Also called: Enzyme Engineer, Biocatalysis Scientist
Designs enzymes, natural protein machines, that make laundry detergent work in cold water, turn corn into fuel and make medicines greener.
Screens hundreds of enzyme variants to find one that breaks down stains at 20 degrees instead of 40. You test the winners in mini washing machines, send the best DNA sequence to a fermentation team and meet with a detergent company about results. Some days you use AI to predict better versions.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. Usually a PhD in biochemistry or bioengineering; bachelor's-level associates also work in these labs.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemistry.
Growing about average. Steady in detergents, food, biofuels and green chemistry.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI protein design speeds up finding better enzymes, but testing them in the lab stays hands-on.
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Computer science.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.