Will AI replace Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

40/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 40% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media. The parts that stay human include: Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.; Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.; Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.AI already used 57%

Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.AI already used 53%

Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. 38%

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.AI already used 28%

Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work. 17%

Supervise students' laboratory work. 12%

+ 22 more tasks (43% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
Quizzes and answer keys.
Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to build one full organic chemistry unit — lecture slides, three differentiated problem sets and a 20-item quiz with answer key — then fact-check every structure and mechanism yourself and log hours saved.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
Spotting common mistakes across student work.
Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Draft an AI rubric for lab reports, grade 30 submissions with AI-assisted feedback you verify, tag the five most common errors, and publish a course policy on permitted student AI use.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

Teach students to use AI critically.
Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Design and run one AI-open assignment where students critique an AI-generated reaction mechanism for errors, then share the task, rubric and results with your department at a 30-minute seminar.

Take the free 11-question test