<p>I'm currently an undergraduate at Caltech thinking about pursuing the Biomolecular track of the Chemical Engineering program. I'm wondering if a BS in ChemE (particularly BioM) is enough to get a job in the research industry, or whether graduate school is required. I'm interested in drug-related applications such as drug delivery and design, but also genetics and bioinformatics. Also, if I do decide to pursue a graduate degree regardless, what do starting salaries look like?</p>
<p>Well young man,
It all depends on what you mean by “a job in research”.</p>
<p>Plenty of public universities here in California seek Research Associates and Laboratory Technicians with only a bachelor degree and qualifications to assist with their research. However, good luck getting published or becoming a strong asset or climbing a ladder with only the four year degree.</p>
<p>Having a “go getter” attitude upon getting one of these jobs will help, for example trying to learn what you can while you work for them</p>
<p>But you will not get a title of “Scientist” or “Researcher” because without a dissertation or thesis, you have no idea what you want to learn or how you can contribute to it. </p>
<p>Also, these entry level research jobs are very stiff in competition. My girlfriend has applied to over 10 research associate positions at my university and she’s only gotten one phone interview. This is with having over a year of undergraduate research experience along with her bachelor of science. </p>
<p>You’re most definitely going to need a combination of either a BS + 4 years of good relevant experience or an MS + 2 years of experience if you want to substitute those degrees for a PhD. </p>
<p>If you want to research privately, they honestly look for experience and qualifications over actual degree.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply Essenar. Aside from going into research, what does the industrial market look like for ChemE within the BioM field? Is it at all like the conventional process system fields of ChemE where a PhD isn’t necessary, or is it more like a scientific field where a PhD is imperative?</p>
<p>Yes and we haven’t decided yet. We decide in third term to declare our potential majors (have until senior year to change), and I’m contemplating between a double in chemistry and biology or chemical engineering with a biomolecular emphasis. I just want to know what the educational expectations of biomolecular engineers are today, which equates to knowing what the job market is like after graduation.</p>
<p>If you double in Chemistry and Biology (Do Biochem/Biology instead), you’ll have much better chances of ending up in a lab, but your pay won’t be THAT competitive. Something like $40,000 a year is expected for entry level BS in Biochemistry as a Research Associate I/II. You’ll most likely end up in a clinical lab checking blood/tissue samples from patients in need of care. Or you’ll end up in a clinical research lab testing tissue/blood samples for reception of prototype drug formulas. Either way, as a BS, you’ll be at the bottom of the food chain, testing samples and doing the grunt lab work for a lab manager or under a post-doc researcher with all the ideas.</p>
<p>If you major in Chemical Engineering and jump into the industry with just a BS, maybe some research experience, expect to find yourself in the manufacturing or medical devices industry. You might work for a company, for example Medtronic, who is designing replacement placentas. You won’t be at the front line, thinking of ideas, but you’ll be asked to work on a specific aspect of it, in some minor way. Probably crunching numbers to make sure some bolt or circuit works the way it should. </p>
<p>No matter what, you’re starting from the bottom and the only way to climb to the top is with good old fashioned work ethic and perseverance.</p>
<p>There is no such thing as “biomolecular engineering”. There could be a way to address biomolecular device issues with engineering, or biological engineering with an emphasis in molecular biology or biomedical engineering with an emphasis in molecular imaging devices.</p>
<p>So I’m not sure what you mean by that. </p>
<p>As far as education goes, here’s what you should do, and I’m not sure why people don’t recommend this all the time:
Go to [Job</a> Search | one search. all jobs. Indeed.com](<a href=“http://www.indeed.com%5DJob”>http://www.indeed.com) or Craig’s List and look for engineering positions in the field you want to study. Then look at the job description and qualifications. Whatever you find is common amongst all those job listings, add to your list of things you need to learn how to do. This is especially the case with instruments. It’s just not emphasized enough, how important it is to learn instrumentation while you’re in undergraduate studies. You have access to these instruments on a daily basis as long as you take a class or do research for a professor and you can learn them for free. Learn as many instruments as you can. </p>
<p>Whatever you learn, you can add to your resume. You don’t have to make it your “official emphasis declared to your undergraduate college”! You can just take the classes, learn the material, get the hands on through lab and then just add it to your resume.</p>