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Undergraduate Program

Biochemists are the locksmiths of life science. They use their imagination, ingenuity and understanding of the basics of living processes to unlock life's mysteries. By unraveling the complexities of nature, they improve the quality of life.

If you're interested in combining the tools of biology, chemistry and genetics to fight human disease, increase the production and quality of food, and protect the environment, then a career in biochemistry is right for you.

Degree Options

You can individualize your degree to fit the career field that most interests you. The knowledge you'll acquire will prepare you for any number of options, including:

• Medicine: Your biochemistry degree will prepare you well for the rigors of the medical profession. Your training will give you the background you'll need as a physician.
• Dentistry: The diversity of tissue and complexity of the human mouth require dentists to have a thorough knowledge of biochemistry. The combination of classwork and laboratory training will prepare you with the skills needed as a dentist.
• Veterinarian: Biochemistry provides a uniform foundation to deal with the diversities among animals and their unique physiologies.
• Optometry: The human eye is a complex yet delicate tissue that requires in depth knowledge of biochemistry. Your training will provide you with the skills you'll need to become an optometrist.
• Graduate School: Biochemistry provides you with a broad foundation from which to pursue a graduate degree in any of the life sciences. The molecular nature of biochemistry affords you the skills and technologies to solve basic research problems in any life science discipline.

While your degree will be customized to fit your individual needs, most end up similar to this sample curriculum.

Career Opportunities

A bachelor's of science degree in biochemistry from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) will provide you with all the skills you'll need to succeed in a wide variety of biochemistry careers.

• Biotechnology: The nation's largest and most respected private biotechnology companies such as Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, employ biochemists in a wide range of specialities, including molecular biology, genetics, engineering, pharmaceutical development and microbiology.
• Biomedical: The tremendous growth in biomedical technologies has been fuel by the discoveries of biochemists probing the processes of life. The applications of these processes have lead to better treatments, pharmaceuticals and tissue-compatible materials.
• Agriculture: Biochemists find employment with agricultural industrial companies such as Cargill, Monsanto and Novartis. They develop new varieties of crops that resist drought, insects, produce pharmaceutical compounds or tolerate herbicide application.
• Government: State and federal agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Energy and Missouri Department of Agriculture employ biochemists in many fields. They might research biological alternatives for reclaiming sites contaminated with radioactive material or search for ways to protect against food-borne pathogens.
• Industry: Discoveries on the fundamental compositions of living tissues has provided industries with new building blocks from which to construct new materials or to modify existing materials with new characteristics.
• Teaching: The infusion of biotechnology in our daily lives has lead to a need for biochemists to explain the nature of these developments under both traditional and non-traditional education experiences.

Research/Internship Opportunities

As a biochemistry student, your chances to gain real-world field experience through research and internships are as varied as the genes and proteins you'll study.

With more than 40 active faculty researchers in the department, opportunities for hands-on research are available in many areas including: recombinant DNA, gene regulation, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, cancer, cell tissue culture, nuclear medicine, carbohydrate metabolism, protein structure and function, virology, nutrition, enzyme regulation, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, neurochemistry and lipid metabolism.

Opportunities also exist for off-campus internships and part-time employment as lab technicians, both of which provide valuable experience, especially if you're interested in pursuing a professional career in biochemistry.

Getting Involved on Campus

Want to have fun and develop your leadership skills and professional contacts at the same time? Then join one or more of the CAFNR's student clubs and organizations. There are more than 30 to choose from, and each gives you the opportunity to apply what you're learning in the classroom while making lifelong friends.

As a biochemistry student, you might consider joining the Biochemistry Club. Members participate in social and professional activities that provide opportunities to interact with biochemistry professionals, discuss current topics in the field and learn more about possible career options. The club sponsors speakers, takes field trips and participates in other college activities.

Biochemistry honors program

The honors program in biochemistry gives outstanding students added flexibility in meeting career goals and more opportunities for hands-on experience in research. To qualify, you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 after 30 or more credit hours at MU. To earn Honors, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.3 and complete a Senior Theses.

The Honors College at the university offers many special courses designed to challenge highly motivated students. Students who complete 20 hours of honors courses are awarded an Honors Certificate, which is noted on their transcript.

Advising

All first-time freshmen are advised by the Director of Undergraduate Advising. After completing your freshman year, you will be assigned to one of our faculty advisers who will work with you to develop a course of study and a career plan. In addition, special courses designed specifically for freshman and sophomore biochemistry majors allow you to establish relationships with key faculty members.

Learn More

Dr. Virginia Peterson
Director of Undergraduate Advising
Division of Biochemistry
117 Schweitzer Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-4493
Fax: 573-882-5635
E-mail: petersonv@missouri.edu