There are a lot of options for someone with a bachelors degree in Biochemistry, however, you are very restricted on how far you rise in a job without a higher degree. A master's degree is helpful, however, usually only useful if you want to work in industry. Unfortunately, a Ph.D is the best avenue if you don't want to be limited to the options you have. All of my professors in undergrad told me I would be very limited without a Ph.D and you could be working under someone who is stupider than you just because they have a higher degree.
One thing is for sure, you have to be passionate about research if you want to pursue a Ph.D. This doesn't mean your career has to solely be involved in research (I'll explain your options below). If you have not done any research so far, I would highly suggest speaking with labs you are interested in (you can usually find information about them on the university's website) to see if you could get a position. I started research when I was a sophomore in college and I absolutely loved it. It will definitely give you an idea of whether or not it's the right path for you.
If you decide to do so, pick a lab in an area you would want to pursue your Ph.D. I also thought I wanted to do a Ph.D in pharmacology so I did an internship for a summer in a pharmacology lab and HATED it. It was really eye opening so it's good to know what you're getting into before committing to a concentration or area. Until you do the lab work yourself, you'll have no idea if you enjoy that kind of lifestyle (a Ph.D takes between 5-7 years so you have to love it!)
Some pros and cons to a Ph.D:
Pros:
- You receive a stipend (usually between 25-30,000/year)
- Health Insurance is usually covered
- No tuition costs
Cons:
- You have to be willing to commit between 5-7 years (although it really is just like having a job)
- Depending on your lab, you may be working long hours (I have some 10 hour days and some 6 hour days... it really varies). Also, depending on your PI, you usually have a lot of flexibility if you want to take time off, unlike a real job!
- Must be able to face the frustrations of failures in research (which happen about 90% of the time... you have to look at the 10% silver lining)
With that, there are many options after a Ph.D. The big most common options are:
1. Industry (pharmaceutical, biotech, etc.)
2. Academia (University)
3. Government (NIH, NSF)
There are many other subtopics like jobs in policy, consulting, scientific writing, etc., but I have a very limited knowledge about them.
1. This is a very common option and one I intend on pursuing after I complete my Ph.D
Pros:
- Great pay
- 9-5 job
- Great benefits
- No worries about funding for the research
Cons:
- NO freedom (if your boss says stop the project and you think 1 more day of research will cure AIDs, you can't continue)
2.
Pros:
- Complete control over the research
- Complete control over who is in your lab
Cons:
- HIGHLY competitive (think of all the people with Ph.Ds and there are only so many spots available for new faculty at universities)
- Constant fight for funding
- Requires you to dedicate a LOT of time to your lab
- Not great pay (unless you start a company, which many professors do)
3. This area is kind of a mix between industry and academia.
In the end, you have to decide which road you want to take AT THIS POINT. If you're interested in Med school, you can also weigh the pros and cons of that. I personally, never was a med school kind of person because I like doing the research and being at the root of how problems are solved. If you do decide to do a Ph.D, you'll have MANY years to decide what you want to do from there. Many people also choose not to get a Ph.D, but you have to realize in certain jobs there is only so far you can get without one. I have a lot of friends in my program who took 8 years off before going to grad school and worked in industry only to realize that they needed a Ph.D to do the work they wanted to do. What it really comes down to, however, is what YOU want to do and once you figure that out, you can take the next step.