Opportunities for biochemists range from medicine to pharma

Updated on: Monday, June 28, 2010

QI am doing my B.Sc in biochemistry I would like to join M.Sc food technology so kindly let me know career prospects and opportunities.

S. Shyamala, Coimbatore

Food scientists and food technologists study the physical, microbiological, and chemical makeup of food. Depending on their area of specialisation, food scientists may develop ways to process, preserve, package or store food, according to industry and government specifications and regulations
During the M.Sc course, the students learn about the different aspects of food in the field of food engineering, food packaging, cereals, pulses, oilseeds technology, fruit & vegetable technology, animal product technology, food biochemistry, nutritional evaluation, microbiology, quality control & safety.

The food technology programme prepares students for employment with large food packing and processing companies. In this field, the knowledge base is comprises biological sciences, food processing, sanitation, management techniques and quality control.

The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore is a prominent institution under the Central government that offers a two-year M.Sc. (Food Technology) degree course. This institute is affiliated to the University of Mysore. Entry qualification is Bachelor's degree in Science with chemistry/biochemistry as one of the subjects or agriculture/ engineering/technology. The candidate should have studied mathematics as one of the subjects at the plus-2/equivalent or degree level.

QI am finishing my plus-2 science group I would like to know about careers in bio chemistry and also like to know research areas.
K. Shanmugam, Chennai

Biochemistry is a branch which is concerned with the chemistry of the biological processes. The study of biochemistry deals with the chemical combinations and reactions which take place in biological processes such as growth, metabolism, reproduction, heredity etc., as well as the effect of the environment on living organisms. Studying structures and functions of enzymes, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, process of metabolism and the molecular basis of the action of genes also form a part of biochemistry. Advances made in biochemistry has made significant contributions towards elucidation and understanding of the DNA Structure

Biochemists generally pursue research related work in the following fields.
Medicine: Biochemists, in this field carry out diagnostic tests and investigations for finding out causes of diseases. Their major concern is to study the role of genetic transmission of diseases from one generation to another.
They also try to figure out the chemical changes that take place in the cells of the body parts which signal the onset of various diseases such as tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, mental disorders like epilepsy etc. Research related to identification and analysis of chemical processes like muscular contraction, reproduction, metabolism etc also relates to their job.

Agriculture: Biochemists develop and inovate new improved techniques for crop cultivation, pest control management and crop storage management. Contributions made in this field by biochemists has helped to better the output and quality of agricultural produce.

Nutrition: In this field biochemists have researched and studied the effects of certain food stuffs, minerals, protiens, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins, when consumed in excess or in deficient quantities, on the human body. The mechanism of fermentation process which has been practised for past many years was discovered by biochemists only.

Biochemistry can be pursued by those with a background in science at 10+2 level. Individuals interested in pursuing this subject can initially study the subject in the B.Sc course and further continue with it till M.Sc and Ph.D level.

Biochemists work in many walks of life - in industry, hospitals, agriculture, research institutes, education and associated areas. There are many areas of everyday life as diverse as medical products and diagnostics, new food and its safety, crop improvement, cosmetics and forensic science that owe their development or even existence to biochemists
Pharmaceutical, food, brewing, biotechnology and agrochemical companies all need and employ biochemists to develop new products and to monitor the production, quality control and safety of existing ones.

Opportunities for biochemists range from medicine to pharma

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