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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka |
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Career Opportunities in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
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"What can I possibly do with a degree in Biochemistry?" |
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| is a common question posed by our students. The answer, simply put, is "just about anything". Graduates of this department hold interesting, challenging positions in industry, education and medicine. Getting started in a career is never easy, but we hope this section will provide both inspiration and information. Good luck! | ||||||
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| What do biochemists do? | ||||||
| Unravel the full genetic code of
humans, which holds the 3 billion bits of information needed to build between 50,000 and
100,000 different proteins. If it were written out, the code would fill 500 books, each
with 1,000 pages. Develop computerized portraits of enzymes and other important chemicals to see how they are made, how they are folded, and how they fit -- both literally and figuratively -- into the processes of life. That knowledge should help researchers design better vaccines, antibiotics, and anti-cancer drugs, and lead to pesticides that do less damage to human health and the environment. Learn how cells recognize one another and communicate with enough efficiency to assemble a human being composed of a hundred thousand billion cells. Compare proteins from different species and record the changes that have occurred through evolution. The results will be a family tree for life on Earth that is far more detailed than any developed from fossils. Mass produce life-saving chemicals that are usually found in the body in very tiny amounts. Some of those chemicals have been helping diabetics and heart attack victims for years. Try to program bacteria to clean up the environment by "eating" toxic chemicals. Discover how certain diseases such as AIDS and cancer escape detection by the immune system, devise ways to enhance immunity to combat these diseases, and look for ways to suppress the immune system to help people who have received a tissue transplant or have an immune system that has turned against them. Tease out the chemical secrets of fertility. For infertile couples, that knowledge could improve the success of in vitro fertilization. For a woman who is not ready (or no longer willing) to bear children, it could eliminate the risk of pregnancy. Such knowledge may also help preserve endangered species. Perfect techniques for identifying criminals based on a single strand of hair or a tiny blood stain left at the scene of a crime. Create genetically engineered crops that are more resistant to frost, drought, spoilage, disease and pests. |
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| What is industry looking for? | ||||||
| Most biotech companies in Canada
are small and cannot afford to invest large amounts of time or money in specialized
training on the job. They expect potential employees to have acquired specialized
laboratory skills. Co-op programs are often excellent in this regard. Working as a summer
student in research laboratories is another means of acquiring advanced skills not covered
in undergraduate laboratory courses. Biotech companies also look for initiative, problem-solving skills, and a business-like attitude in their employees. These companies expect students to be aware of the need to satisfy the company's customers, of the importance of a team approach to business, and of the need to keep an eye on "the bottom line". Working experience outside a laboratory setting, especially if it involved entrepreneurship, is usually viewed as an asset by employers. |
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| Who hires biochemists? | ||||||
| Biotech companies Pharmaceutical companies Food processing industry University research labs Technical institute teaching laboratories College teaching laboratories |
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| Resume Preparation | ||||||
| Prepare a typewritten, concise, and
accurate résumé. Make certain your résumé addresses the requirements of the position
itself. Ensure that all information is up-to-date, especially your address and phone
number. Obtain advice for preparing a résumé and use a laser printer to prepare
originals, not photocopies, for each application. Finally, double-check your grammar and
spelling! Contact potential references before you initiate a job search and obtain their permission to act as references. Include their names, titles, addresses, and telephone, fax and/or e-mail addresses in your résumé. Indicating that "references will be provided upon request" delays, sometimes permanently, consideration of your application. Be certain to pick references appropriate to the position. Academic positions (graduate student, technician, PDF, assistant professor, etc.) require academic references, i.e., former instructors or supervisors. If you seek a position in industry, academic references should be supplemented with a reference from a former employer. Research the position before an interview. You can impress any interviewer if you display enthusiasm for and knowledge of the company, department, or laboratory to which you are applying. In an academic position, try to find and read recent publications. For a company, learn about their products or services. When you apply, submit a covering letter with your résumé. This letter should indicate clearly the position for which you are applying. It should also describe why you are qualified for the position, drawing on information provided in the résumé. Answer all questions in an interview or on an application honestly. |
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| Postgraduate Education/Research | ||||||
| Careers that involve teaching in a
college or directing scientific research in either a university, a government laboratory
or a commercial company require at least the masters degree (M.Sc.) and, preferably, the
doctorate (Ph.D.) degree. It is not uncommon for students to return to graduate school
after working in a job that only required a lower degree. Having a doctorate allows you to
design the research and direct others to carry out experiments. A graduate education program is intensive. Initially, it involves specialized courses and seminars. For a masters degree, about a year of course work is typically required and most schools require completion of a research project involving one to two years of research. For a Ph.D. degree, full-time course work is taken during the first two years of most programs, followed by one or more comprehensive examinations at the end of this initial phase. The most important part of all Ph.D. training is an extensive original research project leading to significant new scientific findings. This work is presented in a formal thesis written by the student and usually published as articles in scientific journals. Most students work under the direction of a faculty member on a project of mutual interest in the faculty member's area of expertise. The research project is vital because it is designed to help the Ph.D. candidate develop the ability to frame scientific questions and discover ways to answer them, as well as to teach the laboratory skills needed to tackle a wide range of other biochemical problems. Earning a Ph.D. means that you know how to conduct important research in biochemistry or molecular biology with little or no guidance from others. Most students complete a Ph.D. in four to six years. Even after earning the highest degree, a scientist never stops learning, especially in biochemistry and molecular biology, where the field is always changing with major advances in knowledge and frequent breakthroughs in technology. Most Ph.Ds. obtain further research experience doing postdoctoral research before they take permanent jobs. Such "postdocs" take no formal course work, earn no degree and usually do not teach, but they have an opportunity to work full-time on a high-level research project in the laboratory of an established scientist. Usually, this scientist is at a different institution than the one where the student's Ph.D. work was completed. The typical postdoctoral period is two to three years. Postdoctoral researchers are generally paid a salary, typically $23,000 to $30,000, or supported by a fellowship. Postdoctoral research is not essential for many industrial research jobs, but it is generally expected of persons who wish to become professors. Because biochemistry is so closely tied to medicine, some Ph.D. scientists also earn a medical degree (and some M.Ds. complete a Ph.D.) to get the broadest base possible for a career in medical research. |
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from "Unlocking Life's Secrets" American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
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Copyright© Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. |
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