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Biochemists and Biophysicists

Under the title Biochemists and Biophysicists, workers study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. O*NET rates it as extensive preparation, which usually means graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. It leans on science, reading comprehension, and writing. A regular part of the work is to share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences. With a code of IRC, this is mostly a job for people drawn to research, analysis and working through hard problems. Realistic interests also help, rated 5.1 out of 7. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

Main tasks

  • Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
  • Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
  • Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
  • Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
  • Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
  • Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.

Skills

  • Science
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking
  • Complex Problem Solving

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on science and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.8 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IRC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Post-Doctoral Training. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Analytical Research Chemist
  • Biochemist
  • Biophysics Researcher
  • Scientist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.