills: Written and Verbal Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving

How to Write a Polymer Chemist Resume

Here’s how to write a resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And they have to be compelling enough to make them want to read the rest of your resume.

So rather than just listing your responsibilities, you can use bullet points to describe the results of your work. For example, rather than saying you “analyzed data,” you could say you “analyzed data to identify trends in consumer preferences and recommend changes to product line.”

The second bullet point is more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the outcome of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you submit your resume online, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for certain terms related to the job opening in order to determine whether or not you are a good fit. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, the ATS might discard your application.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of polymer chemist keywords as a starting point to help you identify the skills and experience most relevant to the position:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Polymers
  • Molecular Modeling
  • Chemistry
  • Polymer Characterization
  • Crystallography
  • NMR
  • High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
  • FTIR
  • Chromatography
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Synthesis
  • Polypropylene
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Characterization
  • Thermodynamics
  • Polymer Physics
  • Rheology
  • Material Properties
  • Mechanical Testing
  • Materials Development
  • Chemistry Research
  • Materials Characterization
  • Organic Polymers
  • Instrumentation
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polymerization
  • Physics

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a polymer chemist, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively do your job. This might include programs like ChemDraw, AspenPlus, and ChemCAD. You should also be familiar with databases like the Cambridge Structural Database and the Chemical Abstracts Service. Additionally, it is important to be able to use statistical software like SAS and JMP in order to analyze data.

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