Job Description for Biochemists

Answer 1

What do biochemists do?

Biochemists are scientists who specialize in the chemistry of living things and their environments. Biochemists aim to gain a better understanding of fundamental life processes and apply this knowledge in developing new products to solve existing problems. Biochemists spend the majority of their time in an office or in a laboratory. They conduct research, which usually involves studying academic/scientific literatures, planning experiments, performing syntheses, analyzing samples, recording results in a lab notebook, and publishing the results. Biochemists who are interested in research can work in the following areas: hospitals/clinics as clinical biochemists, food/beverage manufacturing companies as analytical chemists, biotechnology companies as research biochemists, or universities as postdoctoral researchers. Nearly half of all research biochemists work in an academic environment. Successful postdoctoral researchers often become professors and they are responsible for teaching and conducting research. Besides going to a research career, some biochemists become business consultants. A selected few find work as a patent agent or as a patent attorney after completing law school.

How much do biochemists make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, biochemists could expect to earn a median annual salary of $82,840 in May 2008. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,440. For new graduates with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, starting salaries reported in July 2009 averaged $33,254 a year.

How can you become a biochemist?

The minimum requirement to work as a biochemist is a related degree from a four-year university. Throughout your four years in college, you will be expected to learn the fundamentals in Biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, technical writing, and laboratory skills. With a bachelor degree, you are likely to enter the field as an assistant scientist in which you will help the principal scientists prepare, run, and analyze routine experiments. Typically, you need a Master or PhD to advance in the field and lead your own research projects. Also, the minimum requirement to teach biochemistry at a college-level is a master degree.