Biochemist
Biochemists investigate the chemical processes that take place inside all living things, such as viruses, bacteria and people.
Also known as: Biological scientist
- Starter salary£28,000 a year
- Experienced£53,000 a year
- Typical hours38 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a biochemist, you could:
- test tissue, fluids and blood samples for signs of disease or abnormalities
- use computer simulations of biochemical systems to learn how medical conditions develop
- conduct lab experiments to create new drug treatments
- use artificial intelligence to analyse data, find patterns and predict outcomes
- supervise project teams and control the quality of work
- design and develop new equipment and lab processes
- write scientific articles, prepare reports and present research findings
Working environment
You could work at a research facility, in a laboratory or at a university.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of biology
- knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- thinking and reasoning skills
- concentration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a biochemist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
- specialist training with the NHS
University
You'll normally need a relevant science degree, like:
- biochemistry
- biotechnology
- biopharmaceuticals
- chemical and molecular biology
- microbiology genetics
- molecular biology
If you do not meet the entry requirements for one of these subjects, you may be able to do a foundation year.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Work
You could start as a laboratory technician and study for a biochemical science degree while working.
Other routes
You could train to be a clinical biochemist in the NHS through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) .
Career path and progression
You'll find career opportunities in many different sectors, including:
- healthcare
- pharmaceuticals
- food production
- space research
- academic research and university teaching
With experience, you could:
- specialise in a particular area, like genetics, toxicology or forensics
- manage a project team or research department
- move into product sales, marketing or science communication
- become a freelance consultant
Professional and industry bodies
You can find career development opportunities and create a network of contacts by joining a professional body like the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology .
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleBiologist
- Job roleChemist
- Job roleBiomedical scientist
- Job roleChemical engineering technician
- Job roleClinical scientist
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0