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Biochemistry

Biochemistry is ideal preparation for graduate study in many fields.

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If you’re fascinated by the chemistry of living things, 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@’s biochemistry major can take you far.

The direction you choose might be biochemistry or biomedical sciences, or it could be an applied field such as biotechnology, molecular genetics, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology or forensic science. Biochemistry is an ideal background for the health professions, and also useful — especially with your liberal arts foundation — for business, law, and communications in the life sciences.

If you’re thinking of graduate school in biochemistry, our history looks good for your future. The placement rate for 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ biochemistry and chemistry majors who continue to graduate school at major universities is close to 100% for more than 25 years.

Your brilliant mentors and big opportunities in a small class/lab setting will help you get there. You’ll have substantial research experience — in and out of class, on and off campus, with professors and others, during the school year and in the summer.

On campus, you’ll spend a lot of time in the recently expanded Hanson Hall of Science, which has five labs dedicated specifically to undergraduate research — including the extensive Guehler biochemistry lab.

What you'll learn

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Quantitative literacy

Quantitative literacy

Interpret, represent and summarize information. Use math and statistics to solve problems.

Creative thinking

Creative thinking

Combine ideas to create something new. Use imaginative ways of solving problems.

Intellectual curiosity

Intellectual curiosity

Set yourself up for lifelong intellectual growth. Take responsibility for your own learning.

Critical thinking and information literacy

Critical thinking and information literacy

Judge and construct arguments, raise questions and define problems. Make a conclusion based on evidence.

Distinctions

? 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@’s biochemistry major is offered through the chemistry department, which is nationally accredited by the American Chemical Society.

? Each year, 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ biochemistry majors are among the select students taking part in the prestigious Summer Internship Research Program at the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

? Biochemistry students have access to grants for both on- and off-campus research. One of these is Augie Choice: $2,000 to support each 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ student’s internship, research experience or study abroad.

? Many chemistry and biochemistry majors attend and present their research at regional and national conferences, such as the Argonne Undergraduate Research Symposium at Argonne National Laboratories near Chicago, the annual Sigma Xi meeting, and the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Recent grads

Giang Pham  ’21 is a research associate at Yale 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ of Medicine.

Kalli Majewski  ’21 is a physician assistant student at Touro University.

Samantha Anne Dinglasan '20 is a research assistant at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Lauren Endress '20 is a development engineer at Particulate Solid Research Inc., specializing in fluidized bed and particle technology.

Chelsea Brandt '20 is bilingual (Spanish) clinical informatics specialist at Oak Street Health in Geneva, Ill.

Mia Lambert '20 is a medical student at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Juliana Pinheiro '20 is a research coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Sarah Litwin '20 Greenberg is a senior functional chemist at Stepan Company in Chicago.

Alfred Dei-Ampeh '19 is a student at Baylor 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

James Hartnett  ’17 is an associate scientist II for Abbott Diagnostic Division's R&D Biologics Discovery Team in Bartlett, Ill.

Lizeth Tamayo  ’16 is a Ph.D. graduate researcher in genetic epidemiology at the University of Chicago.

Juliana
More Than I Imagined ? Juliana Pinheiro
“Through the amazing research opportunities here, I finally found what was missing.”
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Sarah Litwin
More Than I Imagined ? Sarah Litwin
“It was an incredible experience to apply all kinds of chemistry that I? learned in the classroom before my internship and to work on a project that could have a direct impact on the world.”
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Lauren Endress
More Than I Imagined ? Lauren Endress
“My professors armed me with the tools and resources I needed to be successful in my field.”
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Dr. Hintzsche and daughter

’06 grad impacting families with PherDal Fertility Science

Some people make a career of improving lives. Dr. Jenn Hintzsche ’06 also helps create them. The FDA has granted clearance to an at-home insemination kit that allows would-be parents to take control of their experience. Dr. Hintzsche created the device.

Max Petersen '10 working in the lab at Washington University

How transformation happens in four years at 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@

It comes down to opportunities and mentors. Just ask Max Petersen ’10.

Paige Lundborg

Academic opportunities in the lab, the marsh and on the beach

Three 365体育投注_365体育备用网址@ science students — Paige Lundborg, Bobby Nwachukwu and Audrey Zettler — made the most of their summer by taking advantage of opportunities on campus, in the Quad Cities and in another country.