By: Keana Redfearn
Introduction
As a first-generation college student, the journey to navigating biochemistry on my own was both a rigorous and risky one, but ultimately one of the most rewarding decisions I ever made. While attempting to manage the heavy STEM major workload, I quickly realized the brutal time commitment and dedication required to succeed in this field. With limited resources available and no personal research connections, I immediately felt behind and was constantly told that I would never succeed in biochemistry. However, through intense trial and error, I have learned some of the key secrets to excelling in biochemistry and overcoming the inevitable systematic barriers in STEM as a first-gen student.
Beginning with the most important aspect to remember: if you have a deep passion for science, you will thrive.
Although I doubted my capabilities of succeeding in biochemistry countless times, I quickly realized that the secret to being a top-scoring scientist is having immense patience and perseverance to push through rigorous subjects. Even the highest-performing biochemistry majors hit a point in their academic careers that leaves them stumped and desperate to understand complex material. Whether your downfall is Physics, Math, English, or anything in between, you will need to build a mentality that will enable you to utilize critical thinking skills instead of shutting down when faced with a challenge. By training your perspective to shift from “What am I going to do?!” to “What is the best way to approach this problem using the material I learned?” instinctively, there will be no limitations to the accomplishments that can be achieved.
Now that I am completing my final year to earn my biochemistry degree, I aim to use this platform to share how I changed my mindset, which allowed me to go from performing below average to excelling with multiple awards and honors in the subject. Throughout this text, I will detail the crucial resources that are essential for building a sturdy foundation to master biochemistry and face the challenges of STEM.
Core Classes Taught in Biochemistry - Across Multiple School Curriculums
One aspect of biochemistry that most students completely overlook is that biochemistry programs are often geared towards being masters of all trades within the science realm. That’s right– you will dive deep into almost every science field at intense levels, whether you are interested in them or not. Ranging from Computer Science to Engineering, this major heavily emphasizes a large range of topics with a massive course load to match. Although, most programs focus primarily on chemistry and biochemistry at their core with a minimal amount of biology featured at a lower division level. Below is a concise list of subjects and relevant courses that many biochemistry programs require across the globe.
Mathematics
Integral Calculus ● Differential Calculus ● Multivariable Calculus ● Linear Algebra
Biology & Life Sciences
Genetics ● Biology/Life Science I-III ● Physiology ● Biological Anthropology
Common Programs Used: Excel/Google Sheets, BLAST, PyMol
Chemistry
General Chemistry ● Organic Chemistry I-III ● Physical Chemistry ● Proteomics ● Analytical Chemistry
Common Programs Used: Excel/Google Sheets, MNova, Mascot
Biochemistry
Biochemistry I-III ● Physical Biochemistry
Common Programs Used: Excel/Google Sheets, Mascot, BLAST, PyMol
Physics
Physics for Scientists & Engineers I-III ● Biochemical Engineering
Computer Science
Common Programming Languages & Applications Used: Python, RStudio, MATLAB, C++
Biological Chemistry vs Chemical Biology
Biochemistry and chemical biology are often confused or thought to be the same degree, despite being vastly different in their content and focus. Though they are related, the approaches, methods, and requirements differ in a few ways. Below is a comparison between the two, including their approach and key topics highlighted in most programs.
Biochemistry:
Focus: Biochemistry primarily deals with the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It emphasizes understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern life processes, such as enzyme function, DNA replication, protein synthesis, and metabolism.
Approach: Biochemists often use techniques from chemistry, biology, and physics to study the structure and function of biological molecules. The goal is to understand how these molecules interact and contribute to the functions of cells and organisms. This program is heavily related to chemistry rather than biology and falls under physical sciences.
Applications: Biochemistry is fundamental to understanding health and disease, drug development, agriculture, and biotechnology. It's also crucial in understanding metabolism, genetics, and molecular biology. Future applications of this program include a diverse range of careers such as biomedicine, chemical engineering, proteomics research, pharmacology, forensics, and more.
Chemical Biology:
Focus: Chemical biology is a more interdisciplinary field that merges principles from chemistry and biology to study and manipulate biological systems. It emphasizes the use of chemical tools and techniques to probe and influence biological processes.
Approach: Chemical biologists often design and synthesize small molecules, probes, or other chemical tools to investigate biological questions. These tools can be used to modulate biological pathways, track molecular events, or even serve as potential drug candidates. This program often involves more engineering and applied physics in addition to chemistry, rather than biology and medicine.
Applications: Chemical biology is particularly valuable in drug discovery, where small molecules are used to target specific proteins or pathways. It also plays a significant role in developing new techniques for studying and manipulating biological systems, such as imaging or gene editing technologies. Future applications of this program commonly include agricultural chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical engineering, therapeutic research, process chemistry, and more.
Industries & the Job Market
The industry and career opportunities for biochemistry are significantly diverse and expansive with a wide range of paths available in numerous related fields. Depending on one’s interest, biochemistry is moldable to suit nearly any specialization within STEM and is constantly changing as experts continue to progress our knowledge of chemical impacts on biological systems. Below is a concise description of several pathways and career options for biochemists.
Industry & Career Overview
Pharmaceuticals
Hospital Pharmacist ● Community Pharmacist ● Clinical Pharmacist ● Ambulatory Care Physician ● Oncology Pharmacist ● Nuclear Pharmacist ● Compounding Pharmacist ● Pediatric Pharmacist
Agriculture
Agricultural Chemist ● Plant Geneticist ● Crop Scientist ● Soil Chemist ● Nutritionist ● Animal Nutritionist ● Agronomist ● Food Saftey Specialist ● Agricultural Biotechnologist ● Pest Control Chemical Specialist ● Sustainable Agriculture Research
Academia
Biochemical Researcher ● Biomarker Researcher ● Proteomics Researcher ● Microbiology Researcher ● Biology Researcher ● Chemistry Researcher ● Biochemistry Professor ● Post-Doctoral Biochemical Research ● Bioengineering ● Biomedical Research ● Laboratory Manager ● Department Chair ● Science Education Specialist ● STEM Teacher ● Research Assistant ● Senior Research Assistant ● Academic Dean
Cosmetics
Fragrance Chemist ● Cosmetic Formulation Chemist ● Skin Care Biochemist ● Quality Control Analyst ● Regulatory Affairs Specialist ● Cosmetic Toxicologist ● Natural Products Research ● Stability Testing Biochemist
Healthcare
Clinical Biochemist ● Medical Laboratory Scientist ● Molecular Diagnostics Specialist ● Genetic Counselor ● Biomedical Researcher ● Clinical Trial Coordinator ● Healthcare ● Data Analyst ● Medical Science Liaison ● Pharmacogenomics Specialist ● Public Health Biochemist ● Physician
Biotechnology
Bioprocess Engineer ● Protein Scientist ● Molecular Biologist ● Bioinformatics Analyst ● Cell Culture Specialist ● Upstream Process Developer ● Downstream Process Engineer ● Quality Assurance Manager ● Regulatory Affairs Associate ● Biotechnology Patent Specialist
Environmental Science
Environmental Biochemist ● Ecotoxicologist ● Bioremediation Specialist ● Water Quality Analyst ● Environmental Impact Assessor ● Pollution Control Scientist ● Sustainable Chemistry Researcher ● Waste Management Specialist ● Climate Change Biochemist ● Environmental Compliance Officer
Forensics
Forensic Biochemist ● DNA Analyst ● Toxicologist ● Trace Evidence Examiner ● Crime Scene Investigator ● Forensic Laboratory Manager ● Bloodstain Pattern Analyst ● Forensic Entomologist ● Digital Forensics Specialist ● Expert Witness
Fermentation
Winemaking Specialist ● Dairy Fermentation Expert ● Probiotic Developer ● Industrial Fermentation Engineer ● Biofuel Production Specialist ● Food Fermentation Technologist ● Microbial Fermentation Researcher ● Enzyme Production Specialist ● Fermentation Scientist
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics Scientist ● Computational Biologist ● Genomics Data Analyst ● Proteomics Specialist ● Systems Biologist ● Biostatistician ● Machine Learning Engineer ● Database Administrator for Biological Data ● Structural Bioinformatician ● Bioinformatics Software Developer ● Biomedical AI Regulation
Biochemical Research and Development
Research in biochemistry plays a vital role in advancing scientific discovery and reformation for nearly all industries. As discussed above, this field is widely multifaceted and in high global demand, especially with the recent pandemic and rise of desperation for sustainable energy derived from artificial chemical resources. Although having nearly unlimited specialties is good in theory, it can be overwhelming to determine which route aligns with your ambitions.
How to choose the right discipline in biochemistry:
In order to identify the best sub-discipline within biochemistry to pursue, it is important to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Do you struggle with coding in Python? If so, careers like bioinformatics or AI regulation are not necessarily the right path for you. Do you enjoy analyzing NMR spectra and organic chemistry? Perhaps consider proteomics research or fragrance chemistry. If you follow the patterns that align with your skills and interests, then it becomes easier to narrow the broad options while optimizing your potential in the workplace.
How to gain research experience in biochemistry:
Although there are no perfect step-by-step instructions to guarantee experience in biochemical research, it is important to consider these tips when looking for a position and increasing your likelihood of securing a spot.
Identify the sub-discipline within biochemistry that interests you most. Do not limit yourself to the title of “biochemistry”. Many laboratories that study biochemical topics are conducted across different departments ranging from molecular biology, epidemiology, and physics to data science, environmental studies, and oceanography. While searching for faculty and Principal investigators to work under, look through all departments relevant to your topic of choice.
Reach out to the Principal Investigator and the graduate students working in the lab of your interest. Many students make the common error of only contacting the professor and are disappointed when they don’t receive a response after several follow-up emails. In many cases, the graduate students are actively involved in the ongoing lab projects and more willing to offer guidance or create positions for undergraduate students who are interested in their research.
When preparing for a research position interview, read through publications created by the group within the last 5 years. Once you have secured an interview for a research assistant role, it is vital to look through articles and ongoing projects from the group within the last few years. Many students make the mistake of only reading through the most recent publication or none at all, which limits their understanding of the lab’s goals while showing a lack of interest.
Have confidence in your background! Even if you are inexperienced in research, it is important to vouch for your interests, passion, and skills confidently. If you show a deep interest in a laboratory group’s projects and a willingness to have a strong work ethic, you drastically increase the likelihood of obtaining competitive positions.
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