Nature of the Work

Biochemical engineers act on teams with biologists and chemists to take laboratory processes and ramp them up into large-scale manufacturing. In fact, they are integral to a variety of manufacturing industries, such as food manufacturing and agro-technology. They design the equipment that is used to produce cell cultures of up to thousands of liters. Biochemical engineers grow cell cultures in order to develop natural fuels, improve the efficiency of drugs and pharmaceutical processes, and also develop cures for disease. They formulate the instructions the equipment uses to grow and maintain the cell cultures, and they create the operating specifications used by manufacturing personnel to keep the manufacturing floor running smoothly. Since biochemical engineers work directly on making large volumes of products for human use, they are concerned with manufacturing-plant safety and product safety.

Biochemical engineers design and conduct studies to determine the optimal conditions for cell growth, protein production, and virus expression and recovery using a variety of equipment such as centrifuges and bioreactors. The cell cultures produced in bioreactors can also be used for waste treatment. Biochemical engineers apply their engineering problem-solving skills to studying and learning more about the cell cultures they grow. The discoveries they make are often used to make manufacturing a repeatable and efficient process. Chemists and biologists also use this knowledge to improve their understanding of the molecular workings of the cell.

Biochemical engineers work in corporate laboratories and in research laboratories. This career has a wide focus and includes metabolic engineering, enzyme engineering, and tissue engineering.

In this video a process development engineer explains why his job is rewarding, exciting, and important to everyone.

Work Environment

Most biochemical engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial manufacturing plants. Because many biochemical engineers work on the manufacturing floor, they may come in contact with hazardous chemicals and machinery.

Many biochemical engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

Training, Other Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in biochemical or chemical engineering is required for almost all entry-level biochemical engineering jobs, but some basic research positions may require a graduate degree. Faculty positions require graduate degrees. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. To keep current with rapidly changing technology, continuing education is important for biochemical engineers.

Beginning biochemical engineering graduates usually work under the supervision of experienced biochemical engineers and, in large companies, also may receive formal classroom or seminar-type training. As new engineers gain knowledge and experience, they are assigned more difficult projects with greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Biochemical engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a staff or team of engineers and technicians.

Education and Training

A bachelor's degree in biochemical or chemical engineering is required for all entry-level positions. Research and development jobs at industrial laboratories or with the government usually require graduate training, either a master's degree or a PhD. Faculty positions require a PhD. Many experienced engineers obtain graduate degrees in engineering or in business administration to learn new technology and to broaden their education.

Admissions requirements for entry into a biochemical or chemical engineering university program include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, physics) with courses in English and humanities. Bachelor's degree programs are typically designed to last four years, but many students find that the program takes between four and five years to complete their studies.

Other Qualifications

Biochemical engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and to communicate well, both orally and in writing. Communication skills are becoming increasingly important as biochemical engineers frequently interact with specialists in a wide range of fields outside engineering.

On the Job

• Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives.
• Design or conduct studies to determine optimal conditions for cell growth, protein production, or protein and virus expression and recovery, using chromatography, separation, and filtration equipment, such as centrifuges and bioreactors.
• Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs.
• Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production.
• Devise scalable recovery, purification, or fermentation processes for producing proteins or other biological substances for human or animal therapeutic use, food production and processing, biofuels, or effluent treatment.
• Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench and pilot experimentation.
• Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation.
• Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other production processes.
• Collaborate with manufacturing or quality-assurance staff to prepare product specification and safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports.
• Confer with research and manufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production.
• Consult with chemists and biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies.
• Develop statistical models or simulations of biochemical production, using statistical or modeling software.
• Direct experimental or developmental activities at contracted laboratories.
• Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences and operation protocols.
• Maintain databases of experiment characteristics and results.
• Modify and control biological systems to replace, augment, or sustain chemical and mechanical processes.
• Prepare piping and instrumentation diagrams or other schematics for proposed process improvements, using computer-aided design software.
• Collaborate in the development or delivery of biochemical manufacturing training materials.
• Communicate with regulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities, such as good manufacturing practices.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding the design and specifications of production equipment, instrumentation, or materials.
• Participate in equipment or process validation activities.
• Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests.
• Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
• Read current scientific and trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.

Companies That Hire Biochemical Engineers

• Beckman Coulter
• Dow AgroSciences LLC
• Genentech

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Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• SchoolsintheUSA.com (2010). Biochemical Engineer. Retrieved July 8, 2010, from http://www.schoolsintheusa.com/careerprofiles_details.cfm?carid=141
• Answers.com (2010). Biochemical Engineering. Retrieved July 8, 2010, from http://www.answers.com/topic/biochemical-engineering
• Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. (n.d.). Profiles of Chemical Engineers: Raquel Widrig. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from http://www.careercornerstone.org/chemeng/profiles/widrig.htm
• University of Limerick. (2010, January 11). Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering at the University of Limerick LM115. Retrieved July 8, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsP95aeLqLU&NR=1
• NCABR. (2006). Process Development Scientist. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from http://www.aboutbioscience.org/process_development_scientist.html

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