Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Biochemist
Chemical processes in living organisms
What this life looks like
You study the chemical processes that make life possible. Biochemists investigate how molecules interact inside cells, how enzymes catalyse reactions, how genes are expressed as proteins, and how these processes go wrong in disease. Your work forms the molecular foundation of medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
What she actually does
You design and conduct laboratory experiments to study the chemistry of living systems, isolate and characterise biological molecules, use techniques such as gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, study metabolic pathways and enzyme kinetics, investigate how drugs interact with biological targets, and publish findings to advance scientific knowledge.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Research Institutions | University research groups, KEMRI, WACCBIP, MRC Gambia, H3Africa sites |
| Pharmaceutical Companies | Aspen Pharmacare, Fidson Healthcare, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals — QC and drug development |
| Food & Beverage Industry | Nestlé Africa, Tiger Brands, Distell — nutritional analysis and product development |
| Government Labs | NAFDAC Nigeria, KEBS Kenya, SABS South Africa — standards and regulatory testing |
Why it matters in Africa
Biochemistry underpins Africa's pharmaceutical sector, nutritional science, and agricultural biotechnology. Understanding the biochemistry of diseases that disproportionately affect African populations — including malaria, HIV, sickle cell disease, and malnutrition — requires African biochemists working in African research contexts.
Your pathway in
- Study Biology and Chemistry deeply at school
- Pursue a degree in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or Biomedical Sciences at university
- Develop extensive laboratory skills during your degree
- Consider postgraduate research — many biochemistry careers in academia and research require a Master's or PhD
- Gain exposure to both basic research and applied biochemistry through internships in pharmaceutical or food companies
Skills you will need
- Laboratory techniques (HPLC, PCR, gel electrophoresis)
- Protein and enzyme analysis
- Cell culture methods
- Data analysis and statistical tools
- Scientific writing
- Laboratory safety
A woman in this field
Dr. Joaniter Nankabirwa
Uganda
Dr. Nankabirwa is a leading scientist at Makerere University and the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC) in Uganda. While her background is in epidemiology, her work is fundamentally rooted in the biochemistry of malaria parasites. She leads critical studies on how malaria parasites develop resistance to drugs, using biochemical markers to track the effectiveness of treatments across East Africa.
Take your first step
- Study Biology and Chemistry at school — biochemistry sits at their intersection
- Research biochemistry and biomedical science programmes at universities in your country
- Learn about sickle cell disease, malaria, and HIV from a biochemical perspective — these are the frontlines for African biochemists
- Look for chemistry or biology science fair projects that involve living systems
Careers close to this one
- Microbiologist
- Biotechnologist
- Molecular Biologist
- Chemist
- Pharmaceutical Scientist