Biochemical engineer

Earnings (Yearly Median): $100,730

Employment and Outlook: Faster than average (5%)

O*NET-SOC Code: 17-2199.01

Related Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Education & Training; Health Science; Manufacturing; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Scope of Work

Biochemical engineering is a relatively new subdiscipline of chemical engineering. It emerged in the mid-twentieth century with the large-scale production of antibiotics. Biochemical engineering is a discipline that serves as a link between the scientific disciplines of biology and chemistry and the production principles of chemical engineering. Biochemical engineering takes the individual research scientist’s discovery and manufactures it on a global scale. Biochemical engineers review and refine the principles of the scientific process, help manufacturers design and build machinery for commercial production, and work with sales personnel to efficiently deliver the product to market. Biochemical engineers help to develop and manufacture a wide array of products including medicines, fertilizers, food, biofuels, chemicals, therapeutic proteins, and paper.

Education and Coursework

The high school curriculum for a student interested in biochemical engineering should include the full course load of math classes recommended for most engineering programs, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Suggested science courses include biology, chemistry, and physics. In addition, a student’s high school portfolio should also include English, computer science, and foreign language studies, as a biochemical engineer must be able to communicate effectively with various personnel, and often with researchers in other countries. Aside from regular coursework, students are encouraged to participate in science and engineering clubs and fairs.

The minimum degree prerequisite for persons entering the field of biochemical engineering is a bachelor’s degree. The degree may be earned through a specialized biochemical engineering program or a chemical engineering program with a focus in biochemical engineering. Either way, the engineering program should meet the American Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation requirements.

A bachelor’s degree typically consists of four years of study; however, many students opt to enroll in either a five-year cooperative education program or a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program. Many companies prefer to hire an engineer who has already had practical engineering work experience; thus, the extra year of schooling or a summer apprenticeship is often worth the investment in time.

A standard biochemical engineering undergraduate program combines engineering with a basic biochemistry background. A typical program is comprised of calculus, biology, physics, basic and biochemical engineering courses and labs, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. In the final year of undergraduate study, or shortly thereafter, students are advised to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination, administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. This is the first step toward future professional engineering licensure.

Junior engineering positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Engineers seeking a managerial role should also pursue a master’s degree in business, while those seeking to enhance their skills or continue on toward a doctorate will enroll in a PhD program. Engineers who possess a PhD are eligible for university faculty positions or senior posts within the government and industry.

Career Enhancement and Training

Professional licensure is required of any engineer who serves the public directly and provides advancement opportunities for all biochemical engineers. The engineering licensure procedure varies from state to state, but typically involves four steps: first, to obtain a four-year degree from an accredited chemical/biochemical engineering program; second, to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam; third, to work under the supervision of a professionally licensed engineer, and fourth, to pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam.

In addition to licensure, many biochemical engineers enhance their career profiles through participation in professional associations. Two such reputable organizations are the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Both organizations provide technical education resources and connections to chemical engineers worldwide. These organizations enable their members to stay current in an ever-changing technological field by providing a variety of resources, including an online library, free journal subscriptions, webinars, online courses, in-house training programs, international conferences, and online public forums. College students may join AIChE for a nominal fee, and use it as a resource for internships and scholarships.

Students can acquire practical biochemical engineering skills as early as high school, through membership in local science clubs or the national Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS). JETS conducts contests at colleges throughout the United States with the overarching goal of providing high school students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world engineering problems. In addition to extracurricular activities, a subscription to an engineering or biochemically oriented magazine, such as ChemMatters or PRISM, provides updates on recent developments in the field.

Daily Tasks and Technology

Biochemical engineering is considered one of the most versatile fields in engineering, with biochemical engineers working in such varied industries as food services, pharmaceuticals, bio-renewable fuels, and waste management. The duties of a biochemical engineer mirror this range of expertise, as this field oversees a product from its inception in an individual lab through its distribution in the marketplace. Congruent with this, biochemical engineers are involved in a product’s discovery and development, commercial-scale processing and manufacturing, and worldwide sales and distribution.

In the developmental stage, biochemical engineers are involved in assisting biologists and chemists in discovering and creating new biological products, and ensuring that reliable methods are used to optimize the production of the involved cell cultures. At this stage, and throughout their career, biochemical engineers need to stay abreast of the current science and technology literature.

Process and manufacturing tasks include designing and constructing new industrial plants, drawing up equipment specifications and operating procedures, utilizing pilot studies to determine the most efficient method of production, and solving problems regarding the quality and safety of plant operations and procedures.

Biochemical engineers work in a variety of settings as they collaborate with bench lab scientists in basic research laboratories, supervise junior engineers and technicians at industrial plants, and consult with marketing and sales personnel in corporate offices. In analyzing data and conducting computer simulations, biochemical engineers use databases and computer-assisted drafting programs (CAD). Bioreactors, chromatographs, centrifuges, and gel-electrophoresis systems are some of the tools used in cell culture proliferation, microorganism cultivation, and protein or DNA expression.

Earnings and Employment Outlook

The job outlook for biochemical engineers has been predicted to have an average growth rate compared to other professions (5-percent growth from 2022 to 2023). However, biochemical engineering is a sub-specialty of chemical engineering that experts claim may actually experience a stronger than average growth rate, particularly in companies specializing in nanotechnology and genetic engineering. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of biotechnology is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors.

Though the median salary for biochemical engineers was about $100,730 in 2023, individuals with doctoral degrees in executive and independent research positions earned up to $154,350 annually. Biochemical engineers who worked in manufacturing industries earned about $99,380, those in research and development services earned about $102,470, and biochemical engineers who worked with professional and commecial equipment and supplies earned about 104,600. Most biochemical engineers work at least 40 hours per week.

Biochemical engineering has been classified as a “green” occupation by O*NET Online, as it is involved in ensuring safe environmental practices by developing alternative bio-remediation processes and clean energy options such as biofuels.

Related Occupations

• Chemical Engineers: Chemical engineers develop chemical processes to manufacture industrial products on a large scale. They apply engineering principles to standardize and expedite the manufacturing process.

• Biochemists: Biochemists study the chemical makeup and reactions of living organisms. To this end, they research what happens on the cellular level in the cause and cure of diseases.

• Environmental Engineers: Environmental engineers incorporate the principles of engineering and ecology in an effort to address today’s current environmental issues, such as water quality, air pollution, refuse reduction, and waste treatment.

• Biomedical Engineers:Biomedical engineers offer engineering solutions in order to improve medical care. Biomedical engineers are involved in the production of medical products such as artificial limbs, prostheses, and diagnostic machines.

• Chemical Technicians:Chemical technicians study chemical processes with specialized instruments in order to help chemists and chemical engineers (including biochemical engineers) in researching and producing chemically-based products.

Future Applications

As scientists work to discover solutions to today’s environmental and medical concerns, it is interesting that many of these answers may be found at the molecular level of life.

At its inception, biochemical engineering introduced the mass production of antibiotics to the world, which is still considered one of the greatest life-saving advancements of the twentieth century. Today, however, the World Health Organization has warned of the danger of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are emerging as a result of widespread antibiotic abuse. As the world looks to a new method for fighting bacterial disease, bacteriophages, or “bacteria-eaters” may become a renewed topic of interest. Phage research will provide a new product market for biochemists and biochemical engineers alike to develop and refine.

Advances in biotechnology are placing medical experts on the cusp of targeting cancers with vaccines, curing blindness with stem cells, and providing early detection of diseases using engineered proteins. These products will all require commercial production, and thus will produce an increase in jobs for biochemical engineers.

Biochemical engineers are currently using enzymes as biocatalysts in food processes, DNA manipulation, and biofuel production. To date, enzymes have been limited by the fact that they require optimal conditions in order to remain viable. Gene-sequencing advancements, along with the discovery of extremophiles, will invariably bring about the discovery of more adaptable enzymes and corresponding products.

Bibliography

"Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers." Occupational Outlook Handbook, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/biomedical-engineers.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

"17-2199.01 – Biochemical Engineers." O*NET Online, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2031.00?redir=17-2199.01. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.