Biotechnology Careers


An increasing number of scientists will be involved in the growing biotechnology research sector and its supporting infrastructure. Students need to be conversant in the scientific, regulatory, financial, legal, and ethical facets of biotechnology because this rapidly moving field is heavily interconnected. Students must understand the needs and the priorities of biotechnology as a potential advance can be alternatively mobilized or paralyzed as a result of a multitude of factors. Therefore training and career development must take a novel approach in the next decades. Students with a hybrid, cross-disciplinary background entailing a working knowledge of the processes of discovery, development, operations, and business should perform well in the future environment.



What are the possible jobs in Biotech?

Some examples of potential careers in Biotechnology with notes on degree requirements and general activities are presented below. As in any case, there are exceptions to every rule - this career area is rapidly growing and evolving. Many people perform more than 1 track simultaneously (for example, a scientist who is participating on business side, too) or in different stages of their life (for example, start as a scientist and then end up a patent agent).

Bullet Science Career in Biotech

Bullet Legal Career in Biotech

Bullet Regulatory Career in Biotech

Bullet Business Career in Biotech

How do I train for a career in Biotech?
Bullet High School Training

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Bullet Advanced Information

Employment Forecast

Combining 2 angles of science is a must for the future scientist. Combine molecular biology or biochemistry and a "hot" topic such as:



* bioinformatics / genomics / drug research/viruses


* site and project management


* therapeutic expertise / FDA system


* pharmaceuticals / biotech


Biotech Employment Information

The following employment information was taken from excerpts of Genetic Engineering News (December 2001) vol. 21. D.G. Jensen.


1. Employee Estimates


*

In 2001, ~ 255,000 employees worldwide in biotechnology companies (USA 175,000; Canada 20,000; Europe 45,000) -- up to 400,000 if you include "biotech" jobs in pharmaceutical labs, government labs, and private research institutes.


*

By 2011, may increase to ~750,000.



2. The "Tough to Fill" Jobs


* Drug Discovery

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bioinformatics, proteomics, high-throughput screening, assay development, and medicinal chemistry.


"everyone wants an organic chemist with medicinal experience"

"continued growth in bioinformatics and proteomics areas"


* Drug Development

-

process development engineers cell culture / fermentation specialists, protein-purification specialists, process chemists, formulation specialists, drug delivery specialists, toxicologists, and pharmacologists.


"greater emphasis on toxicology and safety assessment"


* Operations

-

manufacturing, quality control/analysis (QC/QA), validation specialists, bioanalytical chemists.


"year after year, it has generally proven difficult to fill key positions"


* Regulatory & Clinical

-

clinical research associates, regulatory specialists and project managers.


"the number of clinical trials and the new associated regulatory guidelines have increased so dramatically in the last 5 years that the supply of people can't keep up"


* Business

-

business development, licensing, technology transfer, intellectual property specialists.


"a science agree plus a killer MBA equals certain success on the business development track" - salespeople with similar background good, while marketing is the first to be cut during reorganization


Looking for a new job? Try searching for it with the following links.



Outside Link MRI Biotech.com

Outside Link Scijobs.org

Outside Link Career.com

Outside Link Scientific American


Outside Link Biology Careers Page, Furman University



Outside link

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