Careers in Biotechnology -- Courses in Biotechnology
From "15 Hot Jobs in Biotechnology," at http://bio.com/hr/search/, some examples of careers in biotechnology:
"Drug Discovery - These scientists often have hybrid backgrounds which include molecular biology, cell biology, and exposure to today's hot biotech technologies like gene therapy or antisense. Because the category of 'discovery scientist' is a broad and difficult-to-classify area, careers can come up through a number of disciplines.
"Receptor Biology - Another of the multi-disciplined areas where specific disciplines can be blurred. Examples of healthy job categories include Receptor Biochemists, Molecular Biologists with experience in receptors and their ligands, and Cell Biologists with experience in G protein-coupled receptors.
"Cell Biology - New fields of research in the cell therapy and tissue engineering sectors combine with the continuing need for mammalian cells as a production system for proteins. Cells are the engines and brains of many processes, and the biologist who understands these new frontiers is on the cutting edge of the job market.
"Bioinformatics - Structural biology, computational chemistry, mathematics and a love of computing combine in one of the most 'difficult to fill' positions of them all. As the computer becomes a stronger tool in modeling complex structures or processes, biocomputational specialists may learn to make simpler molecules that produce the same end results.
"Bioanalytical Chemistry - Analytical chemistry has long been relegated to the QC lab in traditional industries. In biotechnology, however, those who develop and validate the critical assays needed by both R & D and clinical manufacturing teams are in strong demand. Judging by the number of open positions in this field, this will continue.
"Formulations and Drug Delivery - This is another career choice that can be quite multidisciplined, both chemists and engineers are found in this category. Generally, a Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Chemist or Biochemist with experience in formulation chemistry and/or drug delivery technologies (i.e. controlled release) will have no problem in the job market. There are very few academic institutions that teach these special skills, and it is a supply and demand job market.
"Clinical Research - This is a huge category of positions and career tracks, but if you ask any Human Resources person what their more difficult recruiting projects entail, there is a strong likelihood that many of them will come from this category. A strong future is easily forecast over the next decade for those with careers in the clinical side of biotechnology. Although it is certainly true that our industry can't support 1500 biotech companies in this country, we may have trouble even supplying one-third of that group with CRAs.
"Bioprocess Engineering - Scale-up of bioproducts is still a hot topic in the job market. This career choice is helped along by the growth in the non-medical areas of biotech, which consultant Roger Shamel of Consulting Resources says will double as a percentage of overall biotech sales in the next ten years (biochemicals, biopesticides, enzymes, etc.).
"Plant Engineering - Always in demand by the mid-sized and larger companies are the chemical or mechanical engineers with hands-on experience. This experience might include a working knowledge of processing equipment and supporting utility systems. As in the case of all engineers, previous capital project management experience is very valuable.
"Validation and Regulatory Compliance - A biotechnologist can develop a validation career with a life sciences background, an engineering degree, or as one key manager says, 'Any kind of degree as long as they have a proclivity for detail work.' Ask a validation specialist how many calls he or she had in the last week from headhunters and you'll get a feel for what the future holds for these folks.
"Regulatory Affairs - This is another field for which there is no direct route out of academia, so disciplines and degree levels can vary widely. Despite which biotech technology sector we are referring to, there remains a solid growth for regulatory people at all levels. Most in- demand are those senior professionals with a combination of large and small company experience, preferably with both a CBER and CDER contact base.
"Manufacturing Management - A myriad of career opportunities has opened up for those technical professionals who wish to escape the bench and move into operations. According to human resources consultants, the undergraduate-degreed professional who may encounter frustration in a Ph.D.-dominant research lab will find that there are unlimited opportunities for growth on the operations side of a biotech business.
"Sales and Marketing - One of the best places to excel with an undergraduate education in the life sciences remains the sales and marketing career. Good opportunities abound, in either the healthcare market for new biotech products, or in the supplier marketplace. Sales positions are tough competitive jobs that demand long hours and travel, but they can be very personally rewarding. Marketing positions generally require a minimum of some sales and business experience.
"Business Development and Licensing - With the number of 'deals' that are done in our industry, it is no wonder that Business Development and Licensing positions continue to be hot. Licensing executives are also recruited heavily by universities, at competitive packages to industry. Licensing is a critical connection between industry and academia, and will remain a hot career choice.
"Intellectual Property - Many recruiting firms have found that the demand continues to be very strong for those life scientists who have gone on for either a law degree or for their Patent and Trademark Office registration. Having a legal degree without a science background does not provide entree to this private club, and with as many intellectual property issues that exist right now in both foreign and U.S. registrations, this will no doubt hold true for the future. "