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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Chemical Education and Careers => Topic started by: Gregorian on December 05, 2008, 05:10:59 PM

Title: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: Gregorian on December 05, 2008, 05:10:59 PM
Hello, I am a Chemistry major and my school requires a minimum of two semesters of research. I like organic chemistry, and I had an interview with an inorganic metallic chem professor and his lab seemed like fun too!!
But which is better for future job opportunities, and which one is more developing?
Which one helps more in the research for drugs for cancer and all different aspects about cancer?

Please provide me with your educated opinion :)


thank you guys so much
Title: Re: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: FeLiXe on December 06, 2008, 10:58:40 AM
both of those fields produce lots of important things. i guess it's also about what you like and what you are good at
and how about doing some research about the things you think are important? wikipedia will probably help you a lot
i guess it also depends on opportunities at your school. who is good, who is nice, ...
Title: Re: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: Mitch on December 07, 2008, 12:11:35 AM
organic for drug discovery, hands-down.
Title: Re: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: FeLiXe on December 07, 2008, 06:23:08 AM
when it comes to chemotherapeutic agents, there are also things going on with inorganic chemistry
for example cisplatin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisplatin)
Title: Re: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: Fleaker on December 11, 2008, 07:02:18 PM
There are big things happening in organometallic chemistry especially as it pertains to pharmaceuticals. If you're interested in pharmacology and organic chemistry, then you would be best served by looking into organic and biochemistry and perhaps focusing less on inorganic. If I were you, I would base my decision on how much I liked the professor and how encouraging and engaging he was. If he really likes his field, his energy could rub off on you too!


As for job opportunities, that's highly dependent on your skills--I don't think much of a blanket statement could be made of which is better. The fields are constantly developing what with new equipment (especially computers), techniques, and new minds working!


FeLiXe, mind that cisplatin if ever you work with it! I was shocked to read just how carcinogenic this chemotherapeutic (or is antitumorogenic better?) is! I work with Pt, Pd, and Rh compounds on a very frequent basis, so you can imagine how concerned I am.


An interesting paper as reference:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p85680g33770047k/fulltext.pdf
Title: Re: I need your opinions concerning research
Post by: FeLiXe on December 12, 2008, 06:00:52 AM
hi, thanks
but actually I am just a theorist ...
it was just one example I knew of. I have never worked with it