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 Between 2006 and 2009, 2.3% of employed doctoral graduates, or 240 doctoral graduates in total are known to have been working as biochemists six months after graduation.

Job description

Doctoral level biochemists are typically found as HE researchers at the start of their careers, although many enter non-HE research roles in healthcare and scientific research and development.

Much of this research work is very similar in nature to the research work the new entrant carried out as a doctoral student, with an increased level of responsibility. As a result, most entrants into these research roles should have a good idea of the basic nature of the job and many of the key responsibilities. Clinical roles may be more different.

Biochemists produce, analyse and interpret data relating to patients' samples to assist with the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Research biochemists investigate outstanding questions on biochemical issues, develop new techniques and theories and work on adapting existing ideas and techniques into practical products, services and therapies.

Clinical biochemists work with other heath professionals, such as biomedical scientists, to detect changes in the complex biochemistry of body fluids, for example, increases in glucose levels in diabetes mellitus. They develop and implement new techniques, interpret results and liaise with and advise clinical staff. They are responsible for the evaluation and quality assessment of diagnostic tests and play a role in developing and managing hospital and community analytical services.

Typical work activities

The exact nature of the work depends on the level of seniority, the specific area studied and also whether the context is industrial or academic.

However, most biochemists are involved in the following:

  • Devising and conducting experiments, as well as processing and analysing results and data
  • Collaborating with industry/academia to apply the results of research and develop new techniques, products or practices
  • Publishing papers, and presenting ongoing work and findings to colleagues at academic conferences
  • Teaching, demonstrating or supervising students (in academia) and training and supervising other members of staff
  • Devising or helping to draw up new research proposals and applying for funding and grants
  • Working in multi-disciplinary teams (in academia working across different faculties or schools and in industry, working across different functions of the business)

Biochemists depend on the publication and peer review process to validate their theories and inform their research. They also need to keep abreast of the work of other scientists both within the life sciences arena and in the wider scientific community. Attendance at academic conferences across the world is considered part of the job, rather than an additional activity.

Entry requirements

The following subjects may prove advantageous at graduate and doctoral level:

  • Analytical chemistry
  • Applied chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry.

Doctoral graduates are often looked favourably upon if they can show evidence of the following:

  • Laboratory skills and the ability to plan and do research
  • Strong problem-solving skills, and an analytical and investigative mind
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • The ability to manage a laboratory project and liaise effectively with a wide variety of technical colleagues
  • Most laboratories are highly computerised so computer literacy is essential
  • Laboratory experience and an insight into the workings of a hospital

Salary

  • Salaries for post-registration trainee Biochemists (Band 7) are from £30,460. Qualified biomedical scientists earn from about £19,000 to £31,000.
  • Consultant Clinical Biochemist posts (Bands 8C- 9) can command a salary starting from £54,454. Advanced practitioner Microbiologist grades carry salaries in the range of £45,000 to in excess of £70,000 (salary data collected July 09). Research and development Microbiologists working in pharmaceutical firms, public health laboratories and medical research council units earn higher salaries, in the range of £27,600 to £36,416.

 

Sector and disciplinary information

Sector information

Doctoral graduates from 2006-9 working in these occupations were known to be employed in the following profiled sectors six months after graduation:

Disciplinary background

Between 2006 and 2009, 2.3% of employed doctoral graduates, or 240 doctoral graduates in total are known to have been working as biochemists six months after graduation.

The most common disciplinary backgrounds for doctoral graduates (2006-2009) entering biochemistry were:

Career profiles

Professor John Lockhart
Professor of Physiology, University of the West of Scotland; Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow

"If you had asked either of us about the significance of ATR in joint swelling, we would probably have suggested that it played only a minor role, our experiments however show it has a very profound role in models of arthritis, and in cell cultures of tissue derived from patients with inflammatory arthritis.  The drug was already used for controlling blood pressure or treating heart failure, but it's now possible that it will also have beneficial potential in reducing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients."

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