Career in Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?

Is It a good option for me to opt for my career?

What if I didn’t get a job?

I am confused for the scope, colleges offering it as subject!

They say don’t try anything which is not so well known among people.

These are few major questions of the present generation regarding opting for biotechnology after 12^th which leaves students in a great dilemma.

So taking an effort to clear these confusions which holds back students from taking correct decision for their career lets began with what actually is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is a field involving more than two academic disciplines of study which is combination of biological science with the engineering technologies for the manipulation of the living organisms and the other biological aspects to produce the various products that are efficient and capable of advancement in the field of medicines, food, healthcare, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals and Environment.

Keeping all this in the concern biotechnology is classified into two broad categories:

1-RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES.

2-INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES.

Research

The R&D in Biological Sciences mainly covers up the areas of Genetics, Molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry etc for the different aspects such as studying the various disease, its causes, occurrence, prevention and treatment, development in the field of agriculture by hybridizations, cloning, disease resistant plants, quality and quantity of crops etc, environmental protection, study of various microorganisms beneficial or non-beneficial for us, from a multicellular level to single-celled level etc. all this study is carried out mainly in small scale to large scale laboratories.

In the Industrial processes, the study deals with the production of vaccines, drugs, pharmaceuticals on an industrial level with the use of various biochemical techniques. Biotechnology has emerged out as a great boon in the different fields of science which were in need of advancement and innovations such as the continuous research and development in the stem cell technology, The gene sequencing, production of biofuels, production of vaccines for lethal diseases, life-saving drugs etc. It’s a thing to wonder that biotechnology has touched almost every essential field of life.

After 12^th students have two options in the choice of biotechnology as a career field 1st is B.Sc. Biotechnology & 2^nd is B.Tech Biotechnology.

There is no such thing like which option is better B.Tech Biotech or B.sc. Biotech. It totally depends on the student’s goal.

When we talk about B.Tech degree in biotechnology, it comprises both the biological sciences as well the engineering aspects of biotechnology. This covers up subjects like Genetics, Cell Biology, Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Thermodynamics, Mass Transfer and Molecular Biology.

B.Sc. Biotechnology degree goes deep into the biological sciences aspect of biotechnology. The main focus is on the R&D in biological sciences comprising subjects such as Immunology, Microbial Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, Animal Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, Microbial Genetics, Biomathematics, Computer, Cell Biology.

1 or 2 subjects may be less related to industrial process but this isn’t going to make any major difference in the scope of any of these degrees.

The basic eligibility for Bsc Biotech and Btech biotech comprises:

The student should have completed 12^th or its equivalent exam with science or maths.
The eligibility marks criteria’s differ from colleges to colleges and the various entrance tests.

The various Biotechnology Entrance Tests are as given:

1.AIIMS Biotechnology Entrance Exam

2.All India Biotechnology Entrance Examination

3.University of Delhi Biotechnology Entrance Exam

4.Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Delhi JAM Biotechnology entrance exam

5.Amity Institute of Biotechnology Entrance Examination

6.Combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination(CBEEE)

7.Bharti Vidya Peeth Common Entrance Test BBT

Apart from this, various private colleges in India offer admissions on basis of their own entrance tests or without entrance test just eligibility criteria of marks with a margin of seats.

The employment areas for biotech students are numerous such as in colleges & Universities, Hospitals, Research Laboratories, Industries, Bio-industries, IT companies, Indian Army(Indian Army organizes tests for biotech jobs and it’s in high demand), Content writing(Medical) etc.

The job types include posts of Scientist, Research Associate, Sales Officer, Professor, Assistant Research Analyst, Biotech Product Analyst, Research Associate, Quality Control Officer etc. In fact, one can open his own research labs with government affiliations.

For the students for making career in biotechnology should be aware that in India the field of “Biotechnology” is still developing so it may happen that in few companies or institutions the pay packages and job opportunities can be low if we compare it with the other major sectors but it’s really not okay if students back off their decision of choosing biotechnology because this is very very important field which can take India up in the list of developed nation in coming years.

If one works with passion and a goal this sector is best with a wide range of courses to study and explore as well as interesting! What else we need.

There are lots of diseases which are incurable, there are microbes which are unexplored that may be beneficial for us, there is a need in agriculture for more research because the population is growing and food production needs more attention and many more things without a biotechnologist is not possible at all.

If one works with passion and a goal this sector is best with a wide range of courses to study and explore as well as interesting! What else we need.

Biotech is one of the important sectors in today’s century which needs to be explored more and more for the better results. So if anyone thinks of choosing biotech as his career field without any second thinking go for it. If you have potential, ambition, passion for the field you are opting you can never fail.

Late Dr. Kalam said “My message to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent , to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed” So go for it.

Career in Biotechnology