Biochemistry & Chemistry

Wartburg offers two major options related to understanding the complex behavior of materials: biochemistry and chemistry. At Wartburg, you won’t spend four years learning before doing. Work with your professors to study real problems and publish your research to move your field forward.

Do research.
Complete at least one in-depth research project as a student, with the chance to work on many more with your classmates and professors. Keep an eye out for summer research and internship opportunities too for even more hands-on experiences.

Write it up.
Get your undergraduate work published in prestigious journals like Small GTPases, Anticancer Research, and the Journal of Oncology.

Present it.
Travel to conferences and share your work with your future colleagues in organizations like the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

100%

PLACEMENT RATE in PH.D. PROGRAMS

100% of Wartburg biochemistry and chemistry graduates who apply are accepted into Ph.D. programs.

TOP 30%

MCAT SCORES

Graduates from the department score in the top 30% nationally on the MCAT.

92%

MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE RATE

Department graduates who apply to medical school have an outstanding chance of being accepted into medical school. Our acceptance rate is more than double the national average.

Graduate Outcomes & Research

A degree in chemistry or biochemistry from Wartburg College is well-recognized around the nation. Wartburg has one of the highest rates of students accepted into medical school and other fields of medicine. Below are some of the fields our students tend to pursue.

Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts that is concerned with human health and disease processes. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider man as an integrated being and give special attention to the physiological and biochemical aspects including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, emotional and environmental relationships.

Dentistry
If the thought of helping people feel better about their smiles is not enough to attract you to dentistry, consider this: dentists are often the first healthcare professionals to recognize and identify many different diseases, including high blood pressure and cancer. It may seem hard to believe, but that relatively small space between your jaws can contain a wealth of information about your body.

Ecology/Environmental Science
Ecology and environmental science is the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment. Ecologists are concerned about preserving the earth’s natural resources. Due to the enormous increase in technology and population in the last 200 years, there has been a lack of balance between consumption and replenishment of natural resources on the planet.

Graduate School
You might want to consider a couple of options when it comes to graduate school. Many chemistry or biochemistry majors will continue with a M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.

M.D./Ph.D Medical Science Program
D.O./Ph.D. Medical Science Program
Perhaps you are an excellent student torn between a research career and clinical career? The medicine scientists training program (MSTP) may be right for you.

Osteopathic Medicine
Admission to osteopathic medical school is competitive and selective. The person who is well-rounded, has a broad background, who demonstrates the qualities listed above and who has demonstrated academic excellence has the best chance for admission to osteopathic medical school.

Medical Technology
Medical Technology (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) is a profession that combines the challenges and rewards of basic science, medicine and technology. As a vital member of the health care team, the clinical laboratory scientist works closely with pathologists and other physicians to uncover clues to disease. Medical Technologists are people who are certified health care professionals whose laboratory analyses play a critical role in the diagnosis and management of disease.

Nursing
Registered nursing programs prepare people to work as RNs. Students learn techniques and procedures of caring for patients and helping doctors. They learn to give medicine and treatments. They also learn to comfort and instruct patients.

Optometry
Optometrists examine patients’ eyes to diagnose vision problems. They prescribe corrective lenses or other treatments.

Physician Assistant
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs employed by the federal government are credentialed to practice. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions.

Physical Therapy
Physical therapists treat patients to relieve their pain and increase their strength and mobility. Physical therapists care for patients with disabilities, injuries, or pain. Doctors refer patients for conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis, and broken bones. They also refer patients recovering from accidents, strokes, and heart disease. Physical therapists help patients decrease pain and improve strength. They also try to prevent permanent disabilities or stop conditions from worsening.

Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals (especially domestic animals). Doctors of Veterinary Medicine are medical professionals whose primary responsibility is protecting the health and welfare of animals and people.

Research is an integral part of any science education. As a biochemistry major, you will be encouraged to begin your research experience with a faculty member early in your second year. After developing skill and gaining comfort at the bench, you will be asked to design and complete a research project for credit over your Junior and Senior years. The development and execution of this project will occur through the guidance of a faculty member and involve peer interaction afforded by a two-term sequence of research courses. During the first term, you will write and present your research proposal. In the second term, you will conduct the research, write a paper, and present a poster at Wartburg’s Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Many students carry out their research project with a partner(s) and have presented their work at national conferences. Click on the homepage of any of the faculty members listed below to discover ongoing biochemical research at Wartburg College.

Summer Research
Wartburg biochemistry majors are encouraged to add to their research training by completing off-campus summer research projects. Wartburg biochemistry majors have recently conducted summer research at the Mayo Clinic, Iowa State, University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota Hormel Institute, University of Missouri Medical Center, St. Louis University, Carnegie Institute in Washington, D.C., University of Arkansas, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of North Carolina, and Northwestern University.

Student Presentations (PDF)

Wartburg Biochemistry Student Publications:

Our research looked at how a specific enzyme can affect the progression of ovarian cancer. We’ve done a lot of analyzing to look at how that enzyme affects different proteins or how it adheres to different matrices.”

Claire Strauel ’24

Biochemistry

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Biochemistry & Chemistry

Graduate Outcomes & Research

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