Industrial Pharmacist |
Career OverviewIndustrial pharmacists work with pharmaceutical companies to develop, test and refine medicines and drugs that the company supplies. These can be over-the-counter medications or can be prescription only medications. An industrial pharmacist usually specializes in developing and researching one type of medication, and may spend most of their career working with one or two formulations, especially if they are very complex.
An industrial pharmacist often specializes in a specific type of mediation such as pill and capsules, topical medications, aerosol medications or intravenous type drugs or drug therapies. The industrial pharmacist may be responsible for determining the active and inactive ingredients in a particular drug or medication and may also be instrumental in choosing the various raw compounds, materials and ingredients to formulate the medication from.
The industrial pharmacist must have a research-based background and should be familiar with all aspects of research design and development. He or she may be required to work with other professionals to design specific data collection methods or even specialized equipment that may be needed to develop the drug or medication.
A critical care pharmacist works standard hours but may require some weekend or evening work. Some of the large pharmaceutical companies have extended hours for pharmacists but also compensate for this in salary and additional time off.
Excellent communication and leadership or project management skills are needed to be an effective industrial pharmacist.
|
Career RequirementsAn industrial pharmacist usually has a Pharm-D, Doctor of Pharmacy, or a Bachelor of Science with a residency. Some industrial pharmacists may be required to be licensed whereas others will only need to be eligible for licensure in the state. This difference in requirement often has to relate to the level of seniority and the position within the research team that the industrial pharmacist holds.
|
Advertisement
|
Job OutlookPharmaceutical companies constantly strive to create and enhance medications and drug treatment therapies so there is an ongoing need for qualified industrial pharmacists. Many in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy reports that the demand for industrial pharmacists will exceed the number of industrial pharmacists currently employed and the number of industrial pharmacists graduating from pharmacy colleges for the next several years.
The high salary levels and bonuses offered to most industrial pharmacists have made industrial pharmacy a very fast growing marketplace for pharmacists.
|
Career TrackAn industrial pharmacist has options to move into supervisory and management positions within pharmaceutical research departments. In addition some industrial pharmacists will return to teaching in the various schools and colleges of pharmacy across the United States.
|
CompensationThe average salary for an industrial pharmacist exceeds $110,000 per year as a base pay rate. There are usually additional bonuses and incentives for project completion and the development of new drugs and drug therapies. These bonuses are often significant and dramatically increase yearly income.
|