Introduction
Laboratory scientist, living expert, the biochemist tries to understand the functioning of cells to derive industrial, pharmaceutical or commercial uses.
His conclusions are thus fundamental and largely contribute to innovation in many sectors of activity (environment, food, medicine, etc.). A profession reserved for profiles as curious as they are meticulous.
The biochemist is a laboratory technician specializing in life. His mission: to understand the functioning of human, animal, or plant cells.
The biochemist works in conjunction with other specialists, with whom he compares his discoveries and exchanges information.
Indeed, he must address many areas (molecular biology, biophysics, etc.) to carry out his research.
It is therefore essential for him to interact with professionals in these sectors.
His work makes it possible to find practical applications for research in the fields of medicine,
The biochemist carries out research and analysis in the laboratory to better understand the structure and properties of living matter.
Responsibilities
- Record findings in observation reports
- Studies the interactions between molecules and their effects on the organism
- Seeks practical applications for his research.
- He observes cells and molecules and scrutinizes chemical reactions.
- Intervenes in the prevention or repair of pollution
- The biochemist is also interested in the effects that food, vitamins, drugs, and hormones can have on the body.
- He can develop new drugs, serums, vaccines, or food preservation methods
- He is required to design equipment, processes, or research and also analysis techniques
- Studying food preservation conditions, researching compositions that will reduce the epidermal effects of aging (wrinkles)
- Analyze, experiment, test the results and then validate them
- Also, design different research and analysis techniques
The biochemist must write reports to communicate the results of his experiments and make recommendations if necessary.
Education
To become a biochemist, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. That is the minimum requirement for an entry-level job.
However, for research and development positions, a Ph.D. is the minimum requirement. The coursework for the bachelor’s degree includes biological sciences, maths, chemical sciences, and physics.
Salary
The salary of a biochemist in the United States is dependent on the experience level, qualifications, and facility. However, the average annual salary is $94,270.
Skills
- Know how to research, identify and also understand the functioning of living beings
- Ability to interpret and analyze experimental results
- Master professional tools such as the evaporator or centrifugal decanter
- Master scientific and technical English
- Carry out a scientific watch
- Write scientific articles to share knowledge
- Be rigorous, patient, and also know-how to question yourself
- Be a perfectionist and also have an eye for detail
- Love teamwork
The biochemist is a professional who is distinguished by his meticulousness and rigor, which ensure the reliability of his conclusions.
Although autonomous, the biochemist enjoys a strong team spirit. He respects hierarchical scales and protocols.
He is vigilant in the handling of certain products. Having respect for instructions ensures his safety and also of his colleagues.
His written expression (reports, reports, conclusions) is clear, and his spelling is irreplaceable.
Career Paths
The professional development of the biochemist is essentially hierarchical.
After several years of experience, he can indeed negotiate the status of biochemical engineer (additional training will sometimes be required).
He then gains in responsibilities and salary claims.
Finally, the biochemist can evolve “horizontally” thanks to a change of employer and sector of activity.
Job Opportunities
Biochemists practice mainly within:
- Laboratories, public or private
- Design offices
- Companies in the chemical or pharmaceutical industry
- Civil engineering agencies.
- Opportunities are mainly in the private sector, in the industry (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, water, waste treatment, etc.). There are also positions, in limited numbers, in public research.
Required Qualities
This job requires:
- Good knowledge of chemistry and biology
- Great rigor
- Teamwork
- Open-mindedness
- Sense of observation and detail
- Scientific curiosity: the biochemist must be interested in many scientific subfields and also follow discoveries closely.
- Pragmatism: the biochemist carries out in-depth research jobs but must always think about possible applications of his work
Conclusion
The biochemist is interested in the microscopic world of living organisms. His objective is essentially to understand the functioning of cells to find practical applications in various fields (medicine, agriculture, ecology, biotechnology, etc.)
With his eye riveted on the eyepiece of the microscope, the biochemist spends a large part of his time in the laboratory.
What does he observe? All kinds of cells understand the functioning of living beings. His research notably led to the discovery of the structure of DNA.
However, there is no question of playing solitary! The biochemist works in close collaboration with other specialists such as biologists or chemists.
