How are the job prospects for biochemistry?

I'll be studying biochemistry but have recently heard that the job prospects are not as good as other science degrees such as pharmacy. So i'm kind of worried that by the end of it all i will not end up with a job, that is atleast in the UK, but how about in other countries? Will i have to leave the UK for a job?

Thanks

Reply 1

john171

11

I would of though the job prospects for Biochemistry would have been better than Pharmacy....strange.

Reply 2

aerith_strife

OP

How's that? what's your experience on the job prospects for biochem?

Reply 3

john171

11

I don't have any experience at all. It's just from the majority of things I've read and heard.

Reply 4

Jenii

15

I think pharmay is slightly more voactional as theres a greater no. of pharacists in this country than biochemists, but you still have good job prospects compared to most arts degrees.

Reply 5

bunny_becca

biochemistry is a varied subject, it can lead to all sorts of things and its a good course to consider especially when you're not too sure what you want to actually end up doing!!! it could even lead you into pharmacology if so you wish to in the future!

I know for sure because i know someone who's studied biochemistry in university and gone on to the pHD in it and he is now working in cambridge doing research for a company and he's earning pretty big bucks :wink:

well...pounds for england anyway :P

so for all us biochemists out there, dont worry :wink:

we're gonna end up just fine :biggrin:

well...maybeeee excluding me if i keep drinking for the next 4 years while at birmingham :p:

Reply 6

User69701

10

Job prospects are bad. It is due to the large numbers of people who take it up as they coouldn't do medice. They then decide, for whateve reason, that they will not do medicine. So we have a whole buinch of people with the sme degree. Employers will prefer degrees like pharmacy because the skills needed are easier picked up by these students.

A btw, EVERYONE has better job prospects than arts "graduates"

Reply 7

stratomaster

bunny_becca

biochemistry is a varied subject, it can lead to all sorts of things and its a good course to consider especially when you're not too sure what you want to actually end up doing!!! it could even lead you into pharmacology if so you wish to in the future!

I know for sure because i know someone who's studied biochemistry in university and gone on to the pHD in it and he is now working in cambridge doing research for a company and he's earning pretty big bucks :wink:

well...pounds for england anyway :P

so for all us biochemists out there, dont worry :wink:

we're gonna end up just fine :biggrin:

well...maybeeee excluding me if i keep drinking for the next 4 years while at birmingham :p:

Surely research does not pay well at all?

Reply 8

aerith_strife

OP

Anyone thinking of doing a fellowship in biochemistry?

Do you have a better chance of getting a job? Has anyone done one?

What are others thinking of doing after they graduated?
I know i'm most likely to go on to do a Phd.

Reply 9

bunny_becca

its not that research doesnt pay well i dont think.it depends on what kind of research you're doing and for which company you'd be working for in the near future.

i know someone who did biochemistry and got a pHD. he started off working for this small company who's been researching and trying to build this machine which will decode any DNA sequence in a matter of seconds! and after years of research they have finally created it! but still has to be tested and more thoroughly researched on before it goes onto the market, and his salary increases each year-it depends really. and if this machine that his company's created goes onto the market, who knows how much he'd be earning! six digit figures probably :biggrin:

thats one job prospect which biochemists (like me :biggrin:

and those taking biochemistry) could be thinking of. who knows :rolleyes:

theres so much more out there. the world's huggggeeeee you know :wink:

so we all really shouldnt have to worry that much. as long as we have the degree, we'll be fineeeeee :biggrin:

what all of us scientists should do, if we wanna make it big in the future, we all must get a pHD. thats one advice i pass on to you all. im definitely going to be working for a pHD! :biggrin:

Reply 10

Tom H

9

It's a load of crap to say your job prospects are poor with a Biochem degree.

Univeristy research is notoriously underpaid, however working for industry that changes a lot. I'm anticipating having no trouble in finding a job (in the field) after graduating, and am currently on a year placement with GSK earning money. So don't fret.

And to be honest, belittling of people who take arts degrees has really started to annoy me on here. You ever thought people want to take a subject because they enjoy it, and aren't interested in the megabucks?

Reply 11

sonamuk

im pretty worried bout the job prospectus actually. i come from hk n hk is actually not a very science-orientated place (more on the business n finance side) so its pretty hard to get a well paid science job here i guess. the uni research r pretty low-paid here n theres just not much industrial opportunities there. n im actually planning to come back to hk after studying in IC. sigh....
n another thing is im not sure if my passion for this sub will still be that strong...maybe becoz i got freaked out after checking the websites of the local universities here in hk of the different research interests they r currently undergoing. they look realli complicated n im not sure if i will get to like it!!! (im actually a very paranoid person n always worry bout much stuff)

Reply 12

zhangyuzhi

sonamuk

im pretty worried bout the job prospectus actually. i come from hk n hk is actually not a very science-orientated place (more on the business n finance side) so its pretty hard to get a well paid science job here i guess. the uni research r pretty low-paid here n theres just not much industrial opportunities there. n im actually planning to come back to hk after studying in IC. sigh....
n another thing is im not sure if my passion for this sub will still be that strong...maybe becoz i got freaked out after checking the websites of the local universities here in hk of the different research interests they r currently undergoing. they look realli complicated n im not sure if i will get to like it!!! (im actually a very paranoid person n always worry bout much stuff)

science @ HK is not underpaid... :cool:

Reply 13

sonamuk

zhangyuzhi

science @ HK is not underpaid... :cool:

really? can u give me some examples? coz im pretty worried of my future lately. ive only visited some uni websites n i think they r realli underpaid. are you meaning the industrial companies?

How are the job prospects for biochemistry?

Related discussions

Articles for you