Biochemists and Biophysicists

Career Overview

Biochemists and biophysicists explore how living systems work at the molecular and cellular level. They study areas such as genetics, proteins, cells, disease, and biological processes, helping develop new medicines, biotechnology, and other scientific applications.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics, or a related field can lead to some entry-level roles. A master’s or Ph.D. is typically needed for advanced research, independent research, or university positions. Graduate programs often include laboratory research and specialized training.

Work Environment

Biochemists and biophysicists work in research laboratories, universities, hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and government or private research organizations. Their work can combine laboratory experiments, data analysis, specialized equipment, and computer-based research.

Future Outlook

The outlook is positive, with employment expected to grow faster than the average for many occupations. Continued advances in biotechnology, genetics, pharmaceuticals, medical research, and other life sciences are expected to create opportunities for researchers with strong scientific and technical skills.

Recommended High School Courses

Chemistry
Biology
Math
Computer Science
Physics
Communication
Science

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
Develop biological research methods.
Write grant proposals.
Design research studies to obtain scientific information.
Analyze biological samples.
Set up laboratory or field equipment.
Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
Research diseases or parasites.
Develop new or advanced products or production methods.
Research genetic characteristics or expression.
Research methods to improve food products.

Schools

Adelphi University

Agnes Scott College

Albion College

Allegheny College

American International Co...

American University

Amherst College

Angelo State University

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Asbury University

Auburn University

Augustana University

Austin College

Ave Maria University

Azusa Pacific University

Ball State University

Bard College

Bates College

Baylor University

Belmont University

Bemidji State University

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

Bob Jones University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Brescia University

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University-...

Brooklyn College

Brown University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

Butler University

Cal Poly Pomona

California Lutheran Unive...

Case Western Reserve Univ...

Chaminade University Of H...

Christopher Newport Unive...

Claremont Mckenna College

Clark University

Coastal Carolina Universi...

Colby College

College Of St. Benedict A...

College Of William And Ma...

Colorado School Of Mines

Colorado State University...

Connecticut College

Dartmouth College

Denison University

Dominican University Of C...

Drew University

Drexel University

Drury University

Duke University

Duquesne University

East Carolina University

East Central University -...

East Stroudsburg Universi...

East Tennessee State Univ...

Eastern Illinois Universi...

Eastern Michigan Universi...

Eastern New Mexico Univer...

Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Washington Univer...

Eckerd College

Edinboro University

Elizabethtown College

Elmhurst College

Elon University

Emory University

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Faulkner University

Ferris State University

Fisk University

Florida Gulf Coast Univer...

Florida International Uni...

Framingham State Universi...

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Howard University

Johns Hopkins University

Kansas State University-...

Lehigh University

Loyola University - Chica...

Massachusetts Institute O...

Mills College

New York University

Pomona College

Rice University

Saint Louis University-ma...

Stevenson University

Suny College Of Environme...

Suny Plattsburgh

Suny Upstate Medical Univ...

Texas A & M University- C...

Tufts University

Tulane University

University Of Alabama - B...

University Of Alaska- Fai...

University Of California-...

University Of Chicago

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University Of Maine- Oron...

University Of Maryland -...

University Of Maryland- B...

University Of Massachuset...

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University Of Pennsylvani...

University Of The Science...

University Of Vermont

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University Of Wisconsin-...

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Virginia Commonwealth Uni...

Washington University- St...

Wilkes University

Worcester Polytechnic Ins...

Yale University

Bishop's University

Brock University

Carleton University

Dalhousie University

Lakehead University- O...

Mcgill University

Mcmaster University

Memorial University

Mount Allison Universi...

Saskatchewan Polytechn...

Selkirk College- Castl...

Trent University- Pete...

Trinity Western Univer...

Universite De Montreal...

University Of Alberta

University Of British...

University Of Guelph

University Of Manitoba

University Of Northern...

University Of Ottawa

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University Of Regina

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University Of Victoria

University Of Waterloo

University Of Windsor-...

University Of Winnipeg

Western University

Wilfred Laurier Univer...

Concordia University Of...

Concordia University- L...

USA

Canada

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Approx Salary Expectation

Low End:

$65,000.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$104,000.00 /yr

High End:

$169,000.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.