<p>It is true that many chemical engineers go on to become process and design engineers where their day-to-day work is to optimize, troubleshoot and design unit operations such as reactors, distillation columns, pumps, heat exchangers and so forth.</p>
<p>Your career goals are very research-oriented, which very often require a Ph.D., no matter the field. Don’t give up so easily on chem E. You may one day find an unexpected but interesting career out of it.</p>