Graduate programs

[Epicurus]

Hi everyone, I am thinking that this will be the best place to post my question, as the people in this forum seem to be more well versed in chemistry. If it's not, please feel free to move this question to the pertinent board.

I have decided that I want to become a synthetic chemist by trade. It seems like there is flexibility in the kind of work you can do, the amount of time you can spend working, and the pay seems to be quite good. I have artistic interests but I know that I won't be able to support myself in the way I want to by writing. As a chemist, I have been told that I can do contract labor, specialize in petroleum or natural gas, and like this I plan to work several months a year to save up about 15-25 thousand dollars, enough to pay the minimum balance on my student loans and live on about a thousand dollars a month in a third world country. I don't need luxury.

What sparks my interest in chemistry is my on-going love affair with tryptamines and phenethylamines, and this fascinating character named Alexander Shulgin. I am also extremely interested in particle behavior, quantum mechanics, etc. I just enjoy deepening my understanding of the universe- though DMT has pretty much made it clear that the brain I have is incapable of doing so, I can't think of anything I would rather do than work in the field of chemistry, whether it be in my own laboratory in southeast asia or getting a pay check from a pharmaceutical corporation. So I have embarked on the study of chemistry as a means for making a living.

It will take me about a year and a half to complete all the courses I need to qualify for a chemistry graduate program, but I thought I'd ask here early if anyone can recommend a school to aim for that has a good graduate synthetic chemistry program, and I know that it might be a lot to ask, but perhaps someone knows of a chemistry department with faculty and students who are somewhat phen/trypt friendly? I can't exactly get this advice from my universities advising office or from anyone I know, so I thought I'd ask here.

If someone can drop a few suggestions, it would be very helpful so I can see the kind of requirements that different programs require, and I can plan the courses I take better to make myself more attractive to graduate programs. I'm guessing that the schools in California would be a good bet, as the west coast seems to be the seat of a lot of psychedelic activity, but I'd like to get some advice from someone who works in the field of chemistry on a laid back place to get a masters or doctorate in chemistry.

I am not looking for a place to learn how to make drugs- I am more interested in doing research and eventually doing contract work as a chemist, and most importantly exploring the unseen universe, but it would be really great if I could unify my educational interests with my drug interests. The chemistry faculty at my school are really great, but I am unwilling to ask them these kinds of questions about psycho actives, and they have been very vague in their recommendations of graduate programs so far. I will try to determine further what exactly my specific interests are, but I'd just like to connect with some chemists on here, or people who know chemists who can talk about the pros and cons of different schools.

Thanks!

 

[Smyth]

How old are you and what are your qualifications?

"As a chemist, I have been told that I can do contract labor, specialize in petroleum or natural gas, and like this I plan to work several months a year to save up about 15-25 thousand dollars,"

Ideas like this seem unconvincing. I appreciate someone may have told you that, but its another thing actually seeing it happening.

 

[vecktor]

whilst it is true that you can do contract or short term work as a chemist, my experience is that those that stay and work up through a big company earn much more and be warned, grad chemists without a PhD tend to be treated as glorified lab technicians, with pay to match.

my advice would be,
don't go looking for a trypt phen friendly place, that place only exists in your mind.
be ruthless and get into the university with the best academic reputation, because that will give you the best chance of getting the better paid jobs.
once you have a decent qualification from a respected university then you have options:
If you want to do cutting edge research with the flexibilty to pursue private research ideas then you pretty much have to stay in academia and accept that the pay is crap, however most professors and senior researchers have playthings.
or go into industry, and the initially the pay is poor there too, but it rapidly improves. It takes some time to get enough seniority to be able to run interesting pet projects at least officially funded ones.
ten to fifteen years ago a certain huge pharmaceutical companies' research labs had a lively 'extra-curricular' scene, financed mostly by the company credit cards which hung on the notice board. but I have heard that has been quite thoroughly stamped out, on the whole by cost controlling managers.

anyway if you are only doing chemistry just because of you pharmaceutical predilictions then don't, you will get tired and bored. Do it because the noble art of chemistry is one of the most challenging and satisfying there is.

 

[Acyl]

Do it because the noble art of chemistry is one of the most challenging and satisfying there is.

Art form indeed

 

[Epicurus]

Well, I'm interested in chemistry because I am passionate about it, and since I have to do something to make money, I'd rather it be chemistry than anything else. I'm just starting my undergraduate studies in the sciences, having been in humanities for the last three years. However, I can continue going to college for a couple more degrees and amass the necessary qualifications for entry into a graduate program. I'm just starting on this path, and I plan on following through with it. As for making money on short contracts- I'm considering doing this through consulting in the field of petro-chemical engineering. I just feel lucky that I care about something- my graduating classmates in the humanities have all moved into shitty jobs that they are unsatisfied with, and I don't want to do this. I really do love chemistry... thanks for the replies, by the way.

 

[Epicurus]

Thanks for the words of advice refluxer... I am definitely looking forward to getting deeper into it.. where do(did) you study, by the way?

 

[kidamnesiac]

I posted a message in college and university about the same thing.
You won't get into any respectable grad programs with 1-2 years of undergrad chem. plan on at least 3 of working your ass off 24/7 unless you are brilliant.
the heffter (sp?) institute page has an article by nichols about working in the field of psychedelics.
good luck

 

[spacefacethebassace]

Not trying to be an asshole, but...the term 'laid back' isn't frequently found in the same sentence as 'masters or doctorate in chemistry'. It isn't usually found in the same sentence as 'bachelors of science in chemistry' either, for that matter.

 

[Epicurus]

well, luckily at the school I am at undergrads do a LOT of research. It's just interesting to talk about...maybe this should be moved to the university board? Well, I do plan on spending the next three years getting into synthetic chemistry. One of the chemistry professors where I study is also interested in phens and trypts, but he got his doctorate at princeton...

Intense study isn't an issue for me... I just thought that some people in the field of chemistry with similar interests might be able to advise me. I'm sure it will work out though. I have no illussions about this path being easy, but I know it will be fun.

As for the ease of finding temporary work, I am basing these assumptions on a conversation I had with a synthetic chemist with her Ph.D. from the university of montana. She said it had been fairly easy to find work that paid well with her qualifications, and after talking to me for a while, she said she thought it would be a good field for me, but her recommendations for grad schools were very general.

She advised me to keep some schools in mind over the next couple years to try to get pre-requisites for specific programs out of the way, and that like this I would be better qualified for the specific areas I am interested in.

 

[Jabberwocky]

After going through the process and squeaking myself into grad school (neurophilosophy), I would strongly advise trying in any way possible to make contacts at the schools you want to go to. Otherwise you better be brilliant to get into the top level schools because it is TOUGH!

Good luck! Follow your heart!

 

[hussness]

I just feel lucky that I care about something- my graduating classmates in the humanities have all moved into shitty jobs that they are unsatisfied with, and I don't want to do this. I really do love chemistry... thanks for the replies, by the way.

Be prepared for the realization that chemistry, even on an undergraduate level, is a LOT harder than the humanities. You won't make it in chemistry if you are doing this because you want to finance a career as a writer. Not to discourge you too much -- go ahead and take some upper division chemistry classes; you'll find out if it's for you.