The need to develop biological products and processes that improve people’s lives is fueling a demand for biochemists. These individuals study the chemical and physical principles of living things and biological processes such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease. Biochemists can then apply this knowledge in research and commercial enterprises, typically working in laboratories and offices where they conduct experiments and analyze results. Students who complete this degree will have the foundational knowledge needed to work in chemistry, healthcare, business and environmental science or to move into graduate work in the health professions. Graduate work may include research as well as medical, pharmacy, veterinary or other professional school.
Biochemists are highly skilled scientists who specialize in the study of living things. They analyze the chemical reactions that occur during life's natural processes, such as metabolism, aging and disease. This work can involve advancing the understanding of living things, or it can involve using that understanding to create biological substances, like hormones, to improve life.
A biochemistry degree can open doors to employment in a good number of fields. Biochemists can perform in a wide variety of disciplines and work for a wide variety of organizations.
Potential Career Paths
Meet Ozlem Dilek, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry. One of our newer faculty, Dr. Dilek holds more than 14 journal publications, peer-reviewed book chapters and one US patent! She has presented her work at more than 30 national and international conferences. She also was awarded and directed National Turkish Career Grant (TUBITAK) and European COST grants as principal investigator while she was in Turkey. Dr. Dilek currently serves as an ambassador for ASCB, the American Society for Cell Biology.
What sort of research are you currently conducting?
“I’m currently conducting multidisciplinary molecular cancer research. We’re trying to synthesize and develop fluorescent probes as effective diagnostic tools to selectively monitor or differentiate metastatic and less metastatic tumor cells at a molecular level.
We’re basically focused on developing targeted imaging probes that can improve fluorescence cell-based assays, in vivo imaging studies, and translational medical research leading to better disease diagnoses.”
What kind of hands-on projects do you like to do most with your students?
“I always enjoy doing group-based research projects with students in my biochemistry classes. I try to expose my students to scientific medical research as early as possible so that they’ll know how to analyze, apply, write and present current biochemical topics in medicine before they graduate.”
What do you like most about teaching at Husson?
“My favorite part about teaching at Husson is our small sized classes. It helps faculty to engage with the students better during lectures.”
What would you say to a student who’s considering coming to Husson?
“We offer a warm and friendly environment. Here you’ll find high quality education — and you’ll have a chance to interact with professors who are expert and enthusiastic in both their teaching and research areas.”
Biochemists also gain opportunities once they earn a higher educational credential--honors, masters or PhD level qualification. As in many other science-related fields, higher level credentials such as a PhD may give graduates an advantage over students with a baccalaureate degree. Students completing a PhD may bring practical experience along with research and development skills obtained as part of their in-depth training. In research fields, those with graduate degrees may have better long term promotion and career opportunities. Some specializations for postgraduate biochemistry courses include:
| For more information |
Phone and Email | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Karl Bishop, PhD Associate Professor |
207.941.7141 bishopk@husson.edu |
230C Peabody Hall Husson University 1 College Circle Bangor, Maine 04401 |