Doctorate in Biochemistry

About Course

Ph.D. (Biochemistry) Courses, Eligibility, Admissions, Syllabus, Career Options, Frequently asked Questions.

Overview and About the Course:

The PhD in Biochemistry programme, also known as the Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry programme, lasts three to five years to complete. The course entails researching living things at the cellular and molecular levels and is research-based. Biological sciences such as medicine, genetics, forensics, microbiology, and plant science are all included in a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Medicine includes the field of biochemistry. It entails the study and examination of chemical reactions occurring at the cellular or molecular level in living things, such as respiration and metabolism. Biochemists are those who pursue biochemistry as a field of study. They concentrate on activities including cellular reproduction, brain function, and intercellular communication. Experiments for the study and analysis of the behaviour of protein molecules, lipids, vitamins and minerals, hormones, and the nucleus inside a cell are an important part of a biochemist's job description. Additionally, they must be well-versed on the makeup and purposes of DNA.

It's indeed objective in character and thoroughly conducts the research. Scholars should submit their "thesis" after completing their PhD degree in order to be awarded the appropriate degree. Biochemistry, often known as biological chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that take place in living things, including but not restricted to living matter.

•    Through a thorough approach to classes on reference resources, as well as by mentoring undergraduate students and making contributions to the department journal, this programme aids in the development of research abilities.

•    A Ph.D. in Biochemistry is a three-year doctoral programme that reveals a previously unrecognised facet of life science via the analysis and interpretation of numerous experimental data.

•    Genetics, forensics, stem cell research, plant science, bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, medicine, and bioethics are the key subjects covered in the programme.

•    Applicants must complete a research thesis on a biochemistry-related issue at the end of the course, which will be utilised for final grading.

•    Graduates with a PhD in biochemistry go on to become biochemists, university professors, or researchers who conduct more study and offer answers for societal and scientific problems.

PhD programmes in biochemistry frequently provide courses in research setup and measurements, healthcare product development, and quantitative statistics in the medical sciences.

The average annual course price for a PhD in biochemistry is between INR 25,000 to 4,00,000.

The grades received on entrance tests are used to determine admission to the PhD biochemistry programme. GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET, and other admission examinations are some of the most popular for this programme. After the entrance exams, several universities additionally have personal interviews and write tests to narrow down the pool of candidates.

Following completion of a PhD in biochemistry, research scientists, toxicologists, pharmaceutical consultants, molecular biologists, and biomedical engineers are among the professions most frequently expected to be in demand.

An average income of INR 3 lakhs to 12 lakhs per annum is given to PhD biochemistry graduates.

Course Highlight of Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Eligibility Criteria Required for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

To qualify for the PhD Biochemistry course, a candidate must meet the requirements listed below.

•    A applicant must earn a Master's degree in biochemistry or a related field with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 5.5 out of 10.

•    Candidates who have completed a 4-year or longer bachelor's degree programme, such as MBBS or BDS, or who have a master's degree in pharmacy or technology M Pharm or M.Tech., will also be considered qualified for this programme.

•    Candidates who fall under the SC, ST, OBC differently abled, or other categories will receive a 5% mark reduction.

Skills for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

PhD holders in the Biochemistry need a combination of hard talents and soft skills to succeed in their jobs. It's possible that these skills can't always be taught within the constraints of the school system. Practice is the only way to hone these abilities. Students should thus seize any chance to extend their perspectives and acquire new knowledge. Only a handful of these skills include:

•    Observation Techniques

•    Progress Tracking

•    Thinking Techniques

•    Skills in Communication

•    Skills for Dealing Pressure

•    Instructing Human Development 

•    Guide Wisely 

•    Hard Working 

Admission Process for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

The majority of universities and institutions that offer PhD Biochemistry programmes admit students depending on how well they did on their Master's degree exams. However, some universities do provide admission exams to evaluate a candidate's aptitude and skill sets.

•    First of all, candidate have to apply in the institute for the course he wanted to do. 

•    A student must perform well in the CSIR-UGC-NET, and UGC-NET etc. admission exams held by the relevant Universities in order to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Additionally, students must do well in the round of personal interviews.

•    After the examination result candidate have to go through to the interview round or in a group discussion.

•    After the interview process the next step in counselling or enrolment in the college.

•    For enrolment student have submit required documents as per the college guidelines or requirements. 

Admission Based on Entrance Exam for Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

The following are the entrance-based admission requirements for a PhD in Biochemistry:

•    To successfully register, candidates must submit an application through the entrance examination organization's official website.

•    The authorities will announce the examination date, and applicants must appear for the test.

•    The applicants need to achieve a good grade or CGPA in the relevant exams in order to be accepted to the PhD in Biochemistry programme.

•    The authorities will present a merit list of the chosen applicants and assign the pupils the necessary college seats.

•    In order to be admitted, the candidates must pass additional rounds of personal interviews.

Tips to get Admission in the college for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Obtaining entrance to a reputable college is crucial for a higher education research programme like a PhD in Biochemistry. Here are a few key ideas to remember when you seek admission to a reputable university.

•    If you are fervently interested in applying for a PhD in Biochemistry, you must achieve a respectable grade in your Post Graduate level of study.

•    If you are getting ready to take an entrance exam, you must also get a high CGPA on that exam to be admitted to a reputable PhD in Biochemistry College.

•    Please investigate the prospective college before making any plans to attend any college or institution.

•    Ensure that university offers the ideal curriculum and adequate facilities to train you to master a PhD in Biochemistry.

Entrance exams for the course, Ph.D. in Biotechnology:

Candidates must successfully complete the admissions examinations in order to be admitted to the PhD in Biochemistry programme. The required cut-off scores may be determined by the organisation in charge of delivering the admission exam. Those who pass the entrance test for the PhD in Biochemistry will be eligible to take part in the final selection procedure. Some of the most popular entrance exams for PhDs in biochemistry are listed below:

GATE:

•    The exam primarily assesses how thoroughly various undergraduate disciplines in engineering and science have been understood.

•    General Aptitude is a subject that appears in all GATE examinations. The other subject will depend on the contestants' preferences.

•    MCQs and quantitatively based questions are included in the paper. MCQs will receive deficient marks.

NET UGC:

•    The UGC NET score has no limits on the number of attempts and is valid for Lifetime for Assistant Professors.

•    In Indian universities and colleges, there is a test to determine who is qualified for the position of assistant professor and the Junior Research Fellowship grant.

•    It takes place online and consists of two 100-point papers, mostly in Hindi and English.

Some other entrance exams are:

•    CSIR-UGC-NET

•    NBHM

Tips to prepare the entrance exam for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

The following information can aid applicants in getting ready for the entrance exam.

•    First of all, Create a schedule for your study time. You will be able to concentrate on each subject and give each topic equal time.

•    Go through the exam's syllabus in detail. Instead of studying a completely unrelated subject, it will assist you in focusing on key themes.

•    Examine the question papers from the prior year to have a better grasp of the admission tests. There are several books for entrance exams that include previous year's test questions and the solutions.

•    It's crucial to comprehend the fundamentals of the subjects rather than memorising the answers. You may use it to help you answer challenging queries.

•    Every admission test consists of MCQs with a single right response. Additionally, there is a failing grade.

•    It's crucial to only answer questions you are certain of. Considering that there is a negative marking, speculation is to be avoided.

Top Colleges for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Check out the list of top 10 colleges with their location for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Top Government colleges for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Numerous prestigious government colleges around the nation provide top-notch PhD in Biochemistry programmes. The best government colleges in India offering PhDs in biochemistry are shown in the table below:

Top Private colleges for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Private institutions that provide some of the top PhD in Biochemistry programmes in the nation have grown significantly in number in India. The best private colleges in India offering PhDs in biochemistry are shown in the table below:

Syllabus to study for the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Syllabus asked in the first paper:

•    Pharmaco-Genomics
•    Genomics of Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes
•    Subcellular Fractionation
•    Immunoblotting
•    Electrophoresis
•    Mass Spectrometry
•    Immuno-Electrophoresis
•    Southern, Western and Northern blot
•    RT PCR
•    Fluorescence, Circular Dichroism
•    Functional Genomics
•    Electron Microscopic Techniques 
•    TEM Freeze Fracture Technique
•    Drug Protein and Nucleic Acid Docking Mechanisms
•    Central Tendency, Dispersion, Variability and Correlation Coefficient
•    Bioinformatics & Biostatistics
•    Biotechniques
•    Fundamental Techniques of Genetics
•    Proteins and Nucleic Acids
•    Protein and Nucleic Acid
•    Computational Sequence Analysis
•    Molecular Biology
•    PAGE, SDS PAGE
•    DNA & RNA Sequence Analysis
•    Ultracentrifugation

Syllabus asked in the second paper:

•    Bioremediation 
•    Biotransformation 
•    Biodegradation 
•    Fermentation Technology 
•    Enzymes
•    Blood Chemistry 
•    Molecular Mechanics 
•    Molecular Dynamics 
•    Bioinformatics Applications
•    Environmental Microbiology 
•    Immunology 
•    Medical Microbiology 
•    Biological Database 
•    Sequence Alignment 
•    Molecular Modelling 
•    Agricultural Microbiology 
•    Microbial Ecology 
•    Effluent Treatment Systems 
•    Water Pollution Monitoring 
•    Plant Cell Culture 

Job Prospects and Career after doing the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

There are several jobs in the public and business sectors accessible for PhD biochemistry students. Depending on the specialisation one has selected, the work positions will alter. Graduates with a PhD in biochemistry have a wide range of employment options with lucrative compensation packages in the following job profiles:

•    Biochemistry Educator
•    Medical Research Scientist
•    Molecular Biologist
•    Clinical Biochemist
•    Research Scientist
•    Clinical Laboratory Technologist
•    Senior Scientist

Job Profiles after doing the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

Educator of biochemistry:

teach biochemistry to undergraduates while conducting further research and publishing in journals

Research Scientist in Medicine:

Clinical work is the interaction of scientists with patients in a healthcare setting to close the gap between research and clinical medicine and to provide improvements in therapeutic approaches.

Advanced Scientist:

All research projects carried out at a research organisation are managed by senior scientists. Additionally, they are in charge of identifying fresh study areas and preparing their colleagues for them.

Medical chemist:

Clinical biochemists do research on numerous medications and identify new opportunities for developing novel medication types.

Studying scientist:

Plan and execute tests and research projects in a variety of scientific disciplines, including geoscience, pharmacology, meteorology, and medical research.

Biochemist:

a scientist who focuses on studying the different biomolecules, their synthesis, structures, functions, and characteristics

Technician in clinical laboratories:

To learn about the harmful effects and advantages of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, conduct studies on them. may do tests to measure chemicals in human blood, keep an eye on bacterial development, and look at how medications affect viruses

Scope after doing the course, Ph.D. in Biochemistry:

•    The need for PhD candidates in biochemistry is expanding due to the increased demand for biochemists in both the public and private sectors.

•    The beginning wage for newcomers is from INR 3 lakhs to 8 lakhs and tends to rise with experience.

•    Graduates with a PhD in biochemistry can work as instructors and advance their biochemical research, both of which are viable professional paths.

•    PhD holders who have changed the existing pathological problems in biochemistry or who have conducted independent research centred around restructuring medicine into healthier versions are eligible for high salaries and good career opportunities, such as specialised jobs in the medical industry.

•    Because biochemical research often utilises statistics, academics are able to find high-paying positions in the medical industry's economics.

Frequently asked Question:

Question. Is a biochemistry PhD challenging?

Answer. Since experiments need to be controlled and watched regularly in addition to learning theoretical material, biochemistry is regarded as one of the toughest disciplines, and obtaining a PhD in the field can be challenging.

Question. Can one simply obtain a PhD in biochemistry after earning a bachelor's degree?

Answer. Aspirants are highly urged to pursue a master's degree before pursuing a doctorate, even though it is not difficult because the master's programme covers research procedures as part of the curriculum.

Question. Is a biochemistry PhD required?

Answer. Due of the extensive research necessary to become a biochemist, a PhD is generally required. According to the relevance of the study aim, one may also qualify to teach at a prestigious institution or obtain a position of high distinction.

Question. Is a biochemical research PhD specialty preferable to a traditional biochemistry PhD?

Answer. With a biochemistry concentration, your chances of landing a job with top salary are increased.

Question. What is the eligibility criteria after the course?

Answer. To qualify for the PhD Biochemistry course, a candidate must meet the requirements listed below.

•    A applicant must earn a Master's degree in biochemistry or a related field with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 5.5 out of 10.

•    Candidates who have completed a 4-year or longer bachelor's degree programme, such as MBBS or BDS, or who have a master's degree in pharmacy or technology M Pharm or M.Tech., will also be considered qualified for this programme.