By Indeed Editorial Team
Published April 13, 2021
If science is your favorite school subject, consider a biochemistry role. This lab-based science studies why certain substances cause reactions in the cells of various living beings. There are many specialties you can pursue within this degree that can ready you for careers like biochemists, chemical engineers or professors. In this article, we review what biochemistry is, tips for becoming a biochemist and the different roles you can pursue with a biochemistry degree.
Biochemistry is the combination of chemistry, physics and biology. Biochemistry professionals study how these different elements of science affect various living beings and organisms. Many students looking to explore the chemical processes that take place within a living system typically major in biochemistry. Most of the careers you can earn in this degree vary according to your preferred responsibilities and work environment. This degree allows you to specialize in a wide variety of fields, including chemistry, biology and research.
To become a biochemist or to work in the biochemistry field, you must have impressive scientific skills, knowledge and capabilities. You can earn these qualifications by taking the proper courses and gaining relevant experience in your field. Follow these tips to become a successful biochemist:
Earn a high school diploma: You should first graduate high school with your diploma or a GED. Try to take courses like physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology to familiarize yourself with the basic scientific concepts you may later go in-depth on in your bachelor's program.
Get a bachelor's degree: Most employers require biochemistry candidates to earn at least a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, biology, chemistry or another related field.
Select elective courses: Many programs offer elective courses depending on the area of the biochemistry field that you'd like to pursue. You can take courses that help you advance your education further into the medical, biotechnology or veterinary master's degree programs.
Participate in lab work: A majority of biochemistry careers take place in a laboratory. You may complete lab work during your courses to familiarize yourself with the tools and overall lab atmosphere. You can also pursue an internship in a lab to gain hands-on lab training and experience.
There are a wide variety of fields you can pursue, such as forensic science, chemistry and biology, after you earn a biochemistry degree. Common jobs people with biochemistry degrees typically pursue include:
National average salary: $51,544 per year
Primary duties: A forensic science technician assists forensic scientists in criminal investigations to perform tests and report their results. Common job responsibilities include collaborating with law enforcement at crime sciences to collect DNA, running DNA profiling and chemical analysis tests, testifying as an expert witness in court and handling hazardous and contaminated pieces of physical evidence safely and responsibly.
Related: Learn About Being a Forensic Science Technician
National average salary: $63,734 per year
Primary duties: Forensic scientists process various pieces of evidence to help law enforcement prosecute suspects in criminal cases. Other responsibilities include interpreting blood spatter patterns at crime scenes, tracing drugs and other illegal substances in tissues and bodily fluids, managing and preserving crime scenes until the necessary personnel arrives and conducting post-mortem investigations on crime scene victims.
National average salary: $63,908 per year
Primary duties: A chemical engineer uses their advanced knowledge of mathematics and different areas of science to enhance the processes used in chemical experiments. They also work to find solutions to problems that scientists in the chemical industry may regularly undergo. Other key job duties include building, proposing and implementing plans to reach chemical companies' goals, increasing the quality and efficiency levels of chemical processes and compiling and analyzing data gained from on-site visits.
Related: Learn About Being a Chemical Engineer
National average salary: $65,066 per year
Primary duties: A biochemistry professor works for a university, college or other academic institution teaching students about different elements of biochemistry. Their main duties include providing lectures, administering tests, quizzes and assignments, conducting office hours to address students' questions about the lectures, overseeing lab experiments students conduct and developing syllabi that reflects the program's required curriculum.
National average salary: $79,272 per year
Primary duties: A biochemist conducts studies and experiments on the composition and functions of different life forms to determine how various chemical processes affect them. Other key job responsibilities include designing and executing scientific experiments, analyzing and recording large data sets and results, making recommendations on chemical processes based on their findings and refining chemical compounds for medical professionals or the public to use.
National average salary: $80,831 per year
Primary duties: A biologist studies plant life and other organisms to make discoveries about their behaviors, compositions and habitats. They also conduct research on these living beings to determine how other beings or organisms affect their environments. Other job duties include identifying, studying and classifying animals, plants and ecosystems, taking samples and measurements of organisms, learning more about organisms' diets and behaviors and maintaining detailed and accurate records related to their scientific research.
National average salary: $94,755 per year
Primary duties: A medical scientist conducts research on human illnesses and diseases to uncover ways to improve the health of humans. Other job responsibilities include conducting studies to investigate human diseases and potential treatment methods, analyzing medical data and samples to determine causes and dangers of certain chronic diseases or pathogens, building and testing various medical devices and writing research grant proposals for funding applications from private funding and government sources.
National average salary: $111,143 per year
Primary duties: A research scientist conducts experiments on different scientific concepts to prove or disprove certain scientific theories or insights. Other job responsibilities include proposing innovative scientific research ideas, spearheading data collection processes and efforts and publishing important findings in scholarly and academic journals.
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8 Jobs To Pursue With a Biochemistry Degree | Indeed.com