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Biochemistry Jobs in Decatur, IL (NOW HIRING)

Current student enrolled in a Bachelors or Masters program in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering ...

Students currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, or related field * 0-2+ years of laboratory experience (course-based experience accepted) * Basic ...

Biochemical engineering principles * Quality/food safety knowledge * Microsoft Office (Excel specific) * Statistical analysis, including multivariate data analysis * Understanding of process flows ...

Biochemical engineering principles * Quality/food safety knowledge * Microsoft Office (Excel specific) * Statistical analysis, including multivariate data analysis * Understanding of process flows

Education / ExperienceAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or a related scientific field preferred.Continuing education, technical ...

Biochemical engineering principles * Quality/food safety knowledge * Microsoft Office (Excel specific) * Statistical analysis, including multivariate data analysis * Understanding of process flows ...

Job RequirementsMaster's or Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related field.5+ years of relevant laboratory experience in analytical chemistry techniques and data generation.

PhD with 3+ years, MS with 10+ years, or BS with 15+ years of experience in fermentation science (microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering, or related disciplines).Industry ...

Job RequirementsMaster's or Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related field.At least 5 years of relevant laboratory experience in analytical chemistry techniques and data ...

Biochemistry information

See Decatur, IL salary details

$16

$33

$60

How much do biochemistry jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for biochemistry in Decatur, IL is $33.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.71 and $40.34 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is biochemistry?

A Biochemistry job involves studying the chemical processes within living organisms. Biochemists work in research labs, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and biotechnology, conducting experiments to understand biological functions at a molecular level. They may develop new drugs, improve medical treatments, or analyze genetic data. Their work helps advance medicine, environmental science, and food technology.

What does a biochemist do?

A professional in biochemistry typically spends their day designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, and documenting results for research projects or quality control processes. They may also be responsible for maintaining lab equipment, preparing samples and reagents, and collaborating with colleagues from interdisciplinary teams. Depending on the setting, they could contribute to developing new pharmaceuticals, improving industrial processes, or advancing our understanding of biological systems. Regular meetings to discuss findings, troubleshoot protocols, and plan future experiments are also a key part of the role. This hands-on and analytical work environment is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving and continuous learning.

What skills and qualifications are needed to work in biochemistry?

To thrive in biochemistry, you need a strong background in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and data interpretation, usually with a bachelor's or higher degree in biochemistry or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, chromatography, spectrometry, and specialized software such as LIMS is important, and certifications like ASCP can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills are essential soft skills in this role. These competencies are critical for accurate research, collaboration on scientific projects, and ensuring reliable experimental results in academic, clinical, or industry settings.

Do biochemists get paid a lot?

Biochemists' salaries vary based on experience, education, and location, but they generally earn competitive wages. According to industry data, the median annual salary for biochemists is around $50,000 to $100,000, with those in research or industry roles often earning higher. Advanced degrees and specialized skills can lead to higher compensation.

Is biochemistry a good career?

Biochemistry is a viable career that involves studying chemical processes within and related to living organisms, often requiring a strong background in biology and chemistry. Professionals in this field can work in research, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, or academia, with job prospects influenced by education level, experience, and specialization. The field typically offers opportunities for advancement and requires skills in laboratory techniques and data analysis.

What jobs can you do with biochemistry?

Biochemistry graduates can pursue careers as research scientists, laboratory technicians, pharmaceutical researchers, quality control analysts, or clinical biochemists. These roles often require laboratory skills, knowledge of molecular biology, and sometimes certifications or advanced degrees depending on the position.

What jobs can you get with a biochemistry degree?

A biochemistry degree can lead to careers such as research scientist, laboratory technician, pharmaceutical sales representative, or quality control analyst. These roles often require knowledge of laboratory techniques, data analysis, and sometimes additional certifications or advanced degrees.

What cities near Decatur, IL are hiring for Biochemistry jobs?

Cities near Decatur, IL with the most Biochemistry job openings:

Infographic showing various Biochemistry job openings in Decatur, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $70,706 per year, or $34 per hour.

Scientist III, Strain Development - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland

Decatur, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago


ADM rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 186 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

75th of 366 rated logistics


Job description


Scientist III, Strain Development - Decatur, IL
Position Summary:
ADM Cell Engineering is recruiting an experienced synthetic biologist to join our strain development team. This scientist will design, build and test yeast strains for a high impact project that supports the ADM BioSolutions sustainable materials strategy. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing ADM's low-pH platform yeast by combining genome editing, molecular biology, and phenotypic screens to build and test metabolically reprogrammed yeast strains for improved fermentation performance. This scientist will collaborate with project leaders and subject matter experts in metabolic engineering, automation & high-throughput screening, genomics and fermentation. This is an important role within ADM's Biotechnology Group and scientists with industry experience or experience genetically engineering industrial yeast are encouraged to apply.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Design and build yeast strains containing heterologous metabolic pathways and/or loss-of-function mutations.
  • Deploy state-of-the-art genome editing technologies to efficiently build new yeast strains.
  • Design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and report findings on strain performance to link genotype to phenotype.
  • Further optimize strain engineering methods to accelerate Design-Build-Test-Learn cycles.
  • Analyze and interpret NGS genomic sequencing results (e.g., DNA-seq, RNA-seq).
  • Collaborate with automation scientists to transfer manual bench-scale experiments to high-throughput robotic platforms.
  • Maintain detailed notes in Benchling ELN/LIMS to enable data sharing and collaboration across project teams.
  • Contribute to a team-oriented, positive and safe work environment.
Job Requirements:
These skills and experiences will be required or useful for the candidate:
  • Ph.D. in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology (or related field) or M.Sc. degree with 5+ years industry experience.
  • An understanding of yeast and/or microbial molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology.
  • A track record of using 96 well plate methods for molecular cloning and/or biochemical assays.
  • Experience interpreting genetic, molecular biology and biochemistry data.
  • Ability to use bioinformatics and sequence analysis tools (familiarity with Python or R is desirable).
  • Working knowledge of bio-based production and fermentation key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Ability to generate, organize, analyze and interpret large datasets.
  • Demonstrated success working within inter-disciplinary team.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills with both technical and non-technical personnel.

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:111741BR
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We're a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world's premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
#IncludingYou
Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
Benefits and Perks
Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
  • Physical wellness - medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
  • Financial wellness - flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers' compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
  • Mental and social wellness - Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
  • Paid time off including paid holidays.
  • Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
  • Tuition assistance.
  • Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

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