This presentation highlights on the career options for graduates of biochemistry and molecular biology with focus on; 1. Employment options including internships 2. Education options 3. Applying to Graduate School 4. Academic scholarships and funding The author/presenter is Dr. Vivian Tuei, a Lecturer of Biochemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the Department of Biochemistry & Clinical Chemistry in the School of Medicine at Moi University.

1. Career Options after Bachelors Degree
in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dr. Vivian Tuei
Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry
School of Medicine, Moi University
11th January 2024
vtuei@mu.ac.ke | Twitter/X: @vivtuei

2. 2
•You have a strong foundation already for a career in
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology having undertaken the
BSc. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Degree Program.

3. • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology focuses on processes happening at a
molecular level.
• Biochemistry covers a range of scientific disciplines, including genetics,
microbiology, forensics, plant & animal science, biotechnology,
immunology and medicine.
3

4. 1. BSc. Graduates of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
A. Employment options
• Government and non-governmental agencies (research and analyses of food, drug,
air, wastes, animal tissues etc)
 Hospitals (both public and private)
 Research institutions (KEMRI-WellcomeTrust, KALRO, IPR, BecA-ILRI Hub,
ICIPE, KEMFRI, KFRI etc)
 Regulatory agencies (NBA, KEPHIS, KEBS, NEMA,The Pharmacy & Poisons
Board etc)
• Universities (Technicians, Graduate /Research Assistants)
• Government and private forensic laboratories (Kenya Police/DCI Forensic lab,
Government Chemist, KWS, Private labs, etc)
• Biotechnology firms-research, quality control & production
4

5. 1. Cont-BSc. Graduates of Biochemistry/Chemistry
A. Cont-Employment options
• Internships/traineeships (Public Service Commission-PSC, KEMRI,AMPATH, KALRO, ICIPE,
United Nations-UN etc)
• Food/Drug /Pharmaceutical companies (Quality control labs and Medical Sales Representatives)
• High school science teachers
• Science communication/journalism/publishing/advocacy
• Non-science careers e.g. banking/finance, security/armed forces etc
• Self employment
B. Education options
• Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s Degree & PhD
C.Volunteering/unpaid attachments or placements
5

6. 6

7. 7
Others; Class representative, presentations/talks and membership or official
in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Association/Students Organization etc.

8. 8
• As online information about people becomes easier to access, it is
often the first port of call for employers when seeking out potential
employees.
• It can also be a powerful tool to build up a network of contacts and
engage with groups with shared interests.
• Managing your online presence and building your professional profile
is a continual process.
• Other popular scholarly sites are Google Scholar & ResearchGate
etc
• Join also professional societies e.g. Biochemistry & Biotechnology
Professionals Society of Kenya (BBPSK) etc.

9. • How to write a CV.
• How to write a cover letter.
• How to prepare for an interview.
• Job/vacancy/scholarships searches and
power of networking.
• Statement of motivation/purpose.
• Referees; always request and have them
informed.
9

10. 2. Graduate School
• Careers that involve teaching, directing scientific research at a university, a
government lab or a biotech company require at least a MSc. degree and
preferably, a doctorate (PhD or DPhil) degree;
 Master of Science
 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
 Post-doctoral training (short-term research training after award of PhD)
 Other advanced degrees;
-MD (Medical doctor)
-JD (Juris doctor/law degree) for scientists interested in science & technology patent law
and cooperate law
10

11. • The most frequent requirement for acceptance to graduate school is a BSc.
degree in Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.
• Many students bypass the MSc. degree and proceed directly to a PhD program
especially now in countries such as the USA etc.
• Other minimum requirements;
Kenya; Lower second class honors division with relevant 2 years working
experience.
International/Abroad; e.g. USA usually require TOEFL & GRE Tests Scores and
IELTS for UK and Australia
11

12. • Many factors enter into a student’s choice of graduate
schools:
⮚ The presence of outstanding faculty in the subspecialty that
you find interesting
⮚ The breadth of course and research experience available
⮚ The reputation of the program
⮚ Personal considerations such as location
12

13. • Examples-Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Biotechnology/Bioinformatics
1. Moi University, Department of Biochemistry & Clinical Chemistry-MSc in Medical Biochemistry.
2. University of Nairobi, Department of Biochemistry & CEBIB-MSc/PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology or
Bioinformatics.
3. University of Eldoret, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry-MSc in Biochemistry.
4. Kenyatta Univeristy-Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Biotechnology- MSc/PhD in
Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Medical Biochemistry (Have a PlantTransformation Laboratory).
5. JKUAT-Department of Biochemistry-MSc & PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics,
Medical Biotechnology, or Agricultural & Environmental Biotechnology.Also, Molecular Medicine by
ITROMID-KEMRI/JKUAT and MSc/PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at PAUSTI/JKUAT.
13

14. • Kenya
⮚ Research funds by the National Research Fund (NRF) for MSc and PhD students
⮚ Partial scholarships and loans by HELB
⮚ PAUSTI at JKUAT-MSc & PhD scholarships in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
• International
⮚ Scholarships
⮚ Fellowships
⮚ Research and teaching assistantships plus tuition waivers
⮚ Personal funding is very rare
14

15. • Remember….What you present in your application is
how the college gets to know you – it is the only
thing the admissions committee or departmental
faculty have to compare you to other students.
15

16. • Compared to BSc. graduates, someone with a MSc. has better
prospects for advancement and compensation.
• MSc. graduates will also have more responsibility and independence
at their jobs.
• Some corporations favor MSc. graduates who graduated from degree
programs that involved substantial research; university teaching will
also require graduate level course work.
16

17. • In addition to the career opportunities discussed, a PhD degree is
required for work such as:
⮚ Lecturers/Professors at colleges and universities.
⮚ Program directors at government agencies where they engage in
research or as high-level administrators.
⮚ Editors of scientific journals.
⮚ Some board membership and advisory boards in both private and public
sectors.
⮚ Some consultancy firms.
17

18. • Some biochemists and molecular biologists find fulfilling
careers in non-traditional job sectors such as;
⮚ Management
⮚ Science policy
⮚ Science communication-writing, publishing, journalism and advocacy-
ISAAA AfriCenter,ABSF
⮚ Technology transfer
⮚ Medical illustration
⮚ Entrepreneurship
⮚ Security
18

19. 3. Employment sectors for MSc and PhD graduates
• College and university
⮚ Professors, lecturers, and senior technical staff for lecturing, lab
instructions and research
• Government/non-governmental employment
⮚ Research & development in institutions-KALRO, BecA-ILRI Hub, KEMRI-
WellcomeTrust, ICIPE, IPR,AMPATH etc
⮚ Administrators at govt. agencies dealing with safety assessment of drugs,
food, new devices etc-NBA, KEBS, KEPHIS etc
⮚ Administrators in research funding agencies-NRF, NACOSTI
19

20. 3. Cont-Employment sectors for MSc and PhD graduates
• Industry/Biotech employment
⮚ Agricultural feedstock and chemicals
⮚ Food, drugs and pharmaceuticals
⮚ Medical devices and equipment
⮚ Research, testing, and medical laboratories-CIMMYTI, AATF, Monsanto,
International Potato Centre, CIAT-CGIAR, IITA, BecA-ILRI Hub etc.
20

21. University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
December 2010
I was awarded a PhD in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
Funding; Graduate assistantship & American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship

22. 22
• National Research Fund (NRF); offer PhD and MS students competitive research project grants.
http://www.researchfund.go.ke/
• Research support from principal investigators’/supervisors’ grants (National as well as
international grants).
• Ministry of Education-Kenya website is resourceful on calls for scholarships (local and
international) by various governments.
https://www.education.go.ke/index.php
• Also check on notices for call for applications for scholarships/grants (local and international) in
NACOSTI-Kenya website.
https://www.nacosti.go.ke/

23. 23
• Rhodes – Oxford
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/
• Gates Cambridge – Cambridge
www.gatesscholar.org

24. 24
• Fulbright – research, study
https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/about/foreign-fulbright
• Rotary – graduate study abroad
www.rotary.org
• DAAD – research, intern or study in Germany
www.daad.de

25. 25
Belgium
K.U Leuven Science Scholarships
http://wet.kuleuven.be/english/scienceatleuvenscholarship
VLIR-UOS Masters Scholarships
https://www.vliruos.be/en/scholarships/6
Canada
University of Manitoba Graduate fellowships
https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/funding-awards-and-financial-aid
Hungary
Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarships
https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu/
Other Links-Scholarships /fellowships database:
http://www.scholars4dev.com/

26. 26
Kenya
Public Service Commission Internships
https://www.publicservice.go.ke/index.php
International
United Nations (UN) Internships
https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=ip

27. • Several biochemists and molecular biologists continue to be recognized for award of the Nobel
prizes in Chemistry or Physiology and Medicine. https://www.asbmb.org/about/nobel-prize-
winners#:~:text=2020,-
Charles%20Rice&text=Charles%20M.,of%20the%20hepatitis%20C%20virus.
• The KenyaVision 2030 requires that there be six foundations for its pillars including science,
technology and innovation.
• Careers in STEM fields are projected to have the greatest global potential for job growth in the
future e.g. biotech, energy, healthcare etc.
• The NRF-Kenya’s role in funding Universities for infrastructural research capacity building is
promising; started in 2016/2017.
27

28. 28
• My Contacts;
Dr.VivianTuei
Department of Biochemistry & Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, Moi University
Email: vtuei@mu.ac.ke
Twitter/X: @vivtuei
Moi UniversityWebsite: https://www.mu.ac.ke/
• I will provide these slides to anyone interested.