Biochemists and Biophysicists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Designs and runs experiments on living cells and organisms, using mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology to study chemical reactions and electrical or mechanical energy. May map the three-dimensional structure of large biological molecules or test how foods, drugs, hormones, and other substances affect tissues and vital processes. Develops new methods for studying biological mechanisms and may work with equipment such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers. Writes scientific articles, presents at conferences, prepares grant proposals, and often teaches or supervises students and laboratory teams. Suits people who like exact experimental work, dense scientific reading and writing, and research questions that need careful methods.
Typical education: Post-Doctoral Training
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$127'410
Median Wage Market Position
$127'410
What you might do
- Study chemical reactions inside living cells
- Run experiments with lasers and spectrometers
- Map the three-dimensional shape of large molecules
- Develop new methods to study life processes
- Present findings in papers and conference talks
- Write grant proposals to fund the research
Skills that matter
- Designing experiments on living cells
- Writing grant proposals and journal articles
- Teaching and supervising student research
- Mapping three-dimensional molecular structure
- Reading papers on metabolism and heredity
- Presenting findings at scientific conferences
AI & the future of this role
Cellular and molecular research involves complex experiments where pattern-finding tools may speed literature review and data interpretation. Designing novel studies, validating unexpected results, and navigating experimental uncertainty tend to keep experienced scientists central.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details