For years, when mentioning students with a strong suit in Chemistry and Biology, most parents would immediately think of traditional career paths like Medicine, Pharmacy, or scientific research. However, the rapid advancement of technology—particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI)—is profoundly reshaping how humans study, apply, and develop life sciences. Today, the question is no longer simply, "What major should I choose if I excel at Chemistry and Biology?" but rather, "How can I leverage my strengths in natural sciences in a world increasingly driven by technology and data?".
This was also the core topic discussed at the webinar "Mastering Biochem – What Careers Await You in the AI Era?" hosted by Potenso. Featuring guest speakers currently studying, researching, and working in Vietnam and the United States, the event drew significant attention from parents and students eager to explore emerging career trends in Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology.
When Life Sciences Enter an Interdisciplinary Era
One of the highlights of the webinar was the insight into the shift within life sciences amidst powerful technological advancements. The speakers shared their academic and research journeys in fast-growing global fields such as Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics. These disciplines blend knowledge of biology, physics, engineering, and data science to tackle challenges in healthcare and medicine.
Through real-world stories from international academic environments, attendees gained a clearer understanding of academic and career options that, while relatively new in Vietnam, are playing an increasingly vital role in the global labor market. According to the speakers, the evolution of modern science is generating high demand for professionals capable of working at the intersection of multiple fields rather than possessing isolated, single-discipline knowledge.
How is AI Transforming Chemistry and Biology?
In addition to academic guidance, the impact of AI on life sciences was a topic that garnered numerous questions from parents and students. From novel drug discovery and gene sequencing to AI-assisted diagnostics, AI is being integrated deeper into biomedicine. Technologies that once existed only in research labs are now gradually becoming staples of healthcare operations and large-scale product development.
Skills That Matter More Than Degrees
One of the key takeaways that resonated deeply with the audience was the perspective on the essential skills required for future success. The speakers noted that as AI becomes capable of handling more specialized tasks, proficiency in specialized English is absolutely crucial for international students—especially those from non-English-speaking countries like Vietnam.
Moreover, resilience, patience, and meticulousness are paramount for young people navigating the initial stages of a laboratory career, particularly when dealing with failed experiments that require endless trial and error.
Throughout the program, the speakers and Potenso conveyed a vital message: There are many paths to a career in biochemistry. The three guest speakers originally started as high school students excelling in Literature, Mathematics, or Biology, and chose their paths based on interests and trends—with some even switching majors after university. The key is to build a solid academic foundation and choose a career path closely aligned with that background.
Beyond traditional professions, students can pursue paths to become biomedical engineers, healthcare AI specialists, biological data scientists, genomic researchers, biotechnology researchers, or even founders of startups in the healthtech and biotech sectors. The speakers also suggested suitable directions for international students in the US who face constraints due to F1 visa regulations.
Through this webinar, Potenso aims to provide parents and students with a more realistic view of the evolving professional landscape in the AI era, while empowering students to discover new growth opportunities rooted in their passion for Chemistry and Biology.
Potenso extends our heartfelt gratitude to the speakers for taking the time to share invaluable experiences from their academic and professional journeys. We also thank the parents and students who attended the event with an open mind and insightful questions. We hope the knowledge and perspectives shared in this webinar will continue to inspire young people on their journey to explore academic majors, careers, and the vast opportunities being unlocked by the future of science and technology.