Biochemistry B.S.

The Biochemistry B.S. places strong emphasis on laboratory investigation and undergraduate research, giving students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory and work with scientific techniques and instrumentation. Students can participate in research within Biology or Chemistry faculty laboratories, earn academic credit through dedicated research courses, and work with advanced facilities supporting imaging, flow cytometry, computational biology, mass spectrometry, and molecular research.

Students interested in biochemistry can also undertake research through the Chemistry Department's CHEM5593–5594 Undergraduate Biochemical Research I–II, while Biology provides research-lab courses in which students develop technical skills through ongoing faculty research projects and present their findings at the departmental Undergraduate Research Day.

Students can gain practical experience through:

• Undergraduate biochemical research: CHEM5593–5594 provides senior Biochemistry majors with an opportunity to conduct supervised biochemical research for academic credit.

• Research laboratory experience: Students may conduct research in Biology faculty laboratories or approved off-site laboratories and can receive course credit for research completed over multiple semesters.

• Research-lab courses: Biology offers one-semester research laboratory courses where students build technical skills while contributing to ongoing research projects and present their data at Undergraduate Research Day.

• Advanced imaging: The Boston College Imaging Facility includes EVOS M7000 and M5000 microscopes, spinning-disk confocal microscopy, Zeiss imaging systems, and workstations using Zeiss ZEN, Leica LAS, Fiji, and Prism for image analysis.

• Flow cytometry: Students working in relevant research environments can access flow-cytometry capabilities for identifying and characterizing cells and particles using fluorescent probes.

• Bioinformatics computing: The Biology Core Facilities include a dedicated Bioinformatics Server with 26 Dell PowerEdge compute nodes, 136 aggregate CPU cores, and 7 TB of usable cluster storage.

• Mass spectrometry: The Chemistry Department's Mass Spectrometry Center provides high-resolution mass spectrometry and chromatographic analysis using techniques including electrospray, APCI, APPI, MALDI-TOF, and DART.

• NMR and structural analysis: The Magnetic Resonance Center provides multiple NMR spectrometers and EPR systems, while the X-ray Crystallography Center supports protein and small-molecule structural investigations.

• Summer research and internships: Boston College's Biology Department highlights summer research opportunities and internships as part of its professional-development opportunities for students.

• Pre-health preparation: Students pursuing health careers can work with Boston College's Pre-Health office for planning and guidance related to graduate and health-professional programs.

The Biochemistry B.S. provides a foundation for students who want to continue into graduate or professional education as well as those seeking scientific and laboratory experience. Boston College states that Biology and Biochemistry alumni have pursued health professions, science teaching, public health, business, law, and graduate study in the sciences, while the Biochemistry curriculum specifically encourages undergraduate research and preparation for advanced scientific study.

Typical career directions and roles include research scientist, laboratory technician, biochemical researcher, biomedical researcher, with additional pathways into health professions and graduate or professional education. Boston College specifically identifies medical school, health professions, science education, graduate/professional school, and research-oriented opportunities among the pathways available to Biology and Biochemistry students.

Students can strengthen their transition from undergraduate study into employment or further education through:

• Boston College Career Center: The Career Center provides career-development resources and tracks graduate destinations. For the Class of 2025, Boston College reports that 67% of graduates used a Career Center resource to secure employment.

• Employment outcomes: Across Boston College's Class of 2025, 76% were employed and 20% were enrolled in graduate school; the university reports a $74,000 median starting salary. These are university-wide figures rather than Biochemistry-specific figures.

• Internships and professional development: The Biology Department highlights summer research opportunities, internships, university fellowships, professional-development events, and activities for students.

• Research connections: Students can work with Biology and Chemistry faculty in active research programs spanning areas such as cell and developmental biology, computational biology, microbiology, infectious disease, organic chemistry, biological chemistry, and physical chemistry.

• Health-profession preparation: Boston College's Pre-Health office works with students interested in health careers and provides guidance in planning for graduate and health-related professional programs.

• Further research opportunities: Boston College students involved in undergraduate research may apply during their junior year for entry into the university's 5-year BS/MS Program.

• Long-term academic value: The interdisciplinary combination of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, laboratory science, and research provides preparation for graduate and professional study in scientific and health-related fields.

• University-wide employer and destination data: Boston College reports graduates entering industries including healthcare, consulting, government, education, and other sectors, alongside graduate programs in health, STEM, business, law, and education.

Further Academic Progression: Students completing the Biochemistry B.S. can pursue graduate study in the sciences, including master's and doctoral-level programs, or continue into professional education such as medical, dental, and other health-profession programs. Boston College also provides a pathway into its 5-year BS/MS opportunity for eligible students involved in undergraduate research.