Industrial Pharmacist Job Description, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an industrial pharmacist. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an industrial pharmacist.
Who is an Industrial Pharmacist?
Industrial pharmacists are a subset of pharmacists who focus on creating new pharmaceutical products. The sector of the pharmaceutical industry called industrial pharmacy is focused on developing drugs and pharmaceuticals. Manufacturing, development, optimization, scaling up, and appropriation of various drug delivery systems are all included in the field of industrial pharmacy. The section works with a variety of dosage forms, including cutting-edge nanotechnology-based dosage forms for serious illnesses like cancer, neurological conditions, and diabetic wounds. Industrial pharmacists create novel medicines using the most recent techniques, technology, and procedures.
Additionally, they are in charge of figuring out whether pharmaceutical businesses’ treatments contain the necessary chemicals in the right amounts. The lives of people who need drugs to address a range of illnesses and ailments can significantly benefit from the work that pharmacists do in this area. Industrial pharmacists understand drugs, but their responsibilities are different from those of retail pharmacists. Making a wise career choice can be aided by having a thorough understanding of what an industrial pharmacist’s responsibilities are. New pharmaceutical product development is a specialty of industrial pharmacists. The development, testing, and commercialization of new pharmaceuticals and therapies are the main objectives of this branch of pharmacy. Fundamentally, industrial pharmacists do extensive research on a range of pharmacological ingredients and use the results to create new drugs.
Researching and creating medications is what an industrial pharmacist does. This typically happens in an industrial laboratory, where on a typical day you might assist with patient clinical trials, employ technology to manufacture new chemicals or develop a recommended treatment plan for a new pharmaceutical. Industrial pharmacists occasionally work with hazardous products or in manufacturing facilities. In many instances, you may use equipment to produce medications as needed in tablet, pill, cream, powder, or liquid form. The majority of industrial pharmacy professions mainly emphasize sterile clothing and other protective gear because new chemicals can have unexpected effects.
Contrary to popular belief, this pharmacist profession is distinct from that of a pharmacist who dispenses medication to patients; while they both require similar training. They perform efficiency and safety tests on medications, monitor the manufacturing process to ensure that medications are made appropriately, and engage in the marketing and promotion of new medications to patients, hospitals, and medical offices. To assess a drug’s effectiveness and identify any risks or side effects, an industrial pharmacist may also be in charge of conducting clinical drug trials and analyzing the outcomes of these trials. Industrial pharmacists work together with other pharmaceutical businesses, state and municipal governments, and a range of medical specialists to make that drug trials are carried out safely and by applicable federal or state laws regarding drug testing.
A doctorate in pharmacy from an approved college or university is required for industrial pharmacists. Most undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, and biomedical sciences can satisfy these requirements, while not all doctoral programs have this need. The principles of pathophysiology and drug action, patient-centred care, pharmacy law and ethics, diagnosis labs and monitoring, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, integrated pharmacotherapy, patient safety, medical informatics, and health care systems are just a few of the subjects that students who have been accepted into doctoral programs study. Industrial pharmacists frequently use internships to get experience before graduating since employers like candidates who have some background in developing and testing novel medications. Communicating effectively, using a computer effectively, and solving problems are all necessary for industrial pharmacists to perform their tasks and obligations. Industrial pharmacists frequently operate independently, so being able to manage your time well while still contributing to team tasks is crucial for success in this area.
Industrial Pharmacist Job Description
Below are the industrial pharmacist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an industrial pharmacist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Offer doctors consultation services on new medications and treatment plans to guarantee patient safety.
- Inform patients about any possible side effects and drug interactions associated with their prescriptions.
- Keep an eye on how controlled substances are used to avoid misuse or unlawful usage.
- Conduct scientific studies to create new medications or enhance ones that already exist.
- Instruct patients on correct pharmaceutical administration, including any potential side effects and drug interactions.
- Utilize cutting-edge techniques and technologies for creating new drugs.
- Examine drugs to guarantee safety.
- Control the manufacturing process to guarantee the precise creation of new drugs.
- Aid in the marketing of new medications to customers, medical facilities, and offices.
- Conduct clinical drug trials and analyze the trial outcomes to ascertain a medicine’s efficacy and potential hazards.
- Make sure that ethical and legal drug trials.
- Join together with pharma firms, medical professionals, and governmental agencies.
- Give individuals who have not responded to other therapies pharmaceutical prescriptions.
- Conduct research and analyze data from clinical trials and other studies to decide whether the FDA approve a medicine for use.
- Recommend alterations to the manufacturing process for medicines that don’t live up to expectations.
- Respect all applicable laws, rules, and regulations regarding the profession of pharmacy.
- Carry out additional administrative activities when necessary.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy/pharmacology is required.
- A doctorate program in pharmacy is required.
- Prior experience as an industrial pharmacist.
- License to practice as an industrial pharmacist.
- Experience and knowledge in production/manufacturing are advanced.
- Thorough knowledge of dosage requirements and administration, chemical compounds, and pharmaceutical brands.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and software applications, used by pharmacies, such as MEDITECH and Mediware.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Critical thinking abilities.
- Analytical skills.
- Ability to work independently and with a team.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills: To interact with their coworkers and other healthcare professionals, industrial pharmacists need to have great communication skills. Pharmacists that work in the industry interact with patients, pharmacists, physicians, and other medical specialists. In addition, they talk to patients and their families about the possibilities for their care and its results. Having good communication skills can help you establish connections with patients and coworkers and advance your career as an industrial pharmacist. Drug trials and production processes both benefit from effective communication.
- Organizational skills: The capacity to prioritize and organize tasks is crucial for industrial pharmacists because they regularly collaborate with other pharmacists and technicians. Organizational skills are required to maintain the pharmacy’s seamless operation because industrial pharmacists also handle inventories and place supply orders.
- Critical thinking skills: Critical thinking abilities are used throughout the drug-related studies conducted by industrial pharmacists. They employ logic and reasoning to create new medications when they use these abilities. During the research phase, industrial pharmacists might uncover alternate answers or approaches with the aid of critical thinking abilities.
- R&D skills: Industrial pharmacists create new products through the research and development (R&D) process. To develop formulae for pharmaceuticals that might be more effective than current treatments, this talent necessitates knowledge of biology and chemistry. To develop original answers to health problems, creativity is also needed. Strong R&D professionals in industrial pharmacy can assist their organizations in the creation of novel medications that enhance patient care.
- Medical knowledge: Industrial pharmacists must have a thorough knowledge of medical processes and practices. They might collaborate with medical experts to create patient treatment regimens, and they might also need to be aware of how particular pharmaceuticals affect the body. Industrial pharmacists can better treat and treat patients by using their medical knowledge.
- Analytical skills: Industrial pharmacists supervise numerous drug trials and the manufacturing process for new pharmaceuticals and medications using their analytical abilities. Industrial pharmacists use their analytical abilities to evaluate the outcomes of drug trials and decide what to do next. Additionally, they review patient records, and test samples, and assess medicine quality using analytical capabilities.
- Pharmacy services: You can carry out a wide range of pharmaceutical tasks using this expertise, including clinical research, drug dispensing, compounding, and drug therapy monitoring. Your success in this branch of pharmacy is ensured by your proficiency with these tasks.
- Attention to detail skills: The ability to pay close attention to details is essential in the industrial pharmacist career. Your ability to pay attention to detail will help you do your job well. You have a responsibility as an industrial pharmacist to make sure that all information about drugs and their constituents is accurate. This entails making sure that each drug contains the appropriate quantity of active ingredients and that they are stored in the proper order. Before giving patients any prescriptions, it’s also crucial to check the expiration dates on those medications.
- Project management skills: an industrial pharmacist may have to oversee numerous projects at once. This can involve developing new product formulae, testing those recipes, and ensuring that the finished product is produced. Additionally, you can be in charge of leading a group of technicians who assist you in creating these formulas. Strong project management abilities can help you stay on top of all your duties and make sure that each assignment is finished on schedule.
- Problem-solving skills: Industrial pharmacists identify and resolve problems that have an impact on the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. They may use their problem-solving abilities to address problems like infection or incorrect storage that have an impact on the quality of pharmaceuticals. In addition, they might use their problem-solving abilities to recognize and handle problems that have an impact on patients’ well-being and security, like drug side effects.
- Packaging and labelling skills: Skills in labelling and packaging is also essential. Industrial pharmacists must be skilled in packaging and labelling because they frequently develop their goods. To do this, they must be able to label the product with details about what’s inside and how to utilize it. Additionally, they must verify that the product is packaged in a way that will keep it sanitary and secure until the end user receives it.
How to Become an Industrial Pharmacist
Step 1. Fulfill the educational requirements
During high school, concentrate on your math and science studies. Make an effort to enrol in advanced biology, chemistry, math, and physics classes. Each of these classes can help you succeed as you get ready to study for a doctorate in the pharmaceutical field. To improve your communication abilities, it is also beneficial to concentrate on your English and public speaking classes. You can participate in extracurricular activities in addition to your education to get ready for a job as an industrial pharmacist. Taking part in the debate team or working at a nursing home are a couple of options. Additionally, you can work as an industrial pharmacist’s assistant to gain more knowledge about the subject and gain access to a mentor. Since most doctorate programs need a bachelor’s degree, many prospective pharmacists acquire this degree. Having a bachelor’s degree can help you stay competitive among other graduate program applicants, even if a PhD program does not require one. The majority of doctorate program requirements can be met with a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical science, pharmaceutics, biology, chemistry, or biomedical sciences. You help you better prepare for your future career, make sure to finish your education in areas like anatomy, chemistry, physics, immunology, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics.
Step 2. Training and experience
The majority of industrial pharmacists’ training will occur while they are in school. Students will get first-hand experience working in a lab or pharmacy. They will also get knowledge of the many rules and requirements that are relevant to the sector. Industrial pharmacists can also make use of on-the-job training to gain additional knowledge of the precise goods and procedures used by the business where they are employed. Additionally, they might get instruction on how to utilize any specialist equipment.
Step 3. Pursue a doctorate program in pharmacy
Consider pursuing a pharmacy doctorate. You can anticipate studying subjects like pathophysiology, pharmacology, patient safety and diagnostic labs and monitoring, pharmacy law and ethics, and more during your doctoral studies.
Step 4. Acquire Licensure
Check your state’s standards to see if you need a license because license requirements differ from state to state. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Licensing Examination, which some states mandate, must be passed by applicants. Achieve your license in the state where you want to work. You must pass two exams to be granted your license. In contrast to the second, which gauges your understanding of pharmacy law, the first one examines your pharmaceutical knowledge. The latter is unique to the legislation in the state where you intend to practice pharmacy because state pharmacy regulations vary. The state where a pharmacist intends to work must provide them with a license. It takes two rigorous exams to get a license. The initial exam is a knowledge examination of pharmaceutical expertise. The second test covers pharmacy law. This examination gauges an applicant’s familiarity with the laws of the state in which they are applying for licensing because legislation can vary from one state to another.
Where to Work as an Industrial Pharmacist
Industrial pharmacists are employed in various clinical settings or industrial facilities. They might also be employed in a factory. They typically work in a range of institutions, such as hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical firms, and governmental organizations. They might be employed in marketing, sales, production, quality assurance, or research and development. Many industrial pharmacists conduct their work in tidy, well-lit, well-ventilated offices and laboratories. In factories where they may be exposed to dust, noise, and fumes, some industrial pharmacists work. They may also work in hospital pharmacies, dispensing prescriptions and educating patients, physicians, and nurses about drug use. Industrial pharmacists normally put in a 40-hour work week, although they might put in more time to finish a job or meet a deadline.
Industrial Pharmacist Salary
Education, experience, and the location of the employment all play a role in determining the income of an industrial pharmacist. Industrial pharmacists in the US earn incomes ranging from $86,790 to $159,839, with an average pay of $123,841. The average monthly salary for an industrial pharmacist in Nigeria is 444,000 NGN. The lowest and highest salaries are 226,000 NGN and 683,000 NGN, respectively.