Biochemist
Study the chemical reactions happening inside living organisms. You could learn about diseases, improve crops and develop biofuels or medicines.
About the job
Take a tour of the lab with a Biochemist
What it's like
Biochemistry is a fascinating career where you can change the world. If you're curious, love science and can see yourself in a lab coat, it might be the job for you.
Biochemists study living things. You'll investigate cells and the chemical process that happen inside and between them. You might develop new medicines to cure diseases. Perhaps you'll help reduce hunger by improving crops. Or you could help combat climate change by creating biofuels that can power industry in a more sustainable way.
You could work in research, teaching, government departments or hospitals. You can also work for businesses in many industries including farming, medicine and food and drink. What you do each day could look very different depending on where you work. Generally, you'll spend a lot of time in a laboratory carrying out research and writing scientific reports.
Your tasks might include:
carrying out research, for example into the causes of disease or the effects of pollution
testing samples, such as blood or tissue
analysing data and using artificial intelligence to spot trends
using computer simulations to understand chemical process better
developing or improving products, treatments or methods
overseeing safety and quality control of experiments and production processes
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Not Just Lab Coats – explore different career options in science, manufacturing, and technology
The Association for Laboratory Medicine – careers in laboratory medicine
NHS Scotland Careers – discover laboratory science careers in the NHS
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Biochemist'
Select qualification level(s)
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Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- analysing
- taking initiative
- sorting
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- problem solving
- innovative
- working with technology
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Human Biology
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Science
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Skills for Work: Laboratory Science
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You'll need a degree for this career and many roles look for a postgraduate qualification.
Explore the routes you could take to work towards becoming a biochemist.
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject. You can study Biochemistry as a course at many universities. It's often combined with other specialisms such as Pharmacology, Immunology or Microbiology.
Other useful subjects for this career include:
Biology
Biotechnology
Biomedical Sciences
Cell Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Applied Science
Applied Biological Sciences
Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. An MA could help you get into lab technician jobs or progress to more advanced study.
You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Life Science and Related Science Industries
Life Science and Related Science Industries Technical
Discover MAs on Apprenticeships.scot.
Work
You could start out as a laboratory technician where you can build valuable experience. To progress to biochemist positions, you'll likely need to gain qualifications while you work.
You can use the My World of Work job search to look for job vacancies.
For healthcare roles, you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
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