The Connecticut Department of Labor report, Soaring to New Heights : Connecticut Job Outlook 1998- 2008 , indicates that the job growth for biological scientists to be 43.2%; this 10 year growth rate is among the highest listed. Starting salaries for trained scientists are about $45,000, and increase with advanced study. According to the 2001 Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE) economic report, research and development expenditures in biotechnology have grown at least 10% annually since 1995, indicating a continuing demand for competent scientists.

The 2001 Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE) economic report states, "Maintaining a supply of skilled workers to meet growth needs is one of the biggest challenges Connecticut faces in its efforts to be a world leader in Bioscience. Currently, vacancies exist in all Cluster companies. Indeed, the demand for highly skilled R&D employees has grown within the Cluster at an overall average rate of 10 percent annually, with the rate within the biotechnology segment of the Cluster closer to 40 percent."

Eastern Connecticut State University is proud to announce the creation of a new Bachelors of Science degree in Biochemistry designed to meet the growing demands of the Connecticut biotechnology community.

The Biochemistry Major, offered though the Physical Sciences Department at Eastern, is an interdisciplinary major combining resources and faculty expertise from the Physical Sciences and Biology departments. Students majoring in biochemistry obtain a broad background in Biochemistry from Chemistry and Biology courses, preparing students for the ever-evolving scientific world. The discipline provides an in-depth introduction to the chemistry of living organisms, and the experimental techniques used to investigate the structures and functions of biologically important molecules. The curriculum meets standards set forth by recognized scientific organizations. Students who enjoy both chemistry and biology and are comfortable with quantitative approaches to problem solving will find biochemistry a rewarding field of study.