M.Sc. Biochemistry

- M.Sc. Biochemistry

M.Sc. BIOCHEMISTRY

M.Sc. Biochemistry is a two years postgraduate course that designed to provide the students professional training in offering intimate relationship knowledge about the chemical functioning in biological systems. The Course will cover the details related to biochemistry with efficiency and sufficient skill and performance knowledge.
The topics to be covered under the M.Sc. Biochemistry program include organic chemistry, biomolecules, bioenergetics, intermediary metabolism, enzymology, biochemical and biophysical techniques, plant biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, genetic engineering, clinical biochemistry, immunology, biotechnology, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. 12-20 weeks of dissertation work is to be done.

Core areas you’ll study

  • Advanced Biomolecules & Enzymology: protein structure-function, enzyme kinetics, catalysis mechanisms, and bio-catalysis.
  • Metabolism & Bioenergetics: carbohydrate, lipid, and nitrogen metabolism; oxidative phosphorylation; and metabolic regulation.
  • Molecular Biology & Genetics: DNA replication/repair, gene expression, recombinant DNA technology, and epigenetics.
  • Analytical & Biophysical Techniques: Chromatography (HPLC, FPLC), electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, 2D), mass spectrometry, NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and PCR/qPCR for biomolecular analysis.
  • Computational & Bioinformatics Methods: sequence analysis, protein modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and genomic data interpretation.
  • Specialized & Applied Topics: clinical biochemistry, immunology, neuro-biochemistry, plant biochemistry, cancer biochemistry, and biotechnology applications.
  • Interdisciplinary modules: biochemical toxicology, nutrigenomics, biopharmaceuticals, and laboratory biosafety/BMBL principles.

Teaching, practical work & assessment

Teaching combines lectures, tutorials, and problem classes with extensive hands-on laboratory work. First-year emphasis is on core theory and foundational experiments; the second year focuses on specialised lab techniques, elective modules, and an independent research project. Assessment is typically a mix of written examinations, continuous assessment (assignments/seminars), practical exams, project reports, and a dissertation defended at the end of the programme. Emphasis is placed on experimental design, data analysis, reproducibility, and scientific writing.

M.Sc. Biochemistry at Dolphin (PG) Institute, Dehradun

Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences (affiliated to HNB Garhwal Central University) offers an M.Sc. Biochemistry programme that balances academic rigour with industry relevance. The institute provides modern laboratory facilities (HPLC, PCR, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry), access to instruments for molecular analysis, a well-stocked library, and structured student support services, including hostel assistance. Faculty bring a mix of academic and applied research experience; students are encouraged to undertake dissertation projects aligned with current biotech/pharma challenges or faculty research interests. The programme places particular emphasis on practical skills and employability, preparing students for roles in biotech labs, clinical research, and diagnostic services.

Career path & typical entry salaries

Graduates can pursue roles across biotech, pharma, healthcare, and research:

  • Biochemist / Research Associate — biotech firms, pharmaceutical R&D, and academic labs
  • Clinical Biochemist / Diagnostic Analyst — hospitals, pathology labs, and diagnostic chains
  • Biotech Process Specialists — biopharmaceutical manufacturing and fermentation processes
  • Bioinformatics Specialist / Computational Biologist — genomics companies and data analytics firms
  • Quality Control / Regulatory Affairs Officer — Pharma QA/QC and compliance roles
  • Academic Researcher / Lecturer — teaching positions and doctoral studies (Ph.D.)

Estimated entry-level salary (India): commonly ₹2.5–4.5 lakh per annum, depending on sector and city. With 2–5 years’ experience or specialised skills (molecular techniques, bioinformatics, bioprocessing), salaries commonly rise to ₹5–9 lakh per annum; senior, managerial, or specialist roles can exceed ₹10–15 lakh or more, depending on the employer and location. Academic and government research career paths may follow different pay scales.

Placements & industry connections

The Institute’s placement cell coordinates internships, industry projects, and campus recruitment drives. Students typically undertake internships or project attachments in pharmaceutical/biotech companies, clinical diagnostic labs, research institutes, and nutraceutical firms—providing practical familiarity with routine workflows (PCR, protein purification, ELISA), QA/QC procedures, and documentation standards. Faculty-industry collaborations and invited industry seminars further expose students to employer expectations and applied problem-solving, improving their transition to job roles or higher research degrees.

Duration

  • 2 years
Seats
0

Eligibility

  • B.Sc. in CBZ or equivalent with ≥50% aggregate marks."

Biochemistry offers tremendous challenges to understand the most fundamental processes of life at the molecular level and to utilize this knowledge for the benefit of people. Those who make a career in this science find it endlessly fascinating, very rewarding and very fulfilling.

There is a large demand for biochemists. The Government needs more scientists and technologists in all walks of life to take advantage of recent advances in knowledge. Job prospects are fair for new biochemistry graduate as compared with that of biological sciences as a whole. Biochemists find themselves placed at high profile jobs with agriculture universities and medical organizations, R&D openings in pharmaceutical/ diagnostic companies, quality control/ quality assurance, as analyst in various food industries (Nestle, Cadbury, Dabur, etc.). Research opportunities are also available at renowned institutes and organizations such as BARC, CDRI, IVRI, etc besides the industry.

NEP2020 ENABLED COLLEGE

Further Information

Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences
An Autonomous College
Programme Brochure
Contact Us
Apply Now

frequently asked questions

An M.Sc. in Biochemistry presents a surprisingly wide set of career alternatives that extend well beyond simply wearing a lab coat. Most career-minded graduates go on to work in the pharmaceutical industry or medical research, working on the creation of life-saving drugs or identifying the molecular basis of diseases. You could, on the other hand, branch out into a non-research career as a medical writer, patent attorney, or quality control professional working within the food or cosmetics industries. If you're interested in the adrenaline rush of a forensic lab or the scholarship of university-level academia, this degree qualification allows you to apply your unique set of problem-solving skills to any branch of science.

M.Sc. Biochemistry students are much sought after by diverse sectors that fill the gap between biology and chemistry-related jobs. Some of the primary-sector jobs are offered by pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, and research institutes where experts are engaged in drug development and vaccine production. There are also plenty of jobs available in related areas such as hospitals and pathology laboratories offering various medical services. Apart from this, there are various sectors like agriculture (developing insect-resistant plants), the food and beverages sector (assuring the nutrients are safe for intake), and even a cosmetic company where biochemists are employed extensively for their products' safety and development.

Of course, two of the most sought-after and rewarding options after your M.Sc. are teaching and research. In research, you can work as a JRF or a Research Associate in any high-tech government lab or private R&D centers, with your subject matter running the gamut from cancer studies to agricultural breakthroughs. If teaching is your calling, your master's qualification makes you fit to teach at the high school level, or you can clear eligibility exams like CSIR-NET or GATE and join as an Assistant Professor in colleges. Many professionals actually opt for the "best of both worlds," finding themselves working in university settings where they are lecturing to students in the morning and leading edge-exploring experiments in the afternoon.

An M.Sc. in Biochemistry offers a uniquely strong combination of deep technical knowledge and ‘soft’ professional skills, making you an invaluable asset to any scientific organization. From the technical perspective, you'll be able to tackle highly complex lab tasks such as PCR (DNA amplification) and CRISPR gene editing, chromatography, and protein purification, in addition to carrying out complicated tasks on highly sophisticated machines such as mass spectrometers. From the applied side, your skills in data analysis and understanding will be developed through training in the use of bioinformatics and statistical software to identify patterns in large biological datasets. Most significantly, you'll acquire a ‘scientific mind,’ with the capacity to ‘debug’ an unsuccessful experiment, critically analyze health-related orenvironmental issues, and communicate highly technical results to non-scientists in precise, easily digestible reports.

If you want to really differentiate yourself after an M.Sc. in Biochemistry, you have a range of options between post-grad academic degrees and industry certifications. If you choose to remain in an academic position, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) will help you reach a position of senior scientist or Professor in an institute or university in the shortest possible time, whereas an MBA in Biotech or Healthcare Management will be directly ideal for the highly lucrative part of the pharma industry – the industry jobs. For candidates wishing to enhance their market value in the shortest possible way, certifications in Bioinformatics (data analysis), Clinical Research Assistant or Manager (CRA), or Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QC/QA) will be of immense value in the jobs market.