Growing demand in health and biotechnology sectors
A global demand for new health products and solutions to environmental problems is increasing opportunities for biochemists.
Biochemists are needed in the health and wellness sector to develop:
- personalised medicine (medicines tailored to individual needs)
- veterinary medicines
- botanical medicines
- bioactive compounds (extracted from natural products such as milk and algae)
- biomaterials (natural or man-made materials used for medical applications).
Their skills are valued in the industrial and agricultural biotechnology sectors to develop:
- biofuels from waste products
- bioremediation (use of organisms to clean up polluted sites).
Chances best for biochemists with experience
Your chances of getting a job are best if you have:
- experience working in a laboratory or with experienced biochemists
- experience or skills in biotechnology, microbiology or genetics
- project management and business management skills.
Chances stronger in applied research programmes
Almost a quarter of job opportunities for biochemists are based around the universities in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
More government funding is going into universities partnering with businesses to research solutions to global challenges such as improving water quality.
According to the Census, 72 biochemists worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Types of employers varied
More than a quarter of biochemists work for health organisations, such as hospitals or medical and animal diagnostic laboratories.
Other employers include:
- research institutes
- biotechnology, chemical or pharmaceutical companies involved in research and development
- universities
- food, dairy or brewing companies involved in product development
- government departments or regional councils.
