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Hamline Student and Professor holding and looking at a molecular model

Biochemistry Major (BS)

Explore the building blocks of life and dive into the chemical and molecular processes that keep organisms alive and functioning with cutting-edge technologies. By studying the intersection of biology and chemistry at Hamline, you’ll be prepared for a variety of careers, such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical design. It’s also great preparation for many pre-health career tracks, like medical research and practices.

Join a community dedicated to providing you with the hands-on, practical research experiences with research-grade instruments that you need to succeed in your career. You’ll graduate with the computational and bioinformatics skills needed to address complex biochemical questions about the processes at the heart of living systems.

 

 

Accredited by ASBMB

Student research opportunities
 

Starting as early as their first year, Hamline students participate in research with faculty, something usually reserved for graduate students at other institutions.

The list of possible research projects is as varied as your interests. Picture yourself:
 

  • Searching for antibiotic-producing microbes in diverse environments
  • Investigating biochemical processes using plasma chemistry methods
  • Studying natural products and organic synthesis of bioactive molecules
  • Creating physical models of biochemical molecules with 3D printing and molecular visualization software
  • Investigating biochemical pathways involved in the biodegradation of pharmaceuticals
  • Examining the effect of mutations on protein function and structure
  • Using spectroscopy to monitor chemical reactions and quantify metabolites


During your research process, you’ll collaborate with faculty and students from institutions around the country, publish your research in academic journals, and present your work at local, regional, and national conferences.
 

Learn more about undergraduate research at Hamline 

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Lauryn Magwaro Headshot

Going to Hamline is the best choice I've made. It's helped me prosper. I've always wanted to be in the medical field, but my research and work study experience have sparked my path out of medicine and into industry.

Lauryn Magwaro '23, biochemistry; certified nursing assistant at Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, MN

Paid internships for biochemistry students

We make sure you leave Hamline with work experience in the field of biochemistry on your resume. The opportunities are boundless: Whether you're exploring a career in biotechnology, medicine, clinical research, or other fields, we have paid internship opportunities for you.

Examples of past biochemistry student internships include:

  • Anoka County Sheriff's Office, intern
  • Walgreens, pharmacy technician
  • Wholesale Produce Supply, quality assurance technician
  • Sanimax, lab technician
  • Joseph Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, research intern
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, research intern
  • Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, intern
  • U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, research intern
  • Emergency Care Consultants, medical scribe
  • ACR Homes, direct personal care professional
  • Alternatives for People with Autism, Inc., living skills instructor
  • Premier Biotech, Inc., processing intern
  • 3M, technical aide
  • Hormel Institute, cellular dynamics lab assistant

From my professors' mentorship to an internship with Premier Biotech, Hamline's biochemistry program kickstarted my career. In hands-on research, I learned everything from data analysis and problem-solving to how to report professional lab results.

Abel Biza ‘21, biochemistry; Laboratory analyst at Pace Analytical

Explore career paths

Our innovative courses and one-on-one faculty mentoring will give you the tools to succeed in a variety of jobs, such as:

  • Physician
  • Pharmacist
  • Forensic biochemist
  • Pediatrician or other medical doctor
  • Patent attorney
  • Food scientist
  • Pharmaceutical sales representative
  • High school teacher (chemistry or biology)
  • Research and development scientist (biomedical or biotechnological industry)

And you can explore careers in many different fields, such as: 

  • Biotechnology industry
  • Health care
  • Medical research
  • Intellectual property law
  • Pharmaceutical sales
  • Forensics and toxicology analysis
  • Quality control and food safety
  • Genomics and bioinformatics

Take your studies further with graduate school

Our graduates have gone on to medical and graduate schools across the country to pursue master’s degrees, PhDs, and MDs. Examples of programs and schools include:

  • Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University
  • Schools of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus
  • Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Chemistry, University of Wisconsin
  • Medicinal Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Microbial Engineering, University of Minnesota

Take your next step today.

Visit our biochemistry program in person, or have your questions answered virtually by one of our admission counselors.