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Biochemist

Overview and Key Facts

person with fluids
Education
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$103,650
Job Growth
Job Growth
5.80%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
37,600

What Do They Do?

A biochemist could...

 
bone cancer cell
Use green fluorescent protein (GFP), to investigate how cells work.
needle
Develop a vaccine to prevent a new strain of flu.
protein structure
Discover how a protein works by determining its 3-D structure.
biofuel
Develop new biofuels that will provide an alternative source of energy.
 
bone cancer cell needle protein structure biofuel

Overview Listen to this section

Growing, aging, digesting—all of these are examples of chemical processes performed by living organisms. Biochemists study how these types of chemical actions happen in cells and tissues, and monitor what effects new substances, like food additives and medicines, have on living organisms.
Roselle Rojas shows us some of the latest biochemistry projects taking place at Gatorade's Sport Science Institute and what her typical day is like inside and outside the lab. Watch this video to find out why the company that makes Gatorade employees biochemists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZbIYAFUGD8

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Biochemist?


  1. Science: ?
  2. Reading Comprehension: ?
  3. Writing: ?
  4. Critical Thinking: ?
  5. Active Listening: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Biochemist might do:
  • Prepare reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes.
  • Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
  • Manage laboratory teams, and monitor the quality of a team's work.
  • Share research findings by writing scientific articles and by making presentations at scientific conferences.
  • Develop and execute tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, and other abnormalities.
  • Develop and test new drugs and medications intended for commercial distribution.
  • Study the mutations in organisms that lead to cancer and other diseases.
  • Study spatial configurations of submicroscopic molecules, such as proteins, using x-rays and electron microscopes.
  • Study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, and living energy changes, such as growth, aging, and death.
  • Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.
  • Prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.
  • Research the chemical effects of substances such as drugs, serums, hormones, and food on tissues and vital processes.
  • Research how characteristics of plants and animals are carried through successive generations.
  • Develop methods to process, store, and use foods, drugs, and chemical compounds.
  • Investigate the nature, composition, and expression of genes, and research how genetic engineering can impact these processes.
  • Study physical principles of living cells and organisms and their electrical and mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.
  • Produce pharmaceutically and industrially useful proteins, using recombinant DNA technology.
  • Isolate, analyze, and synthesize vitamins, hormones, allergens, minerals, and enzymes, and determine their effects on body functions.
  • Design and perform experiments with equipment such as lasers, accelerators, and mass spectrometers.
  • Teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students, and supervise their research.
  • Research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes.
  • Examine the molecular and chemical aspects of immune system functioning.
  • Design and build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

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Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Biochemist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Biochemist jobs (5.80%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Biochemist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Most biochemists need at least a master's degree. To conduct research at an academic institute or to lead a team of other scientists at a biotechnology company, a PhD is necessary. In addition, it is common for biochemists to spend a period of time working as a postdoctoral (after receiving a PhD) student in the laboratory of a senior researcher, especially for those who want to conduct research or teach at the university level.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Doctoral or professional degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

For biochemists, a PhD is usually necessary for independent research and for advancement to administrative positions. A master's degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or in product development, and for jobs in management, inspection, sales, and service. A bachelor's degree is adequate for some non-research jobs. Some graduates with a bachelor's degree start as biochemical scientists in testing and inspection, or get jobs related to biological science, such as technical sales or service representatives. In some cases, graduates with a bachelor's degree are able to work in a laboratory environment on their own projects, but this is unusual. Some may work as research assistants, while others transition to related careers in medicine, biotechnology, or food sciences.

Biochemists who have advanced degrees often take temporary postdoctoral research positions that provide specialized research experience. In private industry, some may become managers or administrators within biology. Others leave biology for nontechnical managerial, administrative, or sales jobs.

Companies That Hire Biochemists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Stuart Barnscher, a Chemist at Agensys, who is working on research that will eventually help cancer patients in a science environment that is high-paced, social, and collaborative.
I have worked on projects that test how well a novel cancer therapeutic can kill tumor cells, and I am amazed at how very small chemical/structural changes to a drug can have profound effects on tumor growth/tumor regression. 
Stuart Barnscher, Antibody Drug Conjugate Chemist
Meet Helen McBride, a Principal Scientist at Amgen who is working in immunology, the study of the immune system.
Learning how the immune system goes haywire in disease [like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease] helps me think about how to help patients struggling with diseases through the development of new drugs. 
Helen McBride, Principal Scientist
Read this interview to see what Peter Bandettini does as a biochemist and biophysicist that studies brain function at the National Institutes of Health.
I became not only fascinated with human brain function, but also convinced that sciences such as physics, mathematics, and chemistry were ultimately the most powerful in shedding light on brain function. 
Peter Bandettini, Ph.D.
Meet Michael DiDonato, a Research Investigator at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation.
On a typical day, my tasks generally involve activities that support the drug discovery and development process, such as—finding small molecules that can bind to a specific protein and either turn it on or off to affect certain medical conditions. 
Michael DiDonato, Research Investigator

Nature of the Work

Biochemists study the chemical composition of living things. They analyze the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. Biochemists do most of their work in biotechnology, which involves understanding the complex chemistry of life.

Specifically, they study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, and living energy changes like growth, aging, and death. Biochemists may conduct research and determine the chemical action of substances—such as drugs, hormones, and food—on tissues. Biochemists examine chemical aspects of how antibodies function; research chemistry of cells, and isolate, analyze, and identify hormones, vitamins, allergens, minerals, and enzymes.

Biochemists develop and execute tests to detect disease, genetic disorders, and other abnormalities, and develop methods to process, store, and use food, drugs, and chemical compounds. They also develop and test new drugs and medications used for commercial distribution, and prepare reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes. Biochemists clean, purify, refine, and otherwise prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution, and analyze foods to determine nutritional value and effects of cooking, canning, and processing on this value.

Work Environment

Biochemists work indoors, and they must perform their jobs accurately and with a lot of attention to detail in order to complete every task. Usually, they work regular hours in offices or laboratories and are not exposed to unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Biochemists who work with dangerous organisms or toxic substances in the laboratory must follow strict safety procedures to avoid contamination. Some biochemists depend on grant money to support their research. They may be under pressure to meet deadlines and conform to rigid grant-writing specifications when preparing proposals to seek new or extended funding.

More Information

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