Options with biochemistry

Your skills

Through studying biochemistry, you not only acquire a great deal of subject knowledge associated with your degree but you also develop many skills which will be invaluable for your next career move. Studying the biosciences gives students both specific and generic skills so that they acquire a depth and range of learning. Specific skills associated with biochemistry include:

• the ability to understand complex biological processes;
• having a full and critical understanding of relevant texts;
• assembling arguments and engaging in debate;
• critical and analytical skills;
• independent thinking and problem-solving.

Through studying biochemistry you will most likely be able to provide evidence of the types of skills that most employers desire. The specific biochemistry knowledge you will have obtained will be vital for any research posts but other skills that you will have learnt, such as independent thinking, will be valued by any employer. This means graduates of biochemistry degrees are able to enter non-research careers that are less relevant to their subject of study. Generic transferable skills acquired through a biochemistry degree include:

• practical skills;
• numeracy skills;
• communication, presentation and IT skills;
• interpersonal and teamwork skills;
• self-management and professional development skills.

You can demonstrate your experience in these areas by giving examples from the practical work and group projects included in your degree course.

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Clinical biochemist - Clinical biochemists analyse and interpret data related to patient samples. This assists with the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They advise clinicians and GPs on the use of tests, the diagnosis of disease, and planning and progress of treatment.
• Biomedical scientist - Following basic training, most biomedical scientists specialise in one aspect of medical laboratory science. The main areas are: medical microbiology; clinical chemistry; transfusion science; haematology; histopathology; cytology; immunology; and virology.
• Forensic scientist - Forensic scientists are primarily concerned with examining contact trace material associated with crimes. This follows the principle that 'every contact leaves a trace', which will offer potential evidence to link a suspect with the scene of the crime, the victim or the weapon. Although there are degrees in forensic science, biochemists with the appropriate skills are also considered for forensic science posts.
• Research scientist (life sciences) - Research scientists work in universities, institutes, industry (large and small companies), hospitals and government organisations. They are employed to carry out research in the laboratory, so technical skills are important. As they progress they take on more and managerial roles where additional personal skills become more important.
• Clinical research associate - Graduates without previous experience are more likely to enter the field at a lower level, e.g. as a clinical data co-ordinator or clinical trials administrator. Experience in this type of work will generally qualify you to move on to a full clinical research associate (CRA) position.
• Higher education lecturer - Higher education (HE) lecturers carry out research and teach students in universities and some colleges of further education (FE). You would need to undertake a PhD and then conduct research for at least three to five years before you would be able to progress to this level.
• Toxicologist - Toxicologists plan and carry out laboratory and field studies to identify, monitor and evaluate the impact of toxic materials and radiation on human and animal health, and on the health and current status of the environment, as well as the impact of future technology.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Health and safety inspector - Health and safety inspectors work to protect people's health and safety by making sure risks in the workplace are properly controlled. Postgraduate qualifications and experience are needed to get into this profession.
• Patent examiner - A patent examiner studies applications for patents to ensure they do not infringe the rights of inventors. The job requires good technical understanding, accuracy and the ability to work under the pressure of deadlines.
• Science writer - Writers need to be able to understand and communicate complex scientific information, theories and practices in a clear, concise language that can be understood by people who may be not experts in these fields, while also maintaining accuracy.
• Chartered accountant - Chartered accountants provide trustworthy information about financial records. Many employers in the financial sector are interested in scientists who are numerate with well-developed personal skills. This includes chartered accountancy as well as many other jobs in the financial sector.

Other options

As the statistics show that many biochemists want to forge a career in the biosciences, you should to try to gain practical and technical experience during your degree course as this will equip you well for a research or technical position. Your final year research project and other associated practical work will definitely help towards this and if you can secure a vacation job in a laboratory, it will definitely go in your favour when you approach employers. Whatever your career plans (or even if you don’t have any as yet), it is important to enhance your degree with extra skills and experiences which show that you are a proactive person engaging with the world around you.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.

Career areas

A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after graduation just over 39% were in employment. Of these around 16% had entered scientific research with a further 15% entering professional and technical occupations. Biochemistry graduates also went into other sectors, such as commercial and public sector management and business and financial professions.

Around 15% went into retail and catering and smaller percentages worked in clerical or health professional roles or in education, marketing and advertising.  

Where are the jobs?

Most biochemists are employed as researchers in universities, research institutes and large companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. Small companies also employ biochemists to provide specialist services such as toxicological studies. Many also work for the NHS (see NHS Careers ), government laboratories such as the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)  or public health laboratories such as the Health Protection Agency (HPA) .

For further information about employers, look into the following areas:

• education - specifically higher education, which employs a large number of science researchers to undertake research in universities (some of whom go on to become lecturers);
• science - which includes a range of research, technical and related careers within private and public organisations;
• health - dominated by the NHS. This area primarily includes work in biomedical and clinical careers

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?

Further study

A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after graduation 36% of graduates went on to further study, while almost 8% did further study while also working.

It is common for biochemists to continue their higher education if they are intending to forge a career in the biosciences (and a PhD is essential for academic research or to secure a career as an academic lecturer). Even for those entering research in industry or associated careers such as publishing, science communication or clinical careers, further qualifications such as a PhD are an asset and are even becoming essential.

If you are aiming for a career path away from science, it will be well worth considering what kind of professional qualifications may stand you in good stead for getting into (and getting on in) your chosen career.

These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgrad study and search courses and research to identify your options.

Look at funding my further study for details relating to finance and the application process.

Contacts and resources

Jobs and work

• Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) 
• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 
• Health Professions Council (HPC) 
• Health Protection Agency (HPA) 
• National Blood Service (NBS) 
• NHS Careers 

Study

• The Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB) 
• Biochemical Society 
• Find a PhD 

AGCAS

Written by AGCAS editors

Date: 

June 2010

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