Sustainable Industrial Chemistry

Typically, the graduates in Sustainable Industrial Chemistry are characterized by the following professional profiles:

INDUSTRIAL CHEMIST
function in a work context:
Industrial chemists design and develop new products and materials with a lower environmental footprint, recycle and repurpose used or waste materials, mainly in the industrial sector, and define production and control criteria that also take into account the reduction of environmental impact and promote sustainable economic and social development. They define strategies and procedures for the synthesis, transformation, recovery (also with a view to the circular economy) and
purification of chemical compounds, techniques for chemical and physical analysis, and scientific methods of investigation and data management. They may carry out activities to promote and develop scientific and technological innovation, as well as manage and design technologies, also taking into account the principles of sustainability and environmental protection, and exercise functions of high responsibility in the fields of industry, the environment, health, cultural heritage and public administration, as well as in all areas of ?green? chemistry for environmental protection and to promote energy transition.

skills associated with the function:
Industrial chemists have specialist knowledge of chemistry, industrial chemistry and chemical plant engineering, as well as the synthesis of new products and materials and their scale-up. They understand the principles of sustainability and the impact of human activity on the environment.
They also have considerable expertise in chemical analysis methods using current information technology and are proficient in English.

career opportunities:
Industrial chemists can work in public and private research institutions, public administrations, professional firms and national or international consulting firms, companies, industries and research laboratories. They can find employment in the basic chemical industry, fine chemicals, research and development laboratories and, in general, in work environments that require in-depth knowledge of industrial chemistry and chemical plant engineering and high qualifications. In the public sector, industrial chemists can work in the technical and environmental offices of local authorities, in provincial hygiene and prophylaxis laboratories and/or in occupational accident prevention services. Freelance work is generally carried out as a consultant for design, plant management, environmental authorisation procedures and risk analysis, as well as in courts to carry out technical and legal assessments relating to damage to plants or the environment. In addition, graduates with a master's degree in Sustainable Industrial Chemistry can continue their studies in doctoral programmes or specialisation schools in the scientific field.

HEAD/DIRECTOR OF THE REASEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY
function in a work context:
the Research and Development Laboratory Manager/Director directs research activities for the creation and development of new industrial products and the improvement of related processes, in line with company strategies for environmental, energy and economic efficiency and operational safety. manages the research and production sectors and provides guidance for the constant updating of the company's technological assets; assigns the necessary technical resources to the various projects, proposing investments in research and formulating the relevant budgets. He/she also tests and inspects the chemical production plants, ensuring their safety and verifying that products, processes and formulations comply with current regulations and safety standards.

skills associated with the function:
in addition to in-depth knowledge of industrial chemistry, plant engineering and management tasks, this professional figure must have specialist knowledge of issues related to chemical synthesis and scale-up, as well as safety regulations and relevant legislation. They are able to set up research plans and carry out the necessary tests and experiments, choosing the methods, means and timing; they are competent in issues relating to the implementation of research projects in terms of time and cost and know how to process, interpret and evaluate the experimental results obtained. Positions as head and director of a research and development laboratory also require management skills, autonomy and responsibility, together with a good command of current information technology and English.

career opportunities:
this professional can find employment in work environments that require high qualifications, such as research and development laboratories in private chemical, chemical-pharmaceutical, petrochemical, cosmetics, food, plastics, formulations, dyes, detergents, adhesives companies or those operating in the environmental field.

CHEMICAL PLANT DIRECTOR/OPERATOR
function in a work context:
the Chemical Plant Operator is the professional figure who, within a chemical industry, ensures, directly and through the service structures, the management of the production plants, the level of efficiency and the availability of the plants necessary to allow the achievement of the objectives in terms of production volume, production cost, quality level, work safety and environmental protection. In particular: he/she manages the progress of the processing phases, from preparation to dosing; he/she controls the different phases of the product being processed; he/she takes care of the loading and unloading of raw materials and finished products; he/she diagnoses faults and anomalies in the operation of the plants and also takes care of the waste treatment and elimination processes according to current legislation.

skills associated with the function:
this professional figure must have specialized knowledge of industrial chemistry, plant engineering and problems related to products, raw materials and processes. He/she knows the problems and methods related to quality control, has a good knowledge of the safety standards and procedures for the management of plants, including automated ones. The position of plant manager also requires management, relational, autonomy and responsibility skills together with good competence in the use of current information technologies and English Language.

career opportunities:
the Director/operator of chemical plants finds employment in work environments that require high qualifications in production plants of private chemical, chemical-pharmaceutical, petrochemical, cosmetic, food, plastic materials, formulations, colorants, detergents, and building additives companies.

PRODUCTION MANAGER
function in a work context:
the Production Manager follows the operation of the plants in compliance with safety and the environment, according to the production plan and in function of the market needs and takes care of everything that is necessary for their safety. He/she collaborates in the study of solutions for the continuous improvement of the reliability and energy efficiency of the plants. Furthermore, he guarantees the supplies to the customers in terms of quality, compliance with the specifications and safety.

skills associated with the function:
this professional figure must have knowledge of industrial chemistry and problems related to the procedures and techniques of producing goods and services (chemical products, raw materials, processes). He/she must also be an expert in quality control and have good knowledge of safety and environmental sustainability standards and procedures, to be applied within the production departments. Plant management skills are also required, as well as skills that allow to interact effectively with others. Finally, the professional figure requires good competence in the use of current information technologies and the English language.

career opportunities:
the Production Manager can find employment in work environments that require high qualifications in private chemical, chemical-pharmaceutical, petrochemical, cosmetic, food, plastic, formulation, dye, detergent and building materials companies.

SCIENCE INFORMER AND COMMUNICATOR
function in a work context:
this graduate increases scientific knowledge in the chemistry field, uses and transfers this knowledge in industry, medicine, pharmacology and other production sectors. He/she spreads to operators in the industrial field the characteristics and properties of his company's products. The function of the scientific informer and communicator is to propose the adoption of specific products, develop the scientific information activity at the interested companies to ensure their correct use.

skills associated with the function:
the skills skills required of a scientific representative in the performance of their work consist not only of scientific knowledge, but also commercial skills. In particular, they must have: a good basic knowledge of chemistry, knowledge of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products and their correct use. Knowledge of technical English, information technology and communication abilities complete this professional profile.

career opportunities:
scientific informants work for cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, plastics, dye, detergent and glue companies, or companies operating in the environmental sector, or in general for all companies in the chemical sector and/or for specialist magazines.

SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER
function in a work context:
this graduate uses the skills acquired to analyse the sustainability footprint of production processes, to identify areas for improvement in compliance with process constraints and legislative standards. The professional's role also includes drafting the sustainability plan and implementing it in the company's production logic, with a view to continuous improvement.

skills associated with the function:
the skills required of a scientific representative in the performance of their work consist not only of scientific knowledge, but also commercial skills. In particular, they must have: a good basic knowledge of chemistry, knowledge of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products and their correct use. Knowledge of technical English, information technology and communication skills complete this professional profile.

career opportunities:
sustainability managers work for cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, plastics, dyes, detergents and adhesives companies, or companies operating in the environmental field, or in general for all companies in the chemical and/or manufacturing sector and/or for public or private research bodies and institutes.

The Master's Degree in Sustainable Industrial Chemistry constitutes a preferential title to access the PhD programmes in the area of industrial chemistry. For the graduate of this class, enrolment in the National Federation of the Order of Chemists and Physicists is possible, after passing the State Exam.