Research
Common Career Paths
- Basic research
- Applied research
- Grant writing
- Administration
- Some areas of specialization:
- Healthcare: clinical research (e.g., virology, immunology, enzymology), medical devices, and equipment
- Pharmacology: drug properties, interactions, application, and development
- Environmental: testing, air, water, and waste management, regulation, bio-remediation, biofuels
- Agricultural: crop production/storage, herbicide/pesticide development and application, bio-remediation
- Food science: preservation, nutrition
- Cosmeceutical: development and application
- Forensic: toxicology, DNA analysis, scientific instrumentation
Employers
- University laboratories
- Federal government:
- National Science Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
- State and local government
- Public health departments
- Hospital laboratories
- Commercial medical laboratories
- Private testing laboratories including forensics
- Independent research foundations
- Industries:
- Biotechnology/Synthetic biology: pharmaceutical and medical device/equipment
- Food processing
- Cosmetic
- Chemical
- Petroleum
- Agricultural
Strategies
- Plan to take coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics and demonstrate proficiency.
- Choose courses with laboratory components to build experimental and instrumentation skills.
- Gain experience in area of interest through internships, research with professors and/or complete a senior research project.
- Complete a certificate training program, usually one year, to learn specialized laboratory techniques. Certification requirements vary by state.
- Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills for sharing data as well as collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams of scientists.
- Take a course in grant writing, as many scientists and professors seek funding to support their research and teaching.
- Earn a master’s degree or Ph.D. to advance into college or university teaching or for directing scientific research in government laboratories or industry.
- Consider pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship, generally two-three years, after earning a Ph.D. to gain additional research experience.
Healthcare
See also What can I do with a major in medical fields?
Common Career Paths
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Podiatry
- Pharmacy
- Chiropracty
- Veterinary medicine
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Public health
Employers
- Hospitals
- Colleges or universities
- Medical centers and clinics
- Private and group practice
- Health networks
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Correctional facilities
- Large corporations
- Armed services
- Government agencies
- State and local public health departments
Strategies
- Plan to attend medical school or other related graduate program.
- Research accredited institutions. Check graduation rates, success rates on licensing exams, cost, location, etc. Speak with current students.
- Maintain an outstanding grade point average, particularly in the sciences. Meet with a pre-health advisor periodically to discuss curricular decisions and admissions test preparation.
- Join related student organizations (e.g., student chapters of the American Medical Association, Academy of Student Pharmacists, Health Occupations Students of America, etc.).
- Demonstrate leadership abilities.
- Volunteer or intern in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, rehabilitation facility, pharmacy, etc. based on your interests. Graduate and professional schools seek students with tested experience.
- Consider pursuing certification as a medical laboratory technologist or technician. Licensure varies by state.
- Secure strong faculty recommendations who will attest to your interest in the healthcare field as well as your academic ability and work ethic.
- Research the various fields within healthcare to determine a particular career goal.
- Develop a parallel plan in case medical/graduate school admission is denied.
Bioinformatics
Common Career Paths
- Algorithm and statistical techniques
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Information management
- Organization and retrieval
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Private research foundations
- Software development firms
- Biotechnology companies:
- Agricultural chemicals
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical device and equipment
- Research and testing
- Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
Strategies
- Develop multiple areas of specialization through coursework, minors, or double-majors in molecular biology, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or machine learning.
- Develop strong programming and database management skills; fluency in several programming languages is helpful.
- Learn biological software systems.
- Complete an internship in the areas of tool building, usage, or maintenance.
- Seek master’s or Ph.D. degree for increased advancement opportunities.
Biotechnology
Common Career Paths
- Medicine
- Agriculture
- Food science
- Biological engineering
- Bioremediation
- Environmental protection/Regulation
- Synthetic biology
Employers
- Biotechnology companies:
- Agricultural chemicals
- Food safety
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical device and equipment
- Research and testing
- Federal government:
- National Institutes of Health
- Centers for Disease Control
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Plant propagation and production businesses
- Colleges and universities
Strategies
- Gain practical experience conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, and using laboratory/field techniques in collaboration with professors and through internships.
- Hone your ability to gather, assess, evaluate, interpret, and share technical and scientific information.
- Seek current knowledge of medical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, or environmental issues, trends, and regulations.
- Join horticultural, agronomy, biotechnology clubs or other student professional associations to network and cultivate related academic interests.
- Pursue a master’s or doctoral degree to specialize and for advancement in the field.
- Some federal and private agency and research positions require a graduate degree.
- Maintain a strong grade point average to be competitive for graduate school admission.
Other Professional Opportunities
Common Career Paths
- Sales/Marketing
- Technical writing
- Scientific journalism
- Scientific illustration
- Regulatory affairs
- Administration/Management
- Scientific/Technical recruiting
- Intellectual property/Patent law
Employers
- Biotechnology industry
- Pharmaceutical and chemical companies
- Publishers:
- Textbook, magazine, newspaper, book
- Software firms
- Regulatory agencies
- Search firms
- Law firms
- Legal departments of corporations
Strategies
- Supplement biochemistry degree with either additional coursework or a minor in a specialty area such as journalism, technical writing, business, or mathematics.
- Become familiar with desktop publishing and other software packages particularly for communications-related positions.
- Gain experience through internships, part-time work, or summer jobs to test interest in a field and network. According to your goal, consider writing for the school newspaper, working at your campus computer lab, or pursuing sales/marketing opportunities.
- Develop strong written and oral communication skills which are necessary across industries.
- Be prepared to start in entry-level business positions such as management trainee programs.
- Obtain an MBA or Ph.D. to reach high levels of management and administration.
- To pursue a J.D., participate in mock trial and pre-law associations and research the law school admissions process.
Teaching
Common Career Paths
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Post-secondary
- Non-classroom settings
Employers
- Public and private schools, K-12
- Two-year community colleges/technical institutes
- Four-year institutions
- Professional schools:
- Pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture
- Museums
- Zoos
- Nature centers and parks
Strategies
- Develop excellent communication skills, verbal and written, for interacting with students, colleagues, and parents.
- Gain experience working with age group of interest through volunteering and tutoring.
- Become skilled in the use of computers and laboratory equipment.
- Considering joining a professional teaching association such as the National Science Teachers Association or the National Association of Biology Teachers for current information on the field and for networking opportunities.
- Acquire appropriate certification for K-12 teaching opportunities.
- Due to science teacher shortages in some areas, consider researching alternative certification programs which may offer a faster route to secondary teaching opportunities.
- Seek advanced degree required for specialists, education administration, college teaching, and other professional positions.
- Prepare to attend graduate school by maintaining a high grade point average and securing strong faculty recommendations for post-secondary teaching. A master’s degree is sufficient for teaching at some two year-institutions.
- Complete Ph.D. for college or university teaching.
Getting Started and Advancing in Major
- A bachelor’s degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and gardens.
- Biochemists are typically curious and creative with strong observational and analytical skills as well as the ability to persevere through lengthy research projects. They demonstrate competence in laboratory methods, computer science, and mathematics.
- As an undergraduate, seek laboratory experiences such as research projects, volunteering with professors, summer jobs, or internships.
- Develop the ability to communicate effectively to compile and share results in oral and written forms.
- Biochemists often interact with scientists from other disciplines. Learn to work independently and as part of a team.
- Read scientific journals to stay current on relevant issues in the field and join related professional organizations to network and build contacts.
- Visit government laboratories or research centers to learn more about opportunities in biochemistry. Schedule informational interviews to learn about the profession and specific career paths.
- Participate in research programs sponsored by organizations like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
- Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
- Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations.
- Earn a master’s degree to specialize in a particular research area and to teach at some two- and four-year institutions.
- Earn a Ph.D. to direct research projects, to enter high levels of administration, and to teach at four-year post-secondary institutions. Postdoctoral fellowships may also be required.
- Combine an undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a degree in law, computer programming, business, education, information science, or other discipline to expand career opportunities.
- Research the job application process for government positions. Seek guidance from career center staff for assistance.
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Forensic Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Biological Sciences: Careers
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biochemical Society
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization
- Biotechnology Institute
- Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
- International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- The National Academies