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Biochemist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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A Biochemist, or Biochemistry Scientist, is responsible for using their knowledge of biochemistry to experiment with chemicals and their effects on living organisms to create medicines and other beneficial elements. Their duties include analyzing cells from animals, plants or humans, using laboratory equipment to study chemical reactions and composing reports to publish their findings.

Biochemist Duties and Responsibilities

Biochemists are research scientists, and their duties and responsibilities revolve around their work in laboratories. These duties and responsibilities include:

  • Managing laboratory teams, consisting of other scientists, Lab Assistants and often graduate students

  • Planning and conducting complex scientific research projects

  • Writing grant applications to acquire research funding from the government, corporations and foundations

  • Using sound judgment and reasoning in drawing conclusions from the results of their experiments

  • Attending conferences and reviewing research of their peers to stay current on the latest developments in their field

  • Isolating, analyzing and synthesizing proteins, fats, DNA and other molecules in an ongoing quest to better understand their role living organisms

  • Conducting experiments and analyzing the results with accuracy and precision

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Biochemist Job Description Examples

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What Does a Biochemist Do? 

Biochemists typically work for colleges, universities or private organizations in a research laboratory, but they can also work for manufacturing plants, renewable energy companies and food or drug facilities. They combine their knowledge of biology and chemistry to improve the health and well-being of living things. Their job is to experiment with chemicals and apply them to cancer cells or cells that show signs of hereditary disease to see whether the chemical overpowers the cells or leaves them unchanged. They may also be responsible for traveling to specific areas to obtain samples from animals, humans and plant life.

Biochemist Skills and Qualifications

Biochemists have to have a strong understanding of biological processes and scientific concepts in the areas of biology and chemistry. In addition, Biochemists also need: 

  • Analytical skills for conducting scientific experiments and analyzing them with precision and accuracy

  • Communication skills for writing and publishing research papers and reports, giving presentations and communicating with team members

  • Critical-thinking skills for drawing conclusions from experimental results through sound judgment and reasoning

  • Interpersonal skills for working well with others on a team towards a common goal

  • Math skills for using complex formulas and equations in their work

  • Perseverance to be thorough in their approach to problems and in their research

  • Problem-solving skills when using analysis and scientific experiments to identify solutions to complex scientific problems

  • Time-management skills for meeting deadlines when conducting research and prioritizing tasks

Biochemist Salary Expectations

*data is not available*

Biochemist Salary Expectations

2025-10-01
  • Common salary:
  • Typical salaries range from -
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*Indeed data – 2025-10-01

Biochemist Education and Training Requirements

A Biochemist position requires a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry along with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, chemistry, biology or a related field. Undergraduate coursework in computer science and math is also critical for Biochemists when performing complex data analysis. Undergraduates seeking a career as a Biochemist should try to gain additional laboratory experience through extracurricular courses that include a laboratory component, part-time work as a Laboratory Assistant or an internship in a laboratory environment.

Biochemist Experience Requirements

Experience is a major part of a Biochemist’s education as much of their four- to six-year Ph.D. program consists of working in a laboratory on research projects with other Biochemists. The Ph.D. program is often followed by two to three years of post-graduate work, when Biochemists may conduct their own research and then publish their results in scientific journals.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

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Frequently asked questions about Biochemists

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