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Biochemists and Biophysicists Occupation Detailed Description

Biochemists and Biophysicists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Biochemists and Biophysicists

The main tasks and work activities of Biochemists and Biophysicists are to prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations, develop biological research methods, supervise scientific or technical personnel, research diseases or parasites. In general, for the Biochemists and Biophysicists, science, reading Comprehension, writing, critical Thinking and other 17 skills are required.
Biochemists and Biophysicists Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related ExperienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Job TrainingEmployees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
ExampleThese occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Biochemists and Biophysicists jobs.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
0.00%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
100.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Biochemists and Biophysicists

  • Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
  • Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
  • Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
  • Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
  • Develop or execute tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities.
  • Develop or test new drugs or medications intended for commercial distribution.
  • Study the mutations in organisms that lead to cancer or other diseases.
  • Study spatial configurations of submicroscopic molecules, such as proteins, using x-rays or electron microscopes.
  • Study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, or living energy changes, such as growth, aging, or death.
  • Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.
  • Prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.
  • Research the chemical effects of substances, such as drugs, serums, hormones, or food, on tissues or vital processes.
  • Research how characteristics of plants or animals are carried through successive generations.
  • Develop methods to process, store, or use foods, drugs, or chemical compounds.
  • Investigate the nature, composition, or expression of genes or research how genetic engineering can impact these processes.
  • Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
  • Produce pharmaceutically or industrially useful proteins, using recombinant DNA technology.
  • Isolate, analyze, or synthesize vitamins, hormones, allergens, minerals, or enzymes and determine their effects on body functions.
  • Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers.
  • Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
  • Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
  • Develop biological research methods.
  • Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
  • Research diseases or parasites.
  • Develop new or advanced products or production methods.
  • Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
  • Analyze biological samples.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
  • Research genetic characteristics or expression.
  • Research methods to improve food products.
  • Design research studies to obtain scientific information.
  • Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
  • Set up laboratory or field equipment.
  • Write grant proposals.

Skills and Abilities for Biochemists and Biophysicists

  • ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Speed of ClosureThe ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Amino acid analyzerse.g. Amino acid analyzers
  • Analytical balancese.g. Analytical balances
  • Ultracentrifugese.g. Analytical ultracentrifuges
  • Laserse.g. Argon lasers
  • Scanning probe microscopese.g. Atomic force microscopes
  • Gamma counterse.g. Auto gamma counters
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizerse.g. Autoclaves
  • Gel documentation systemse.g. Automated electrophoresis equipment
  • Robotic or automated liquid handling systemse.g. Automatic pipetters
  • Medical imaging wet darkroom or daylight processorse.g. Automatic x ray film developers
  • Laboratory balancese.g. Balances
  • Osmometerse.g. Basic vapor pressure osmometers
  • Laboratory beakerse.g. Beakers
  • Binocular light compound microscopese.g. Binocular light compound microscopes
  • Cryogenic or liquid nitrogen freezerse.g. Biofreezers
  • Safety hoodse.g. Biological safety hoods
  • Polarizing microscopese.g. Brewster angle microscopes
  • Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresise.g. Capillary electrophoresis equipment
  • Dry wall single chamber carbon dioxide incubatorse.g. Carbon dioxide CO2 incubators
  • Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counterse.g. Cell sorters
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.