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If you enjoy your science and math courses and want to build a future career as a research scientist, check out biochemistry. Biochemistry is the study of the basic chemical processes that occur in all living systems. This interdisciplinary field involves biosciences, chemistry, physics, math, and computer science, as well as biochemistry core courses.
Biochemistry is one of the basic science departments in the UI Carver College of Medicine.
Why
Study Biochemistry at Iowa?
You’ll find excellent research facilities and a research-oriented faculty at Iowa. Students acquire a thorough and diverse background in contemporary biochemistry. Biochemistry programs are focused on the individual student and are designed to develop imaginative research scientists. All BS and honors students, and many BA students as well, engage in one-on-one research with faculty. Biochemistry at Iowa also features a strong liberal arts emphasis.
Faculty
The department consists of 23 faculty members (with four holding joint appointments in clinical departments), 12 postdoctoral fellows, 23 graduate students, 97 undergraduate students majoring in biochemistry, and 20 support personnel. Faculty members supervise active research programs in the general areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, and cell biology.
Members of the department make themselves readily available for informal meetings with students. Often, students do not have to make an appointment. All honors students, and other biochemistry students as well, are actively involved in their professors’ research activities.
Biochemistry faculty members are internationally known for their research in a wide variety of fields, including protein structure, gene expression, parasitology, HIV, and lipid research.
Course
Work
BS in Biochemistry
The BS degree requires 73 semester hours (s.h.) of course work in biochemistry. In your first two years as a biochemistry major, you will take one of several calculus courses; Principles of Biology; Principles of Chemistry or Chemical Science I and II; Organic Chemistry; Introductory Physics; Orientation and Introduction to Biochemistry; Technical Communication; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I and II; Experimental Biochemistry; and Research and Independent Study. You’ll also be able to choose 9 s.h. of electives with the help of your advisor.
BA in Biochemistry
The BA degree requires 58 s.h. in the major. In addition to the principles of biology and chemistry courses, you’ll take either Principles of Chemistry Lab or Chemical Science Lab; Organic Chemistry; Physical or Biophysical Chemistry; a calculus course; a course in physics; Introduction and Orientation to Biochemistry; Technical Communication; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Experimental Biology; and six electives in science courses.
If you are planning to go on in the biological or health science fields, you’ll also do research and independent study.
Especially in the BA degree program, students may include courses from other disciplines on which biochemistry has an impact: business, psychology, or journalism, for example.
Honors
To receive a biochemistry degree with honors, you must be a member of the University of Iowa Honors Program (having a cumulative grade-point average of 3.33 or higher) and complete at least 6 s.h. of the course Undergraduate Research. You’ll also complete that course's research project, write a paper, and present the research results at a special departmental seminar.
Facilities
Housed in the Bowen Science Building, the Department of Biochemistry shares facilities with the Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. The spacious quarters benefit from contemporary concepts in laboratory design.
The Eckstein Medical Research Building and the Medical Education and Research Facility are adjacent to the Bowen Science Building. These unique facilities were designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to housing core research facilities, these buildings also house the laboratories of professors from a variety of departments within the UI Carver College of Medicine, including biochemistry.
Internships
To see if you'd like to work in industry, you are encouraged to apply for paid internships.
Careers
Students have chosen an undergraduate biochemistry major as preparation for careers in medicine, biology, chemistry, dentistry, research, or related sciences. With a BS degree in biochemistry, you may expect to find an entry-level position in industry or research laboratories at a starting salary of about $30,000. Many students choose to pursue a PhD; starting salaries jump to $60,000 and more.
About one-third of Iowa biochemistry graduates go on to medical studies, and another third to various forms of graduate study at premier medical schools and universities.
Biochemists with an advanced degree work in teaching and research as well as administrative careers in universities, medical schools, hospitals, private research agencies, government laboratories, biotechnology companies, and industry (including food, drug, cosmetics, chemical, and petroleum).
Scholarships
There are several scholarships available to students studying biochemistry. One is the Goldwater Scholarship, awarded to nationally selected sophomores and juniors intending to pursue careers in biochemistry or a number of other science-related fields. Its value is $7,500 a year for up to two years. Another is the George S. Schaeffer Scholarship, a $2,000 award given to full-time undergraduates from an Iowa farming community who are science majors with strong academic records in their department.
Refer to the Office of Student Financial Aid for
a complete list of available scholarships.
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