Graduates will be able to integrate regulatory and socio‑economic knowledge with advanced scientific and technical skills in a strongly interdisciplinary manner. Career pathways include:
- chemical and manufacturing industries
- regulatory bodies (e.g., European Chemicals Agency, national environmental protection systems, public health institutes)
- control and monitoring authorities (e.g., regional environmental protection agencies)
- research institutions, consultancy, and education
The master’s degree prepares students for the professions of “Chemist specialized in regulatory affairs” and “Chemist specialized in research, development, and analysis.”
The chemist specialized in regulatory affairs may perform the following high-responsibility professional functions:
- evaluates the risk profile of chemical products;
- evaluates the risk profile of chemical plants;
- coordinates the preparation of dossiers (Chemical Assessment Reports) for the registration of chemical substances with regulatory authorities under REACH regulations and/or other national and international regulations;
- acts as an evaluator of dossiers relating to chemical substances;
- coordinates the preparation and evaluation of safety data sheets and risk labels for chemical products;
- collaborates in the assessment and improvement of safety in chemical plants and production processes;
- provides scientific support for political and regulatory decisions regarding chemical substances and processes, and promotes a culture of safety in the chemical field;
- promotes the protection of intellectual property within companies supporting the preparation of technical dossiers required for patent applications by authorized parties; ensures the ethical integrity of research and other company activities.
Based on the activities they are required to perform, the chemist specialized in regulatory affairs must:
- have in-depth knowledge of the properties of chemical substances that may pose risks: to human health and well-being (toxicology); due to potential physical hazards (fires, explosions); to the health and survival of other species in the environment (ecotoxicology); and to environmental and climate parameters (greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone-depleting substances, water pollutants, high environmental persistence, etc.);
- understand how laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards are formulated, particularly those that impose constraints and provide guidance on the design, production, and use of chemical substances (both synthetic and natural); and understand how to implement and comply with such regulations;
- know methodologies for acquiring and evaluating analytical data on chemical substances and their risk profiles (e.g., concentration measurements, toxicological data, life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental fate);
- be able to understand economic, market, and business aspects related to chemical substances; draft and evaluate business plans; and interact with political, regulatory, and assessment authorities;
- be able to communicate effectively with managers, plant operators, and innovation staff, as well as with the media.
The chemist specialized in research, development, and analysis, on the other hand, is involved in innovation in the design, synthesis, analysis, and quality control of products and intermediates. This work can be carried out in public research centers and universities, corporate research centers, environmental protection agencies, health protection institutions (including hospitals), and cultural heritage conservation.
This professional profile may perform the following high-responsibility functions:
- design of innovative and effective products (molecular designer);
- design of synthetic processes based on criteria such as cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, safety, material efficiency, and recyclability;
- analytical chemist responsible for developing, identifying, and optimizing analytical techniques and methodologies;
- laboratory technician/manager for quality control;
- environmental and toxicological control technician;
- technician/manager in chemical-clinical analysis laboratories;
- specialist in safety, environmental protection, and industrial quality.
To perform these functions, the following skills and abilities are required:
- ability to design new molecular and supramolecular structures based on structure–property relationships according to the final applications of industrial chemical products;
- ability to use computational methods to predict product properties and verify them experimentally;
- ability to design and carry out complex syntheses based on economic, social, environmental, safety, “green chemistry,” and reliability considerations;
- ability to identify and evaluate the most suitable analytical technique for a given product and process, and optimize its application;
- solid and broad expertise in instrumental analytical chemistry;
- knowledge of safety regulations and the hazards of chemical compounds;
- knowledge of processes in the main environmental compartments;
- ability to work in an international context and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds.
To access the two professions mentioned above, passing the state examination and registration with the professional register are required.
Graduates may also further develop their expertise by pursuing a PhD or enrolling in post-graduate second-level vocational programmes.
