Career as Biochemist
Biochemistry is a field of science that studies chemical processes happening in living organisms. As its name suggests, this subject is a subdivision of both Biology and Chemistry. The recent studies in Biochemistry are related to the activity on the molecular level. Biochemists study enzymes, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The career prospects are very helpful in the medical sciences. Since the medical field is ever fostering, the requirement for Biochemists has always been high. Biochemistry has also been proven useful in the agriculture industry, especially for crop cultivation.
- About Biochemist :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
A wide plethora of jobs are offered to
biochemists in various streams. Medical sciences and agriculture
have a high demand for biochemists, with the food and education
sector also requiring them. Many private and public sectors are
keen to recruit Biochemistry graduates in India. However, it can be
taken into consideration that the United Kingdom has a specially
large requirement of biochemistry graduates which also pays
well.
|
Name of Job/Role |
Average Salary offered (at 2-5 years of work experience) |
Top recruiting companies |
|
Biochemist |
Rs 1.3 Lakh to Rs 14.35 Lakh per annum |
Cipla, Ranbaxy, Surya Pharma Ltd. |
|
Biotechnologist |
Rs 1.23 lakh to Rs 7.29 Lakh per annum |
Hindustan Lever, Bincon India Ltd., Thapar Group |
|
Forensic scientist |
Rs 3 Lakh to Rs 4 Lakh per annum |
CBI, Central Forensic Lab, Documentation Examination Laboratories at Central and State Level |
|
Clinical scientist |
Up to Rs 5 Lakh per annum |
Zydus Ahmedabad, Biophore Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., National Health Mission |
|
Medical chemist |
Rs 2.90 Lakh to Rs 15 Lakh per annum |
Lupin, Cipla, Sun Pharmaceuticals |
|
Clinical Research associate |
Rs 25 thousand to Rs 5 Lakh per month |
Pristyn Research, Milagro Clinical research |
|
Nanotechnologist |
Rs 25 thousand to Rs 35 thousand per month |
Johnson and Johnson, Minatech, Meticulum |
|
Physician associate |
Rs 35 thousand and above |
Science37, Allscripts, Apixio |
|
Pharmacologist |
Rs 10 thousand to Rs 40 thousand per month |
Lupin, Cipla, Sun Pharmaceuticals |
|
Biomedical scientist |
Rs 1.2 Lakh to 2.2 Lakh per annum |
CBI, Documentation Examination Laboratories at Central and State Level |
Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster
People interested in philanthropy are usually preferred for these jobs. Candidates require work experience of about 2-5 years to get a decent job. It takes them about three years to reach their goal of becoming successful.
Pros and Cons of being a Biochemist
Pros
-
The field is for the better for humanity
-
There is always hope for gaining new information in this field as it is a developing subject matter.
-
It is one of the most prosperous fields of study.
-
Government is usually eager to recruit hard-working biochemists and offers attractive financial AIDS for students pursuing biochemistry.
Cons
-
Studies can be long and tiring
-
Candidates might not be aware of all the aspects of Biochemistry yet
-
Students might encounter a tough competition while appearing for entrance examinations for the master’s degree and for gaining a PhD degree
How do I get there?
Candidates who wish to pursue biochemistry need
to clear their 10+2 with a minimum percentile of 50% in science
stream. Generally, the result of class
10th isn’t considered
important. One can pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in the stream of
Biochemistry to explore the relationship between chemistry and
biology. It is a three-year course. Special attention is paid to
percentile scored in 10+2 for admission in Bachelor’s courses. The
Master’s in Science specialising in Biochemistry is a two-year
course. Other options for post-graduation are M.Phil in
Biochemistry and MD in Biochemistry; however MBBS is compulsory to
appear for the MD program. The entrance test for the Master’s
degree is mostly merit-based. Students can further pursue their
interest in Biochemistry with a PhD in Biochemistry. The selection
for the PhD course is through entrance tests such as CSIR, UGC-NET
and GATE.
Biochemistry graduates can work in various
fields, which include:
-
Blood service
-
Agriculture and fisheries
-
Cosmetic industry
-
Drug manufacturing companies
-
Public health Laboratories
-
Forensic science
-
Research departments
-
Hospitals
-
Educational institutes
How much does it cost?
With the intensive education one receives in Biochemistry, there are different fee structures set by different colleges. The average fees for a Bachelor’s degree range from Rs 35,000 to 1,50,000 for a three-year program. A two-year course for Masters in biochemistry charges about Rs 32,000 to 2,50,000. A three-year doctorate in Biochemistry usually charges Rs 40,000 to 4,00,000.
Colleges charge separately for the admission process. The living expenses are usually not included in the fee structure. Many colleges offer attractive scholarship programs to pay for a part of the tuition fees.
What are the top colleges where one should be studying to become a Biochemist
As the demand for biochemists is in abundance in
India, many colleges offer courses in Biochemistry. Biochemistry is
one of the most popular courses in India. Due to this factor, there
is a strong competition students face. Some of the best colleges
which offer courses in Biochemistry are :
|
Rank of College |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees (approximately) |
|
1 |
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi |
Rs 6,200 |
|
2 |
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar |
Rs 3.6 Lakh |
|
3 |
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu |
Rs 34,000 |
|
4 |
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune |
Rs 24,000 |
|
5 |
Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak |
Rs 20,000 |
|
6 |
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam |
Rs 30,000 |
|
7 |
Parul University, Vadodara |
Rs 80,000 |
|
8 |
Pondicherry University, Pondicherry |
Rs 43,000 |
Books and other Study Material
-
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry
-
Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry
-
Biochemistry: Eighth edition
-
Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry
-
Biochemistry: Fourth Edition
-
BRS Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics
-
Person’s Biochemistry
The study material for biochemistry can be easily found on platforms such as Amazon. Many of these books are also available in local bookstores.
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Other careers of your interests
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |