Clinical biochemist

Clinical Biochemist Clinical biochemists are responsible for testing patient samples and interpreting the results for medical staff. A small number of clinical biochemist vacancies arise in commercial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals companies.

Clinical biochemist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

This is an ideal job for people who want to save lives without the hassle of having to maintain a good bedside manner. Clinical biochemists work as part of a hospital medical team that is responsible for investigating and diagnosing patient illnesses.

Most work is laboratory-based; analysing specimens of blood, tissues or urine via computer-aided and automated testing procedures. Other responsibilities include:

• Designing experiments to test theories about how chemicals function in the body
• Investigating abnormal biochemical conditions
• Analysing chemicals in the body, using appropriate techniques such as gel electrophoresis and amino acid assay
• Working closely with other scientists including chemists, pharmacologists and toxicologists
• Keeping up to date with scientific literature connected with their work
• Writing reports of findings
• Applying for funding
• Presenting findings at biochemistry meetings.

Some evening and on-call work will be necessary.

While there is a lot of crossover with biomedical science, clinical biochemists typically work within a medical setting, rather than an industrial or academic setting. Salaries can be greater in clinical biochemistry, but so are the stress levels.

Typical employers of clinical biochemists

There is strong competition for the vacancies that arise each year - the majority of which are handled by the NHS clearing scheme for clinical scientists, or are advertised in national newspapers and scientific journals such as New Scientist and Association of Clinical Biochemists News.

Qualifications and training required

In order to begin training with the NHS scientist training programme (STP) you will need a 2.1 or higher BSc in a relevant discipline. Further research experience or qualifications are also desirable. The application process for the STP typically starts in December or January.

In order to practice as a clinical scientist in the UK you must be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). You will automatically be eligible for registration if you have completed an HPC approved course, but you will need to pay a retainer. The HPC advise people to begin registration with plenty of spare time, as the process can take several months.

Key skills for clinical biochemists

• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• Attention to detail
• Methodical and thorough approach
• Commitment to patient care in hospital settings
• Numerical and written skills.