biochem and chemistry major?

Question

im not 100% sure but im very interested in majoring in either biochem or chemistry. what type of jobs and internships can you get from either of the two? is it hard, as in studies and competition?

Answer 1

What does a biochemist do
Biochemists have many potential roles within the scientific community, including working with agriculture, pharmaceutical industry and crime labs. An example is that they find new ways to diagnose and treat disease in humans including potentially creating anti-cancer agents and other for possible treatments for disease.
Qualifications in Biochemistry
Students attaining a degree in biochemistry receive an excellent preparation for a scientific career. The knowledge gained studying biochemistry is applicable to many areas including agriculture, medicine and biotechnology. Biochemistry graduates also possess knowledge and expertise in laboratory techniques and analysis in areas such as:


Biotechnology
Antibiotics
Molecular genetics
DNA analysis
Toxicological and environmental testing

If you were interested in studying biochemistry, you would receive additional knowledge in the basic sciences of biology and chemistry, but particularly in biochemistry you would cover:


Molecular biology and Novel Molecular Diagnostics
Drug Development
Stem Cell Therapies
Genomics
Bioinformatics
Gene Therapy
Social and Ethical Issues Relating to Genomic Information
Patent Law


Types of Biochemistry Jobs
With a degree in Biochemistry, an individual would find they have a vast list of careers available. The large industry is that of pharmaceuticals followed by work with the human genome project. Other industries where a Biochemist would work include:

Private Sector


Biotechnology
Food and Drink (includes brewing)
Health and Beauty Care
Medical Instrument companies
Chemical manufacturing companies
Research Companies and Laboratories

Public Sector to include


Scientific laboratories
Agriculture and fisheries
Hospitals
Universities
Public Health Entities
Blood Service
Forensic Science
Overseas Development
Public Health Laboratories
National Blood Services
Cancer research institutes
Environmental Pollution Control

biochemists in other industries

While most biochemist graduates tend to work in a traditional laboratory and research environment. Some biochemists may be attracted to working within a scientific company, but in more non-traditional roles. Possible careers may include recruitment agencies, sales, management and computing.

Further Study Opportunities

Biochemists also find opportunities once they earn a higher qualification, either through attaining honors, masters or PHD level qualification. As in many other science related fields, higher education qualification such as a PHD is considered advantageous over students with a single degree as it is considered specialized practical experience. Particularly with research this is considered valuable as postgraduate students receive longer term promotion and career opportunities.

In attempting to undertake further study, basic opportunity cost analysis must be taken; they all require additional time to be taken with PHD sometimes taking 4-5 years as well as require high grades and very competitive to get scholarships. Students may also find they are over qualified for basic science positions to get experience. Nonetheless there are positives for students including working with the elite field of biochemistry, higher positions, higher wages and higher respect.

Some specializations for postgraduate biochemistry courses include:


Bioinformatics
forensic science
biotechnology
immunology
Toxicology

CHEMISTRY:
Chemistry jobs, biotech jobs, and pharmaceutical jobs, chemical enginnering... Chemists use their problem-solving skills as laboratory practitioners, managers, corporate officers, and entrepreneurs in industrial firms and governmental agencies.

Other chemists are employed as executives who manage production facilities, businesses, research groups, or entire laboratories. A chemistry degree can also lead to work in areas such as law, sales, marketing, consulting, purchasing, health and safety, and environmental science.

Chemists are owners of companies. Chemists teach in high schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities, and in corporate training centers.

Chemists work for large multinational companies as well as small companies. Some are specialized in their practice of chemistry, while others apply it in an interdisciplinary fashion.

Individuals who pursue a chemical education discover that it provides a solid background for careers that can grow and change as the individual changes or as the marketplace changes.

Because there are a multitude of applications of chemical principles and many specialties within the field of chemistry, there are many types of chemists. Students should become familiar with career options available to chemists and consider how to prepare for a future in chemistry.

Proper preparation is an important factor in improving success in finding the best first job, and includes refining a general interest in chemistry into specific education and career objectives and planning how to achieve career goals.

If anything characterizes the career of a chemist, it is change. A chemistry degree is a powerful springboard, which can launch you into a fascinating and rewarding career.

A chemistry graduate is prepared for immediate employment. A bachelor’s level graduate in chemistry is able to assume a variety of positions in industry, government, or academia. Opportunities are also available to those who combine their undergraduate chemistry degree with advanced studies in other fields.

This list of career areas is by no means exhaustive; however, it presents options available to those who obtain degrees in the chemical sciences.

The following list represents a sample of career areas:

Agricultural Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Catalysis, Chemical Education, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Information, Chemical Sales and Marketing, Chemical Technology, Colloid and Surface Chemistry, Consulting, Consumer Products, Environmental Chemistry, Food and Flavor Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, Geochemistry, Hazardous Waste Management, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Science, medicinal Chemistry, Oil and Petroleum Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Pulp and Paper Chemistry, R&D Management, Science Writing, Textile Chemistry and Water Chemistry.
The more obvious positions for which a background in chemistry is important are those in chemical education, which may or may not include research at the undergraduate level, or laboratory research in the chemical industry and government.

Those with a significant knowledge of chemistry are also employed in related professions, such as molecular biology and biotechnology, materials science, forensic science, hazardous waste management, textile science,or information management.

While laboratory research is the traditional career of chemists in industry, not all chemists working in industry are active researchers. Some chemists do analyses and testing; some do research outside of the laboratory.

As youy must have understood... biochemistry is a field which brings together the two disciplines of biology and chemistry. In my opinion you have already made a decision - biochemistry as seen in your question. But as the elders say - follow your instincts.

all the best

ritu

Answer 2

I am a third year chemistry major with a business minor right now. There are multiple jobs you can have with that degree. Right now I have an internship in a research building. We deal with food science here. When I get out of school i wan to be a pharmceutical salesman, but who knows what could happen I might work in a research and sell. Whatever the case is there are multiple options for you in the field of chemistry. It is a great degree to have.

Answer 3

Biochemistry has an edge over General(Even Organic,Inorganic,Physical,Analytical Chemistries) .But a GOOD Bichemist should have a sound backround in organic,Physical,Analytical chemistry and mathematics-now Genetic Engineering/Bio-technology is "Hot cake"(DNA/RNA/Protein bio-synthesis-Transcription-Translation-manipulation of DNA/genes etc)-It has applications in Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Industry, Nutrition,Veternary Scince,Nursing,Industrial Fermentation(Alcohol,Antibiotics,Vitamins,Hormones)-Pure Microbiology,Dairy Industry etc

Answer 4

First. I'm a chemical engineer. biased perhaps. have worked in chemical companies for 15 years.....

BS degree in chemistry at my company (and many companies) would get you a job in the lab preparing solutions, running equipment, and giving data to masters and PhD chemists and BS engineers who in turn would analyze the data design follow up experiments. Starting pay BS chemist ≈42k/yr

BS engineers (especially in chemical engineering) often get moved up to jobs involving customers, business decisions, and management. starting pay BS ChE ≈57k/yr in my company.

I have no idea what a degree in biochem buys you.

moral. Chemical Engineering. Then if you prefer, minor or masters in a Biochemical science. You'll be managing research groups in the Bio fuels or the pharmaceutical industry before you know it....

Answer 5

hi there,am a graduate of chemistry and to honest is hard but with hard work u will manage.they are many jobs u can do so dont worry as the opportunities are many.u have to get good grades so as to beat the competition.wish u the best.