The Biotech Industry and Careers

Why choose a career in Biotechnology?

Because you can help save lives, cure diseases, help feed the hungry, help create a substitute for oil energy use and be a pioneer in green technology

Biotechnology is a growing industry in the US

What is the career outlook in biotechnology?

Jobs will continue to increase exponentially Jobs are available to high school graduates

through PhD’s 1400+ companies in US Currently employs 1.2 million people

US Biotech Companies by state

1. California – 374

2. Massachusetts – 256

3. North Carolina – 81

4. Maryland – 75

5. New Jersey - 68

Massachusetts & Biotech

Mass has the second largest biotech industry in US. – 250+ companies– Over 30,000 people employed

4 of top 10 companies Most companies located in Boston area Largest sector is pharmaceuticals

– Treatments for cancer & other diseases

Top US Biotech Companies

Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA Celgene, Summit, NJ Genetech, CA Genzyme, Cambridge, MA Gilead Science, CA Sepracor, Marlborough, MA

Regulation

The biotech industry is regulated by the:– U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)– Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Biotech Industry Characteristics

Research is conducted by:– small companies– large corporations– public universities.

Most research is a collaboration between companies and universities.

Biotech Industry Characteristics

Funding comes from a variety of sources including both public and private sources.

Biotech Industry Characteristics

Focuses on a variety of research areas including health, medicine, food science, environmental science, & agriscience.

10 Basic skills for a biotech career

1. Reading skills• - necessary to interpret written information• - identify relevant details• - learn from text.

2. Writing skills - recordkeeping- creating documents- communication.

Basic skills for a biotech career

3. Mathematic skills compute numbersdetermine solution componentsdata analysis

4. Listening skills comprehend and carry out directives that

foster good working relationships

Basic skills for a biotech career

5. Good speaking skills important to relay ideas and information

6. Thinking skills enable workers to creatively develop

new ideassolve problems

Basic skills for a biotech career

7. Interpersonal skills needed to successfully work and

function with other employees as a team.

8. Technology skills apply functions of the latest technology

Basic skills for a biotech career

9. Responsibility Good work ethic High standards of attendance

10. Self-esteem and self-management skills

Positive view of themselves Friendliness Ddaptability

Specific Requirements for a Biotech Career

1. Should have an interest in the biological sciences.

2. Should enjoy working for long periods of time on challenging detail-oriented tasks.

3. Biotechnology careers offer room for career advancement…

Career areas

1. Research & Development

2. Manufacturing & Services

3. Quality and Regulatory affairs (FDA, USDA, EPA)

4. Sales & Technical support

5. Administration & Management

Career Areas

Research and Development-– Attempt to create new methods and

products related to biotechnology for use in agricultural fields.

– Spend most of their time in the lab, field, or at a computer.

Career Areas

Sales & Marketing-– Handle the promotion and sales of

biotechnology products.– Work in individual offices and small groups

with outside companies to produce materials and campaigns.

Career Areas

Management-– Use strategic planning to guide research

topics and lead biotechnology companies.

Career Areas

Computer Applications & Technology-– Manage equipment / hardware and design

software for use in:research and data analysis.

In the laboratory…

Jobs might include: – Conducting plant transformation research– Growing plants from cells– working with animal embryos.

In the laboratory…

Lab Technician- – responsible for handling repetitive laboratory

procedures– day to day care of equipment / facilities.

Requires at least a 2-year degree, 4-year degrees offer more opportunities.

In the laboratory…

Laboratory Manger– supervises activities in the laboratory – ensures that safety procedures are followed and

research is effective.

Must be good at managing resources. Requires at least a 4-year bachelors degree.

In the greenhouse…

A worker might: – care for experimental plants– conduct tests on the new plants’ traits.

Ex: Greenhouse Technician- responsible for the care of research plants in growth facilities.

On an experimental farm…

A worker might assist with:– animal breeding – care for animals used in research

Inspection

Regulatory Agent- responsible for the inspection of biotechnology methods and products. Usually work for government agencies– FDA, USDA, APHIS

Other Biotech Careers…

Microbiologist Biochemist, Geneticist Environmental Engineer

– (handles bioremediation)

Other jobs

Forensic DNA analyst Health & Safety specialist Quality control & assurance specialists Sales representatives Research institutions University positions Pharmaceutical companies

Assignment

Find 3 Colleges/Universities that offer a program or degrees in biotech.– Name of school– Location (city, state)– Degree program(s)

2 year? 4 year? certifications– Tuition cost– Admission policy/typical student statistics – 3 courses

Typed. Each College/University on a separate sheet of paper