<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>In terms of research and lab work, under which department is it more beneficial for me? I used to think that chemistry might be better for research; however, I started looking for internships relating to research labs and many of them actually require upper division biology background.</p>
<p>There isn’t a better or worse one, it all depends on the kind of research you want to do. The biochem/chem major is essentially a chem major with a three quarter biochem sequence while biochem/cell bio is very much a biology major that interfaces with chemistry. With the chemistry major you could work at organic, biochem, analytical or even probably an inorganic lab. However, if you are set on a bio lab, I would say that the biochem/bio major would probably be the better choice given that chemists don’t take stuff like genetics and cell bio. You shouldn’t feel limited by the prerequisites listed for lab jobs. If you have a specific lab in mind, I would encourage you to just email the professor and ask them if you can work in their lab. Oftentimes, they are happy to oblige.</p>
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<p>Don’t be limited to these official-sounding internships. Most students get into their labs by spamming a bunch of professors, trying to flatter them, and then picking from those professors that have room available. I was a biochem/chem major, worked in a cell bio lab under the chemistry department (the irony: my professor had never taken organic chemistry!), then went to grad school for biophysics in a biology department. Many labs nowadays are interdisciplinary, you shouldn’t limit yourself to any one thing.</p>
<p>Alright, thank you. I am looking at specific labs right now because I am enrolling in the AIP program. So I am only looking at the ones that AIP offers. I think I am going to try for biochem/bio though because I am more passionate about biology than the physical chemistry courses I have to take. Although biochem/chem majors take a lot more lab courses, I think as long as I secure a lab post next quarter I should be okay still.</p>