Master's and doctoral degrees in biochemistry prepare students for a variety of positions in academia, government facilities and private industry. Research facilities, universities, pharmaceutical and medical institutions all utilize the specialties that students with advanced biochemistry degrees bring to the table.
Academia
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a growing need for biochemistry professionals in various fields, along with a surge in the competition. Most biochemists with advanced degrees remain in academia for a number of reasons. Grants and funding for research often are easier to get in a university setting and as more students vie for degrees, the need for qualified instructors also increases.
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical companies, one of the fastest growing areas of the economy, continually look for talented biochemical researchers to develop new drugs. While there are fewer opportunities for a chemist to pursue personal passions, the money and the tools for working on the company's directives are plentiful. Breakthroughs often come through private arenas and can provide a worthwhile career path for degreed biochemists.
Cross-trained
Biochemists cross-trained in other fields can find additional job opportunities in alternative areas. Law enforcement agencies increasingly are employing biochemists to run DNA and evidence labs. Legal firms require the expertise of biochemists for expert testimony and to interpret scientific findings for their cases. The publishing field is open for biochemists to write and edit scholarly papers and answer ethical questions about areas such as genomics and cloning.
Health Care
Biochemistry research and project development professionals with advanced degrees are in great demand in the health care industry in everything from hospitals and private labs to worldwide research facilities. Companies such as Roche, D.E. Shaw and the Computational Biochemistry Research Group bring on PhD graduates to work with ongoing projects and to develop new areas for product development. Many private industries will bring on a biochemist with an idea that the company can fund and own.
Marketing
People with advanced degrees, experience and a wealth of contacts in the biochemistry field make valuable sales and marketing executives. Pharmacology, clinical research and research and development organizations require the expertise of a professional with excellent communications skills to sell the products and explain the intricacies of the services to potential clients. Scientists are needed to speak with other scientists as peers. Additionally, corporations require degreed professionals to write reports for stockholders and other financial markets.
References
Biospace.com: Biotech and Pharmaceutical News & Jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Colgate University
Madsci Network
New Scientist Jobs
