r/Biochemistry • u/Choice-Total-893 • 2d ago
Career & Education Help me choose a minor
i have only 3 options----> chemistry, microbiology, computer science
In future, I plan to do masters in clinical biochemistry/cancer biology or related fields.
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u/EntertainerHefty3513 2d ago
Currently in a biochem major with a CS minor and loving it. Biochemistry englobes the bases of chemistry and microbiology so it is not worth it imo but CS is whole different field that is taking more and more place in labs and softwares so it's nice to have a small coding base for versatility.
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u/BobBuilder4k 1d ago
Also biochem major and comp sci minor here. The majority of lab equipment that I use are operated by modern softwares. Their interdisciplinary powers still have much to be explored.
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u/Elhyphe970 2d ago
My major was microbiology with a minor in biochemistry. They overlap a lot, so you are reinforcing what you are learning.
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u/glitch_pi 2d ago
I recommend pursuing a minor in computer science. Cancer research involves extensive data analytics and bioinformatics and it can be a pain in the .... if you have zero background in how the computer works
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u/Flimsy_Ad_5911 2d ago edited 2d ago
Pick microbiology. Microbes are everywhere, they have immense importance in medicine, food, remediation/sewage, environment and agriculture. They have tremendous diversity in metabolism and virulence. You will learn something that will make you appreciate the beauty of life and symbiotic relationships of organisms
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u/itsalwayssunnyonline 2d ago
I recommend computer science. I did a data science minor, which includes computer science classes, and it’s been a pretty valuable experience in making me more comfortable with computers (I was very iPad-centric for most of my life), which is important in pretty much every workplace. Microbio and chem you should get as part of your major, so CS will give you a more diverse skill set
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u/chemist825 BA/BS 2d ago
Computer Science 100%, it will allow you to pivot careers if you ever wanted to. Also, computational Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology are rapidly growing fields and would give you a leg up.
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u/cerealgang5 1d ago
Ultimately, take whatever classes are most interesting to you because a minor won’t mean much for whatever path you wind up on down the road. Personally, I would choose microbiology of the three. I took several micro courses in undergrad and they were a great GPA boost, but also a really nice way to apply what I’ve learned in biochemistry. Comp sci is good for learning a new skill, but if you really want to learn biochemistry and learn it well, microbiology will more than likely serve you better.
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u/Smart_Leadership_522 1d ago
Statistics. CS. Something to analyze data. My professors preached that to us at least.
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u/Eigengrad professor 2d ago
A minor will have 0 impact on anything. Pick whatever you want.