How to make money with a biochemistry degree

So you’ve graduated from college with your degree in Biochemistry — the study of matter — which is, well After all of biochwmistry hours you’ve sacrificed finishing lab reports, pouring over tedious texts, knocking out undergraduate research and generally hating your life you emerge from that academic daze. You’re left with one big question: now that you’ve got a degree in the study of matter, how can you employ it in your career in a way that matters? Well, that’s where we come in. We literally created a map, just for Biochemistry Majors such as yourself, to navigate your way through the choppy waters of recent graduation. Feel free to focus on the map alone — it’s hoow cool, if we do say so. But for those of you who prefer step by step navigation on your path, keep reading. We’ll give you the rundown on:. While the education gained in the classroom is without a doubt beneficial, you’ve learned more from your Biochemistry degree than balancing chemical equations. A Biochemistry degree is well-rounded and cultivates a number of different skills and traits that can be applied to environments how to make money with a biochemistry degree the laboratory and classroom — beyond personal development and simply learning how to learn, employers will want to see how you can reflect, realize, and grow. Applying these skills to ddegree world learning opportunities yields a more robust and balanced career. Here are some of the common skills that you should talk up when trying to get a job with your Biochemistry degree.

Careers Options with a Biochemistry Degree

A biochemistry degree opens up a wide range of careers that combine aspects of both biology and medicine. Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don’t restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. The practical and technical skills you develop during your biochemistry degree — through laboratory-based work and your final year research project — prepare you well for a research or technical position. Obtaining some work experience, for example a summer internship in a research laboratory or company, will help to boost your chances of finding a job. This is usually undertaken in the pharmaceutical or biotechnical industries or a research institute. Opportunities also exist to take a placement abroad, expanding your career prospects. Work placements help develop key skills further and provide opportunities for building contacts and networking. Whatever your career plans, it’s important to enhance your degree with extra skills and experiences, which show that you are a proactive person engaging with the world around you. Opportunities exist in public health laboratories such as Public Health England and in the laboratories of companies such as Fera. Biochemistry graduates are also employed in industry. Typical employers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, water and agricultural companies. Small companies employ biochemists to provide specialist services, such as toxicological studies. Other employers include scientific and medical publishers and the Intellectual Property Office as patent examiners. You can also use your biochemistry skills and knowledge in areas such as sales and marketing, where you could be selling the latest technology, and law firms dealing with scientific cases. Find information on employers in science and pharmaceuticals , healthcare , teaching training and education and other job sectors. You can demonstrate your experience in these areas by giving examples from the practical work and group projects included in your degree course. Further study at Masters or PhD level is usually required for a career in research or industry. A PhD, for example, is essential for academic research or to secure a career as an academic lecturer. Even for associated careers such as publishing, science communication or clinical careers, further qualifications can be an asset and are becoming increasingly essential. If you’re interested in a career away from science, for example in teaching, law or accountancy, research what kind of professional qualifications you’ll need. With a biochemistry degree you can also apply for graduate entry to medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in biochemistry. A fifth of graduates are working in the UK either as biochemists, medical scientists or laboratory technicians six months after graduation. A large proportion of graduates go on to further study. Find out what other science graduates are doing six months after finishing their degrees in What Do Graduates Do? All rights reserved. Jobs and work experience Postgraduate study Careers advice Applying for university. Search graduate jobs Job profiles Work experience and internships Employer profiles What job would suit me? Job sectors Apprenticeships Working abroad Gap year Self-employment.

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Biochemists rank 4 in Best Science Jobs. Jobs are ranked according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors. Read more about how we rank the best jobs. Average Americans work well into their 60s, so workers might as well have a job that’s enjoyable and a career that’s fulfilling. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve, get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here’s how Biochemists job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility. Opportunities for advancements and salary. Work environment and complexities of the job’s responsibilities. Alternative working schedule and work life balance. Emily H. Read more. Sign Up for Job Alerts. What is a Biochemist? Biochemistry delves into the chemical processes of living organisms. In other words, biochemists apply their knowledge of chemicals and perform different chemical techniques and experiments to decipher biological problems. People who thrive on finding solutions to problems and are science-minded are a good fit for this profession. One of those people is Bruce Alberts, who grew up reading Sinclair Lewis’ «Arrowsmith,» a novel about a rags-to-riches American doctor who makes a great scientific discovery. Alberts got into Harvard University and started down the premed track. He enjoyed his courses, especially physical chemistry, but he loathed the formulaic laboratory portions that accompanied them. He likened these labs more to cooking classes than to science. But one of those boring labs would forever change the course of his career. The labs were «not even vaguely interesting,» Alberts says, so during his junior year he petitioned the school to get out of all of the course labs.

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Because of the transferable, and highly employable skills you can develop while pursuing your bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, you’ll have a wide variety of career options when you graduate. In fact, we’ve listed 56 in our database and counting career guides for these options can be found mid-way down this page. Biochemistry programs are also excellent preparation for professional schooling in a wide variety of fields, ranging from dentistry and medicine, to business administration and law. Biochemistry is the study of molecules and mechanisms in living organisms. Its goal is to understand and explain the operation of living organisms by examining their chemical, molecular, and cellular properties. Biochemistry plays an important role in a wide variety of areas. Progress in this field has applications that span areas such as agriculture, the environment, medicine, cosmetics, and a variety of others. In fact, developments in biochemistry lead all the way to law and public policy. Thanks to biochemistry, we can screen unborn babies for disease, develop new medicines to treat and cure various diseases, protect crops from pests and disease, combat pollution, design products that are biocompatible, and do many other things to make our food, bodies, and planet safer. In industry, biochemistry is often a collaborative field. Biochemists typically work with professionals from various fields to accomplish their goals. These professionals can range from other scientists, to engineers, to marketing and sales teams, to legal professionals, and everyone in between! A degree in biochemistry serves as an excellent foundation for careers both in and out of science, including:. The following list is a brief sampling of the kind of employers in career fields directly related to biochemistry that might hire you after you’ve graduated, as well as a brief overview of the type of function you may be hired to carry out. For example, you could end up working as anything from an accountant to a marketing manager or event planner. Since biochemistry is a fairly broad field, it allows you to specialize in a variety of areas, depending on what your personal, academic and professional interest are. Antibiotics: Class of natural and synthetic compounds that inhibits the growth of, or kills, other micro-organisms. Proteomics: The study and cataloging of proteins in the human body. What are the component proteins, how they interact with each other, what kinds of metabolic networks or signaling networks they form, etc. These proteins and how they interact with each other may hold the keys to curing diseases in humans or targets for drug development. Genomics: Large-scale investigation of the structure and function of genes.

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Careers Options with a Biochemistry Degree

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that take place in living organisms. This broad definition of biochemistry means that the job of a biochemist can encompass a wide range of scientific topics, including stem cell research, genetic research, immunology, pharmacology, forensics, cancer research, environmental science and food science. The research efforts of biochemists have the potential to result in dramatic medical or scientific breakthroughs.

But biochemists enjoy a wide-ranging career path with many possibilities — for instance, other biochemists work in the commercial food or agricultural fields looking for ways to improve products and crops. Maje diverse applications of biochemistry means that career options are nearly endless and still vegree.

As technologies and discoveries advance in this exciting field of study, the range and variety of research topics only expands. In general, biochemists work in a laboratory or an office, conducting biochenistry and analyzing results, but research environment varies by the job. A large portion of research takes place in academic settings, in which the biochemist usually holds a PhD and has started to bipchemistry independent research after holding a postdoctoral position. An academic environment involves training undergraduate and graduate students and hiring postdoctoral researchers and technicians to conduct the research.

Biochemists choose a research topic based on their own interests. The schedule is often set by the scientist and varies depending on the person and the research topic. By contrast, biochemixtry biochemist working for a biotech or pharmaceutical company often has the opportunity to work in teams on research projects wherein they report to a supervisor. Or alternately, they are now individual tasks in modern, well-equipped laboratories.

The work schedule is generally regular hour weeks with occasional opportunities for overtime when a project deadline is approaching. In addition, biochemists can opt for a teaching route that does not involve research; they find these positions at the high school or the university level.

As teachers, biochemists put in hours outside of the classroom to be well prepared for their students. As with any career in science, a biochemist who wants to stay current on developments in the field will subscribe to a variety of online or print journals and attend conferences and seminars.

There are plenty of job openings for biochemists interested in carrying out applied research for private companies in health and beauty care, chemical manufacturing, food and drink production, medical instruments and pharmaceutical development.

Private companies such mame these often have positions for biochemists without advanced degrees. Biochemists can seek positions within these agencies, but availability of positions depends on the level of federal nake. Other settings in which biochemists can seek employment include hospitals, public health laboratories, cancer research mnoey, environmental pollution control and public health offices. Many industries are scrambling to incorporate biotechnology into their research, development and marketing strategies in order to be more competitive.

Likewise, public and private healthcare agencies and pharmaceutical companies are utilizing advances in scientific and technical biochemistty in their pursuit of more effective therapies and treatments. Environmental safety is also a growing public and private concern. This is all good news for biochemists. Teaching positions at the college detree university level and opportunities to secure the biochemistrt to conduct independent, basic scientific research have become increasingly competitive, due how to make money with a biochemistry degree budgetary restraints in a tight economy.

Many biochemists discover their passion for science and begin their academic training in high school by taking advanced placement degrew in biology, chemistry, calculus and physics. An aptitude for mathematics and an interest in the xegree or chemical sciences are essential for success in biochemistry. Without a passion for these, maintaining a job as a biochemist is difficult. A PhD in biochemistry or chemistry is necessary to lead or participate in serious research projects. At this level, candidates declare a sub-specialty and complete original research in order to meet the doctoral-level standards of the academy.

Graduate students in a PhD program typically take five to seven years to complete their PhD. This happens under the close supervision of deegree senior mentor or principal investigator, along with the guidance of a committee of several other senior scientists.

Pursuing a PhD is a serious commitment that requires undivided attention in order to complete the significant workload, which includes both classes and research in the lab.

Often, students also have fegree teach undergraduates at some point during their graduate career, which is both time-consuming and rewarding. PhD students are not allowed to hold any other job while in a PhD program.

Thankfully, most programs offer financial aid for those pursuing PhDs, which helps to lessen the financial burden. This includes free tuition and a monthly stipend for living expenses. The amount varies depending on the institution. Colleges and universities offering biochemistry degrees may obtain curricular and degree approval from the American Chemical Society ASC and many employers consider this certification from the ACS a great w in prospective hires.

There are no state or federal requirements for licensing to work as a pure biochemist, unless the job itself carries a certification requirement. Biochemistry careers offer many possibilities — basic or applied research, hands-on lab work, teaching or administration in public or private sector industries. There are jobs available for all levels of academic training, and the demand for biochemists continues to grow.

Many college graduates begin their careers as lab technicians or assistant researchers to master key skills and gain experience so they can pursue a post-graduate degree.

It generally takes a doctorate to lead a research team or to direct a laboratory for private or governmental agencies. Most biochemists employed by academic institutions are instructors or researchers.

In this setting, advancement follows the administrative or management pathways of the institution. If successful, there is opportunity to become a self-employed consultant. Advancement in the private how to make money with a biochemistry degree largely depends monsy successful publication in journals as well as becoming established as an expert in a sub-specialty. This can be in biochemistry or in a closely related discipline like biology or bioengineering. Some students biochemistdy their general education requirements at a 2-year college, and then transfer to a larger college to take their biochemistry core courses.

When choosing nake undergraduate biochemistry program, look for one that will allow you to get some hands-on laboratory and research experience. If you plan to go on to graduate school, ask where recent alumni have been accepted. Typical areas of study include:. A sequence of courses that ti the mske properties and behavior of proteins, nucleic acids, fats, and carbohydrates. A class sequence focused on the properties of matter related wiith heat, biochemustry, mechanics, and atomic structure.

This will help you land jobs after graduation and will also strengthen your graduate school application. You can also find research opportunities in industry, the government, and university laboratories. The American Chemical Society maintains a list of summer research programs and internships on its male.

Some things to look for when evaluating a program include:. Moeny, some programs accept candidates with business or law degrees. Survey the process of developing, producing, and marketing biochemical products and processes, including pharmaceuticals. Understand how complex biological systems like genomic and protein sequences can be analyzed, mapped, and compared.

Many academic biochemists begin their careers as postdoctoral fellows working alongside mentor scientists at research universities. PhD programs in biochemistry are generally found at large research universities or within medical schools. Doctoral candidates in biochemistry usually take some coursework early in the program. Examples of doctoral level biochemistry courses include:.

Gain an understanding of the interactions between proteins and nucleic acid, plus techniques for studying these reactions. One of the most important milestones of the program is choosing a mentor to supervise your research project.

At some schools, you must also publish your research in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, PhD candidates participate in journal clubs, seminars, and professional conferences. Because research in biochemistry relies on computers and medical technologies, an extensive understanding of computer science and software is very helpful, but not necessary. Often these are skills that are attained during the job training. Attention to detail, the ability to work with a team and good communication skills are all important qualities for a biochemist to be able to thrive and succeed in a lab biichemistry.

By: Mary Ziegler. Last Updated: Dec 21, New Jersey. New York. Compare Salaries by City. Starting in high school. Earn a bachelor’s degree. Decide whether you want to pursue bkochemistry master’s or doctoral degree. Grow your career. Physical chemistry.

Examine how matter dehree and reacts at the molecular and atomic levels. Analytical chemistry. Learn techniques to measure and analyze the composition and structure of matter. Cell biology. Learn how cells organize witg function at the cellular and molecular levels. Tumor biology. Study how cancer starts, progresses, and responds to treatments. Developmental genomics. Study the development of the human genome across the lifespan, from embryology to geriatrics.

Cell signaling. Nucleic acid metabolism. Gene expression. Covers the mechanisms by which genes alter cell development and differentiation.

Keys to Success as a Biochemist. Necessary Skills and Qualities.

Salary and Job Outlook

Some scientists look at the big picture to understand the world, but biochemists examine living things at the molecular level, how to make money with a biochemistry degree processes inside cells. Most biochemists get advanced degrees and work in such varied fields as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and environmental protection. Biochemists are employed in several main branches of the profession, conducting experiments at the molecular level and developing new analytical techniques. They share their findings with other scientists in professional journals and at conferences. Clinical biochemists work in medical laboratories analyzing blood and other samples from patients, as well as doing eith research. In a related role, medical biochemists study how cells react to disease, such cancer mutations. Analytical biochemists review test samples of substances to determine their components, while nutritional biochemists explore how the body uses nutrients from food and what biochemisry factors might contribute to disease on a cellular level. Other biochemists work with plants in such edgree as photosynthesis and pollution. Aspiring biochemists either major in the field itself or a related subject like biology or chemistry. As undergraduates, students take courses in the sciences, math and analytic biocbemistry with an emphasis on lab work. Biochemists with bachelor’s and master’s degrees can get entry level jobs, but to do research and development, they need a Ph.